Did you know that drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children under five years old in Queensland? Unfortunately, the numbers are rising among all children. While danger is everywhere and drowning could occur in a river or at the beach, making sure your pool is safe for your children is critical to avoiding dramatic accidents. Note that local governments have the power to investigate your fence and issue a fine, should it not be compliant with the regulations.
To assist you, we listed below a checklist that will allow you to determine whether your pool meets Queensland’s pool safety standards. If it doesn’t, you’ll be able to use this list as a guideline to ensure your pool is fence compliant in the future.
Guidelines for Fences
One of the most important things about your pool fences is the height. You need to ensure that the height from bottom to top is at least 1200 mm and the maximum gap allowed between the ground and the bottom of your fence is 100mm.
If your fence measures under 1800 mm in height, the regulation stipulates that any climbable objects should be placed at least 900mm to 1200mm away from the pool fencing. As a result, make sure to trim any close vegetation a child could climb.
Guidelines for Pool Gates
Based on the pool fence regulations in Queensland, the gates leading to your pool area should meet the below requirements:
● Self-closing and self-latching from all the possible positions.
● The gates must not open inwards toward the pool enclosure.
● Any latches on the gates should be positioned at least 1500mm in height from ground level.
● Any pool gate hinges thicker than 10mm should be positioned at least 900mm apart. You should also always ensure they’re tight and do not need to be replaced.
Standards for Doors and Windows
To minimise water-related injuries or accidents, the Pool Fence Regulations in Queensland forbid direct access from a property or any adjacent buildings to a swimming pool. In other words, no doors or windows can have direct access to a pool area. Yet, if a window happens to provide direct access to the swimming pool area, it shouldn’t open more than 100mm. Alternatively, it must be fitted with a security screen.
Signage
A compliant cardiopulmonary resuscitation sign (CPR sign) must be attached to the pool fence or visibly displayed near the pool. Note that to be compliant, the size must be at least 300 mm by 300 mm. It should also be weatherproof and clearly state what needs to be done in case of an accident.
We hope this article will help you assess your current pool safety and ensure your fence is compliant. Note that the post above isn’t an exhaustive list of pool safety requirements but rather should be used as a guideline. You’ll find more detailed information about requirements in Queensland here.
At OneHome Inspections, we specialise in Pool Safety Inspections along with Building and Pest Inspections. Our highly experienced Pool Safety Inspectors will thoroughly assess your current pool situation and provide recommendations to ensure your pool is fence compliant.
Call us today on 3369 5231 to book your Pool Safety Inspection.