Pool Safety Compliance isn’t just paperwork. A non-compliant pool puts lives at risk, especially young children who access the swimming pool or spa. Explore What Makes A Pool Non-Compliant, what happens next and how to fix it before your Pool Safety Inspector inspects your pool.
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Top Takeaways
- A Non-Compliant Pool is a life safety issue – especially for children
- The most common compliance failures are faulty self-closing gates, climbable objects inside the NCZ Non-Climbable Zone, incorrect fence heights, gaps over 100mm, and a missing or outdated CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation sign
- If your Pool Safety Inspector finds compliance issues, you’ll receive your Non-Compliance paperwork and Council notified if not rectified within a certain period
- Most issues can be checked prior to your Inspection
- For any rectification work, use a licensed contractor builder who understands the pool laws.
The Data
Australia certainly loves their pools – with more than
- 250,000 pools in QLD
- 374,000 pools in NSW, and
- 200,700 in VIC
They’re an Australian status symbol, significantly contributing towards boosting the value of our property and lifestyle.
This impressive asset and vacation lifestyle also comes with the high risk of children aged 0-4 drowning.
What Makes A Pool Non-Compliant
These are all the factors that make a pool non-compliant
Gate hinges and/or latches are faulty or do not self-close
Climbable objects are too close to a pool fence, such as trees, plant pots, BBQs and clothes lines
Pool fence height is less than 1200mm or boundary fence height is less than 1800mm
Distance between the vertical elements of a fence is greater than 100mm
Distance below the bottom of the fence is greater than 100mm
CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation sign is missing, incorrectly located or out of date
What Happens If Your Pool Is Non-Compliant
If your Pool Safety Inspector finds a pool or spa does not meet the national and stage safety requirements, you receive a report which outlines all your pool non-compliance issues
If your pool doesn’t comply, you receive
QLD – Form 26 Non-Conformity Notice
NSW – Certificate of Non-Compliance, or
VIC – Certificate of Barrier Non-Compliance
If your pool is Non-Compliant, Council is legally alerted
QLD – 90 days
NSW – 6 weeks
VIC – up to 67 days
after the First Inspection, to keep track of your pool’s compliance.
What Your Pool Safety Inspector Checks
These are all the decisive factors your Pool Safety Inspector looks for
Faulty gate latches and hinges
A swimming pool is non-compliant when a gate hinge or latch is faulty, or does not follow the Pool Safety Rules. Faulty gates and latches allow children to have access and enter the pool area.
The height of your pool and spa barriers
The pool fence should be at least 1200mm high, and the boundary fence should be at least 1800mm high to comply with safety standards.
From finished ground level on the outside, the pool fence height is at least 1200mm high, or from the top of the boundary fence to finished ground level is at least 1800mm high on the inside or pool side.
The strength and rigidity of the pool and spa barriers
Pool and spa barriers must be strong, secure and safe to prevent children from easily accessing the pool and pool inspectors must conduct strength and rigidity testing on the pool barrier to make sure they are strong and secure.
Gaps in the pool barrier
Gaps in the pool barrier can make it easy for children to access the pool area.
Gaps in the pool barrier should be no larger than 100mm between any of the vertical elements or distance below the bottom or horizontal elements of the fence line.
NCZ Non-Climbable Zone and surrounds of the pool and spa area
Objects such as trees, plant pots, BBQs, toys, and clotheslines should be at least 900mm away from the pool fence, to prevent children from climbing over it. This is also known as the NCZ Non-Climbable Zone.
The CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Sign
Safety signs are a critical part of pool safety and can be considered as a layer of protection. The CPR sign should be clear and visible, indicating the pool rules, safety guidelines, and emergency contact information. It should also be located in an easily visible and accessible location.
How To Fix A Non-Compliant Pool Before Your Pool Safety Inspection
Most non-compliance issues for your pool or spa fences and barriers can be fixed easily.
Clear the NCZ Non Climbable Zone first
Move the pots, the BBQ and the furniture, then trim back any trees or shrubs near the barrier.
Test your gate from every position
The swimming pool gate has to swing shut and latch on its own, every time.
If it doesn’t, adjust or replace the concerned material.
Measure your gaps
Check for anything over 100mm between verticals or under the fence, and confirm your pool fence hits 1200mm and your boundary fence hits 1800mm.
Sort the CPR sign
Your pool’s CPR sign must always be up-to-date, installed within 3 metres of the pool and easy to read.
Note: Repair and rectifications need the skills of a contractor builder. Pick the right builder to get the job right the first time and save you from spending money unnecessarily.
To make sure you have the right builder for the job, ask these questions
– Do you know the pool safety laws?
– I’m in NSW and VIC: what standard do I comply with?
– Do you know how to do the rectification works to meet the pool safety laws?
Happy Pool Compliance
Pass your Pool Safety Inspection the First Time
Forget Government pool compliance checklists. Get compliant with our easy-to-follow PoolSS DIY Inspection Checklist. We’ve simplified the legal requirements so you can confidently check your pool area is safe and compliant. Keep Pool Safety simple and stress-free.
Keep pool safety simple and in your control.
Disclaimer: The PoolSS DIY Inspection Checklist is a guide only, and does not constitute acknowledgment or approval of compliance or safety. If you check “No” to any of our questions, we recommend you Book An Inspection with your Pool Safety Inspector.
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