Just as a car needs a safety certificate as proof they’re safe to drive in, swimming pools and spas need proof they’re safe to dive in – with a safety compliance certificate to prove pool and spa fences and barriers meet the state safety requirements.
Pool fence inspections reduce this risk and save lives.
So why do we need pool safety inspections? Because pool safety inspections saves lives. So let’s explore What Will My Pool Safety Inspector Look At for your pool compliance inspection.
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Australia certainly loves their pools – with more than
374,000 pools in NSW
250,000 pools in QLD and,
200,700 in VIC.
They’re an Australian status symbol, significantly contributing towards boosting the value of our property and lifestyle. However, this impressive asset and vacation lifestyle also comes with the high risk of children aged 0-4 drowning.
The Top Reasons For Failing A Pool Inspection
The top reasons for failing a pool safety compliance inspection are pinpointed to
Faulty fences
Lack of fences
Faulty gates
Pool gate left open
What Pool Safety Inspectors Look At
The role of a pool safety inspector is to
- inspect pools, spas and barriers, and
- lodge the inspection and details through their state swimming pool register
This is what Pool Safety Inspectors look at
Faulty gate latches and hinges
The top reason a swimming pool is non-compliant is 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 gate must comply with all Australian Standards for pool safety:
- AS 1926-1986, fences and gates for private swimming pools which applies to pools constructed prior to 30 August 2008
- AS 1926.1 – 2007, swimming pool safety, Part 1 safety barriers for swimming pools which applies to pools constructed between 1 September 2008 to 30 April 2013
- AS1926.1 – 2012, swimming pool safety, Part 1 safety barriers for swimming pools constructed after 1 May 2013
The swimming pool gate latches must also stick and catch the first time.
Pool gates open away from the pool and are self-closing and latching from all distances while hinges are 900mm apart or have a safety cap on them
The Gate latch is at least 1500mm from the finished ground level or if positioned on the back, must be at least 150mm down from the top with a 450mm shielding.
Want some great checklists to test your gate before your inspector arrives? Our blog Pool Gate Latch Safety is perfect for you – where it only takes 2 minutes to check your pool gate and latch, and save a life.
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. So 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.
Hint: your finished ground level is where you stand at the base of the barrier.
Our blog The Ultimate Guide To Pool Fences & Barriers has all the details, tips and solutions to get your pool fences and barrier compliant prior to your inspection.
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.
Your pool safety inspector will use forces of up to 330Nm to approximately 33KG on posts and/or footings and up to 250Nm to approximately 25KG on sections between posts and/or footings.
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.
Surrounds of the pool and spa area
Climbable objects near the pool fence also allows children access to the pool 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.
The NCZ Non Climbable Zone successfully keeps children from accessing the pool area by forbidding any objects, trees or shrubbery to exist within 900mm of the pool, fences and barriers.
If climbable objects – such as trees, plant pots, BBQs, toys and clothes lines – are around the pool or too close to the pool fence, they serve as a potential climbing aid into the pool area.
Objects such as toys and plant pots can be removed, but a bush, shrub or tree may be really difficult.
Our blog What Is The NCZ Non Climbable Zone breaks down all the details of the NCZ with all the solutions and tips to get you compliant for your inspection.
The CPR Sign is missing, incorrectly located or out of date
Safety signs are a critical part of pool safety and can be considered as a layer of protection. The 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.
The CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation sign sign must be
- attached to the pool safety fence or displayed near the pool, so the sign is clearly visible
- in good condition and able to be read easily from 3 metres
- made of durable and weatherproof material
- prominently include information matching Australian Resuscitation Council’s recommended technique for CPR and explaining how to act in an emergency, from calling Triple 000 to providing first aid.
Prefer to watch? Enjoy our video
Happy Pool Safety
Disclaimer: PoolSS Checklists are 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 a pool safety inspector to carry out an inspection confirming your pool is safe.
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