NSW Pool Fence Regulations
This article aims to provide an overview of the various rules and regulations surrounding pool fencing and pool fence regulation regarding NSW swimming pools. This will include a summary of the main aspects of compliance and regulation, as well as answers to common questions.
To find out more about temporary pool fencing, check out this page.
A Summary of NSW Swimming Pool Fence Laws
For a pool owner, there are a wide range of requirements surrounding pool fencing in NSW – for general safety purposes, fence for pools regulations should consider things such as a non climbable zone, a latching device, laws specific to pools and spas, and many other factors. In some cases, it may be a good idea to check in with your local council if you are unsure regarding a specific situation.
Whilst these factors focus on the pool barrier as a whole, the requirements also extend to cover the gate of the barrier. Pool gate latches must be 1.5m off the ground or be poolside with shielding of 450mm at least 150mm from the top of the barrier and have no gap more than 10mm. Furthermore, all gates must only open outward, away from the pool, & be fitted with self-closing hinges & automatic latching device that must be manually reopened.
For a better understanding of non climbable zone, pool barrier and current swimming pool fence and pool gate NSW requirements, continue reading.
How Close Can a Pool be to a Boundary Fence NSW?
When it comes to how close a pool can be to boundary fences in NSW, the general rule is 1000mm. With this in mind, it is important for pool owners to check with your local council or get a pool fence inspection.
Is There a Law That You Have to Have a Fence Around the Pool?
Pool fencing requirements have been in place for many years within NSW, consistently evolving as a result of research and development. This is because inadequate pool fencing is a significant factor in pool drownings. Therefore, there are laws in place that require a pool to have a fence, as standard.
Do Spas Need a Pool Fence in NSW?
A spa pool will require a secure, child-resistant structure in order to prevent access to the spa when not in use. This barrier may include options such as a door, lid, grille or mesh. If your spa does not have this, you are required to install a fence that prevents access to the spa area.
What Height Fence is Required Around a Pool?
Generally speaking, a pool fence must be at least 1200mm high from ground level, and if a boundary fence is part of the pool fence, the barrier should be 1800mm high from the pool area. There are additional requirements to these, including that the latching device must be at least 1500mm from ground level.
These are very general and non-specific measurements – for your pool fence to comply with regulations, many more factors will come into play. These include considerations such as gaps between bars, the direction in which the gate opens, and whether your pool is indoors or outdoors. For example, there can be no gaps more than 100mm in the barrier or beneath it. There must also be a 900mm Non-Climbable Zone in all directions on the outside of the barrier that extends 300mm poolside within the property & on the inside for the boundary fence.
All Cap Fencing temporary pool fences are built and installed to comply and exceed NSW regulations and requirements. For a complete and thorough understanding of NSW pool fencing requirements, for both pools and spas, please check out the Swimming Pool & Spa Alliance.
NSW Swimming Pool Registration
All swimming pools in NSW must now be registered. Follow the link below to register your pool now. Penalties apply for pools that are not registered from October 2013
www.swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au
Protecting children throughout all stages of swimming pool construction.
On sites, a certifiable permanent or temporary pool fence must be in place before filling the pool.
A permanent pool fence is required to be certified by relevant authorities BEFORE removing the temporary pool fence.
The standards are subject to copy write and can be viewed at any NSW Council or purchased from SAI Global.
- AS 1926.1-2012: Swimming pool safety Part 1: Safety barriers for swimming pools.
- AS 1926.2-2007: Swimming pool safety Part 2: Location of safety barriers for swimming pools.