Pool Fencing Regulations
There are tons of things we can do outdoors, thanks to our beautiful Australian climate. And it is for this reason that many of us Australians add pools to our homes for outdoor fun right inside our backyards.
As a landlord, your responsibility is to ensure your tenants are protected from prospective dangers the pool poses. It has been proven that when pools are not compliant to the safety standards set by the government, it can pose a major threat especially to children.
Due to the high risk that pools present, Australia has become more rigorous when it comes to ensuring that every property owner follows the regulations they have imposed. Failure to comply with these regulations could result to sizable fines for the property owner, not to mention consequences they might have to face in the event injuries or fatalities occur.
Fences and Barriers
Starting 30 November 2015, all pool fences and barriers are required to comply with the current safety laws.
If you have a pool, it is a must that you also have a barrier that is well maintained regularly. The main purpose of this barrier is to prevent children from drowning or being injured.
It is your duty as the property owner to oversee the maintenance and repair of your pool barriers and ensure that it is at its best working condition at all times.
How Barriers Fail
Barriers commonly fail due to the following:
- The height of the barrier is less than 1200mm
- There are climbable objects near the barrier
- The gates are not self-closing
- The windows opening into the pool area can be opened by more than 100mm
Barrier Fixes
- Ensure that the hinges on the gates are tightened and adjusted or replaced when necessary
- Make sure that the height of the barrier is 1200mm
- Eliminate any possible object that a child could to climb over the barrier
- Install security screens on windows opening into the pool area
Owner’s Responsibilities
- Ensure that your swimming pool is safety compliant
- Oversee the repair and maintenance of safety barriers at all times
- Register your pool on the state-wide pool register
- Obtain a pool safety certificate issued by a licensed pool safety inspector before the lease is signed. This certificate has a 2-year validity or 1 year for communal or shared pools.
