Does Your Pool Comply?
Pool Compliance Regulations
The Queensland pool safety standard covers areas such as the height and strength of pool barriers, non-climbable zones (NCZ), pool gates and their operation and direct access from a building into a pool area.
To check your pool for compliance with current pool fence regulations and current pool safety standards, we have provided a simple checklist below that covers some of the main issues:
All pools should be recorded on the The Pool Safety Register which is a database that records all regulated pools within the state of Queensland. The purpose is to provide all stake holders such as property owners, pool safety inspectors, local councils, property agents and QBCC with a central source of information. This includes regulated pools, pool safety certificates and pool safety inspectors. Brisbane Pool Certifiers can assist you with all your pool compliance requirements, just contact us for advice.
What is a regulated pool?
Swimming Pools including portable pools and spas. Your portable pool or spa must comply with pool safety laws if. i) it can hold more than 300mm of water. ii) has a volume of more than 2,000L or has a filtration system. Queensland’s pool safety laws don’t apply to portable pools and spas that meet all of the following criteria. i) You can’t fill it with more than 300mm of water. ii) It has a maximum volume of 2,000L. iii) It has no filtration system.
How do I know if my pool is registered?
You can access the Qld Pool Safety Register through the QBCC website. Just enter your address and search. It will then show you if your pool is recorded for this property. The register will provide you with information regarding any Pool Safety Certificates which may be current or lapsed. It is also a good idea to check all the property details on the register for accuracy and report any errors to QBCC.
Pool Fence Regulations
Fences
- The minimum height from finished ground level to the top of the barrier is 1200mm.
- The maximum allowable gap from finished ground level to the bottom of any barrier is 100mm.
- There must be one gap of at least 900mm between any horizontal rails on the outside, and the gaps in the vertical members must not exceed 100mm.
- If there is no gap between horizontal rails of at least 900mm, then the horizontal rails must be on the inside and the gaps in the vertical rails must not exceed 10mm.
- For fences less than 1800mm high, climbable objects must be at least 900mm away from the pool barrier on the outside and, where the verticals are more than 10mm apart, 300mm on the inside.
- For fences at least 1800mm high, the 900mm non-climbable zone may be on the inside of the fence and must be measured from the top of the inside. This could be useful for a boundary fence, for example, where it is difficult to make the non climbable zone outside the fence. Make sure that there is nothing underneath this zone that a child could jump on to, which would reduce the effective height of the fence from the minimum 1800mm
Pool Gates
- Pool gates must not open inwards to the pool area and must be self-closing and self-latching from all positions.
- Latches on the the gate must be at least 1500mm high from the ground level and 1400mm from the top part of the lower horizontal railings. If not, the latch must be located inside so that it is necessary to reach over or through the fencing at a height of not less than 1200mm above ground level or at least 1000mm above the top part of the lower horizontal railings. It must also be 150mm below the top of the gate or the edge of any hand hole opening and, if necessary, covered with a 450mm radius shield with no openings greater than 10mm
- Pool gate hinges thicker than 10mm must be at least 900mm apart or the lower hinge must have a non-climbable (sixty degree) safety cap fixed to prevent climbing.
Doors and Windows
- There can be no direct access through a door from the house or another building, to the pool area.
- Generally, any windows opening onto the pool area must not open more than 100mm or must have a security screen fitted
Penalties for Non-Compliance
- Local governments have the power to investigate compliance with pool safety standards and can issue fines.If you don’t comply with pool safety standards, local governments can issue on-the-spot fines of $934 for individuals and $2669 for companies. The maximum penalty a court can impose is $22,019.If you fail to register your pool, QBCC can issue penalties which includes an on-the-spot fine of $266 for individuals or $800 for companies. The court can impose a maximum penalty of up to $2669.
Should you require a Pool Safety Certificate or would like us to do a Pool Safety Inspection to check for compliance with the Qld Pool Fence Regulations you can click here to book online www.brisbanepoolcertifiers.com.au
