Monthly Archives

November 2020

A Proper Pool Fencing For your Safety

By | Pool Safety

Written by Brick and Agent, and published on https://www.bricksandagent.com/

Having a pool in your yard definitely seems like a great source of fun. However, if the pool safety measures are lacking, a swimming pool can actually become a potential danger for your family. In order to prevent accidents around the pool, pool fencing is an essential practice. This is especially important if there are kids in the household. Following pool fence regulations and maintaining the said fence isn’t difficult compared to the added safety benefits for the household and guests.

How To Make Your Pool Safe With Proper Fencing

Do you have safe swimming pool fencing? With summer on the way it’s every pool owner’s responsibility to make sure your pool is safe for children, whether your own, a visitors or a neighbours. Young children like to go exploring and you never know when one will end up in your backyard, and in the worst case scenario, your pool.

If you’re unclear about the rules around pool fencing and think you need to get yours checked, keep reading for more information.

 

Pool Fencing Regulations

Broadly speaking, there is a strict standard Australian Standard pool fencing law (Australian Standard, AS1926.1) to make sure pools are safe for young children. This specifies the requirements for the design, construction and performance of fencing for swimming pools, plus also their location.

It also requires pool owners to regularly perform fence maintenance and check the surrounding pool area to keep it safe at all times, e.g. trim trees or shrubs near the fencing, check for loose bars or panels periodically, check latches on gates.

Each state and territory has varying ways of enforcing this pool fencing standard and there may be exemptions. Local councils can also get involved and issue fines if they think that someone isn’t complying with the state laws.

The best way to make sure that your pool fence is compliant is to check what your state requires and then follow up with your local council to see if there are additional local requirements.

 

What defines a ‘safe’ swimming pool fence?

According to the Australian Standard, AS1926.1, a safe swimming pool fence is one that a young child can’t climb under, over, through or around. It should meet the following criteria:

  • At least 1.2 metres high,
  • Have no climbing footholds,
  • Have no more than a 100mm gap at the bottom,
  • Have narrow gaps that a toddler can’t squeeze through,
  • Be strong enough that a child can’t create a gap,
  • Be tough enough that it won’t be dislodged in wild weather.

 

What materials are compliant for swimming pool fencing?

A quality pool fence that meets your State and local law regulations for pool safety is a must, but you still want it to look attractive and adhere to your personal taste.

Safety Glass – the most popular choice for pool fencing in Australia, albeit the most expensive. People like the aesthetic benefits of glass as it allows a clear unobstructed view of the pool. In terms of safety it has no gaps to climb through and is difficult to climb over.

Mesh – easy to install and allows a clear view into the pool area. You can choose a colour that works with your backyard. Difficult for children to climb over.

Metal – usually stainless steel or aluminium tubing, comes in lots of different styles and colours, affords a modern appearance. Strong and durable. More affordable than glass. Check it has been tested to ensure compliance.

 

Do I need a safety inspection?

year or every few years. If you don’t arrange an inspection and you have incorrectly installed pool fencing you can incur hefty fines.

For people selling homes or units with pools you will need a Pool Safety Certificate at the time of settlement. As soon as a Contract of Sale is signed it’s a good idea to book an inspection so there are no hold ups for the sale process.

Original post here https://www.bricksandagent.com/blog/make-pool-safe-proper-fencing.

Safety Tips on How to have a Safer Pool

By | Pool Safety

Written by QBCC QLD Admin and published on https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/.

Swimming pools and spas are great places for family fun. It’s important to ensure everyone follows these simple safety steps to stay safer in and around the water.

Helpful tips on making your pool safer

Below are some simple and cost-effective ways to make your pool safer and help you comply with the pool safety standard laws.

Garden beds and ground levels

  • remove surrounding garden beds from the fence
  • reduce the height of surrounding ground levels and garden beds
  • raise the barrier height to at least 1200 millimetres above the finished ground level (permanent stable surface).

Gates

  • ensure that the gate doesn’t swing inwards towards the pool area
  • install a striker or latch to make the gate self-latching
  • ensure the gate is self-closing and self-latching from any position without the use of a manual force
  • adjust the self-closing mechanism or replace the hinges to make the gate self-closing
  • oil the hinges if the gate is not closing properly
  • ensure the gate is regularly maintained

Climbable objects

  • shield any climbable objects with a non-climbable material such as flat polycarbonate sheeting, vertical palings or a ‘fillet’ that has an angle of 60 degrees or more
  • trim any branches within 900 millimetres of the pool barrier – if there are branches overhanging from an adjacent property, you may need to negotiate with your neighbour to remove them
  • if vertical gaps are more than 10mm, fix a timber wedge fillet (minimum 60 degree angle) along the horizontal rails within the 900 millimetre non-climbable zone
  • shield any lattice or other climbable material within the non-climbable zone with a non-climbable material such as flat polycarbonate sheeting or vertical palings
  • trim any climbable vegetation away from the barrier
  • remove all climbable objects within the 900 millimetres non-climbable zone

Windows that access the pool area

  • a window can be part of the barrier if—
  • there is a clear drop of at least 1800mm from the sill down to the pool area, or
  • the window sill is 1200mm high on the inside with no climbable objects within 900mm
  • otherwise, the window must be permanently fixed shut with security screens or with a permanent window chock so it can’t be opened wider than 100 mm. This ‘chock’ is not able to be removed by hand and can only be removed by way of using a tool e.g. an Allen Key.
  • a permanent flyscreen can be used if the height on the inside is more than 900mm and less than 1200mm
  • gaps between louvres must be no more than 100mm and louvres must be fixed in place so that they cannot be removed without the use of a tool. Glass louvres must pass strength and rigidity requirements, and thin glass may not meet standards.
  • window locks cannot be used as they can be left unlocked.

Original post here https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-building-owners/pool-safety/helpful-tips-making-your-pool-safer.

Standards Pool Fencing – All You Need To Know

By | Pool Safety

Written by My Pool Safety and published on https://www.mypoolsafety.com.au/.

Temperatures have been climbing and that means many Aussies will be thinking of installing a pool in their backyard for summer. Fencing isn’t just a must when your nice new pool is complete and ready to go – you’ll need to make sure that your pool is fenced during construction as well. Pool fencing regulations in NSW are strict. Without care they’ll disrupt your design intent or cause you to rethink planting palm trees poolside. But they’re there for a reason – to reduce the event of accidental drownings. To have confidence your pool will meet the regulatory requirements, understanding the pool fencing regulations in New South Wales is crucial to your pool design project.

Australian Standards on pool fencing in NSW

Drowning is one of the major causes of death among children below 5 years old. Adult supervision is the best protection against drowning of children. Along with this, a child-resistant pool fence can act as secondary protection.

Thus, the Australian Government has been making a great effort to ratify a number of laws to reduce pool accidents and drowning cases. As a pool owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that their children are safe in the pool.

Moreover, you should ensure that your pool is safe and compliant with the law. To guide you with this laws, here is an resource explaining the Australian standard on pool and spa fencing and gate in NSW.

HISTORY OF SWIMMING POOLS ACT IN NSW

·    (PRELIMINARY) SWIMMING POOLS ACT 11290

Since 11290, each local State in Australia has its own set of pool requirements. Thus, the Swimming Pool Act 11290 was introduced. This states a number of requirements for swimming pools.

However, it was discussed that there are some discrepancies from the pool standard. Hence, it was repealed and replaced by Swimming Pools Act 11292. In the Swimming Pool Act 11292, they introduced some exceptions on the pool fence requirement under sections 8, 9 and 10.

·    SWIMMING POOLS ACT 11292

The Swimming Pool Act 11292 applies the AS 1926-1986. This act requires all new swimming pools to install a child-resistant barrier. Its general requirement is to separate the pool from any residential building.

For pools on small properties with less than 230 square metres, they are exempted from the requirement provided that access to the pool is restricted through a child-proof door and window. This also applies to pools that are constructed before 1 Aug 11290.

This act has been amended 8 times from 11292 to the current period. There are also 3 versions of the Regulations which are from 11292, 11298 and 2008.

·    SWIMMING POOLS AMENDMENT ACT 2009

The Swimming Pools Amendment Act 2009 was a result of a review of the Swimming Pools Act in 2006. It was identified that the risk of a child to drown is related to the type of barrier installed around the pool. This means that installing a four-sided barrier has a much lower risk of drowning compared to a three-sided barrier.

After several discussions, the Swimming Pools Amendment Act 2009 was made. Its main objective is for new pools to install a consistent and high standard four-sided pool barrier.

·    SWIMMING POOLS AMENDMENT ACT 2012

Since the number of fatal drowning among children is rising, different pool safety advocates requested to further strengthen the Swimming Pools Act. Thus, the Department of Premier and Cabinet has released a Discussion Paper which reviews the Swimming Pools Act 11292.

This results in the ratification of the Swimming Pools Amendment Act 11292. They made a lot of amendments including the requirement to register the pool on the Swimming Pool Register, creation of a new class of certifiers (E1 certifiers), obligation to have a certificate of compliance before sale or lease of a property with a pool.

·    SWIMMING POOLS REGULATIONS 2018

The Swimming Pools Regulations 2018 commenced last 1 September 2018. It supports Swimming Pools Act 11292. It also features some improvements in the operation and administration of the Act. The changes include increasing maximum fees that local authorities may charge, new requirement to display a warning notice for pools that are being constructed, minor changes on the warning notices.

To further explain the Swimming Pools Act, Australian Standards are published. It provides a minimum set of requirements to ensure that the regulation is reliable and consistent.

AUSTRALIAN STANDARD FOR POOL FENCING

In NSW, there are 3 different standards that apply. These standards also depend on when the swimming pool was constructed.

AS 1926 was the Australian standards for Fences and Gates for Private Swimming Pools. It was published on 4 August 1986. The following are the Australian standards for pool fencing in NSW.

·    AUSTRALIAN STANDARD AS 1926-1986

This was intended for pool fences and gates for private swimming pools. This is the standard used for pools that are constructed until 30 August 2008.

·    AUSTRALIAN STANDARD AS 1926.1-2007

This is the Australian standard for pools that are constructed from 1 September 2008 up to 30 April 2013. For its Part 1, it contains safety barriers for swimming pools.

This standard was implemented to assist pool owners in avoiding any pool-related accidents. This is done by providing various options on pool designs, construction and performance.

·    AUSTRALIAN STANDARD AS 1926.1-2012

This is the Australian standard for swimming pool safety. It is applicable for pools that are constructed from 1 May 2013 up to present. This also incorporates changes to correct and clarify certain inconsistencies from the previous version.

IMPORTANT DATES (SWIMMING POOL LAWS)

The requirements for the pool fence in a residential building will differ according to the date the pool was constructed. Here are the important dates to look for.

·    POOLS THAT ARE BUILT BEFORE 1 AUGUST 11290

All means of access from a residential building to the pool must be restricted at all times. If windows and doors are part of the barrier, they must be compliant with the regulation.

·    POOLS BUILT AFTER 1 AUGUST 11290, BEFORE 1 JULY 2010

All pool must be enclosed by a child-resistant barrier. It should also separate the pool from a residential building.

Moreover, there are exemptions apply to pools with very small property with less than 230 square metres, pools with a large property with 2 hectares or over and waterfront property.

·    POOLS BUILT AFTER 1 JULY 2010

A compliant pool barrier must separate the residential building and swimming pool. This applies to all new pools.

AFTER KNOWING ALL THE AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS ON POOL & SPA FENCING AND GATE IN NSW? WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW?

Keeping your kids and loved ones safe in the pool should be one of your priorities as a pool owner. Thus, installing a child-resistant barrier is necessary.

Understanding the Australian standard is important to raise awareness among homeowners about pool safety. Apart from that, knowing this can help you determine which standard is applicable to your pool.

For further information about pool safety, you can approach an experienced and reliable private certifier like My Pool Safety. They can inspect and assess your pools. They can also provide services such as pool repairs to make your pools compliant with the law.

Original post here https://www.mypoolsafety.com.au/Australian-Standard-Pool-Spa-Fencing-Gate-NSW-Explained.

Swimming Pool Inspections & Pool Safety

By | Pool Safety Inspections

Written by QBCC QLD and published on https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/.

Pool safety certificates are required when selling or leasing a property with a pool. These certificates may only be issued by a licensed pool safety inspector after they have inspected the pool and deem it to be compliant with the pool safety standard. A pool safety inspector’s role is to inspect pools to determine whether they comply with the standard. They can issue safety certificates and nonconformity notices.

Pool safety inspectors

A pool safety inspector’s role is to inspect pools to determine whether they comply with the standard. If the pool is compliant, the inspector will issue a pool safety certificate. If the pool doesn’t meet the standard, a nonconformity notice will be issued after the inspection, unless:

  • the inspector reinspects the pool within two days after the initial inspection and is satisfied that the pool now complies, or
  • the owner and pool safety inspector agree that the inspector will carry out minor repairs within 20 business days of the original inspection.

The cost of a pool safety certificate is $39.45 (certificate only, not inclusive of additional inspection expenses).

If you have any doubts or questions about the inspection, ask the pool safety inspector for more information.

Engaging a pool safety inspector

If you want advice about your pool, the fence or a barrier, you can engage an inspector on a consultancy basis for advice only.

For a pool safety inspector to conduct a full inspection and issue a certificate or non-conformity notice, there is no set amount. However, we encourage you to get a few quotes before engaging their services.

Some inspectors can also carry out minor repairs such as adjusting or replacing a latch or striker and removing climbable objects.

Find a pool safety inspector

Search for a pool safety inspector online using Search for a swimming pool safety inspector.

You can choose from a list of inspectors in your area by searching under local government or if you are looking for a specific inspector, you can enter the name, business name or license number.

You may also find an inspector within your local government, as they are obliged to provide a pool safety inspection service when requested. You may be charged a cost-recovery fee for the service.

Original post here https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-building-owners/pool-safety/pool-safety-inspectors.

Steps to Keeping Your Swimming Pool Safe

By | Pool Safety

There are few accidents more tragic, nor more preventable, than a child drowning. As such, this is one area in which too much diligence and caution is not enough.

Many of the tips below may seem obvious on their own. Only when compiled together does it become clear just how much can – and should – be done.

Most of the following are very simple and cost-effective. Others may seem excessive, but will pay for themselves in peace of mind.

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