There are several reasons why installing pool fence is a wise idea. Safety barriers provide privacy and necessary safety for your swimming pool. Pool fences can prevent small children and uninvited guests from entering the pool.
Kids’ unsupervised access to the pool can cause accidents such as pool entrapment and drownings. To minimise these pool dangers, pool owners should build safe pool fencing.
Apart from that, you also want your pool barriers to be good-looking. So how can you have a safe yet compliant pool without overlooking aesthetics? Below are some things to keep in mind when installing an attractive pool fence considering safety regulations.
Pool owners’ responsibilities
Pool owners should install safety barriers that meet certain regulatory requirements and safety specifications. Before utilising your pool, there should be a pool fence to protect your family, especially youngsters from possible injuries around the pool. Listed below are some of your responsibilities as pool owners.
- You must register your pool online to NSW Swimming pool register.
- You should regularly check your pool barriers to confirm that it is in its best condition.
- Inspect your fence if there are any holes or broken panels that would allow small children to pass through it.
- Keep your safety barriers well-maintained by repairing and replacing any broken section immediately.
- Ensure there are no vegetation, garden or trees close to the fence that can be used to climb over and access to the pool.
- You are also required to have your pools inspected by local council or safety pool certifier to make sure it complies with Australian Standards.
There are certain requirements that you must meet in order to comply with pool compliance regulations. Taking these pool standards into consideration can help you achieve a secure swimming pool.
Height
Your pool fence and barriers must have a minimum height of 1.2m.
Horizontal spacing
Pool fence that runs horizontally must be spaced no less than 900mm apart.
Vertical spacing
Pool fence that runs vertically should have a space not less than 100mm.
Ground spacing
Spacing between the ground and bottom of a fence should be no more than 100mm. This applies to all perimeters of you swimming pool.
After following the pool fencing law, you will have peace of mind knowing that your kids are well-protected by a child-resistant barrier.
Aside from keeping your pool safe, you may also be thinking about how to make it beautiful and pleasing. Thus, you should plan carefully on what type of pool fence you should build.
Planning to build your safety barriers
When planning to build your pool barriers, safety should be the first thing to consider. However, you can also build a pool safety fence according to your preferred design.
There are various pool fence choices available today. You can select from glass pool fence, aluminium and mesh pool fencing.
Glass fences are transparent pool barriers. It is more appealing than other types of fence because your pool can become more visible. However, glass fences can cost you more compared to standard aluminium fence.
If you have a large backyard area, aluminium fence is more suitable for your pool. It is lightweight and durable. It is not only easy to clean, but also resists corrosion and has low maintenance requirements.
Mesh pool fences are very versatile. It suits pool owners who have kids because it is difficult to be climbed over. It also keeps your pool cleaner than other types of pool fence because mesh fabric can block wind-blown debris and leaves.
Fencing your pool is required by law. This legislation for pool fencing has specific requirements you must abide. While it is a necessity, it can also be used to enhance the attractiveness of your swimming pool area.
Compliance and design can be achieved at the same time
In terms of pool safety and compliance, it is important to understand the pool fence laws in NSW. You can seek professional advice to ensure that your pool barriers will meet the legal requirements.
Pool Safety guidelines are sometimes neglected when planning and constructing the pool fence. As a result, you may encounter certain problems. In most cases, it can cost you more money. For example, a beautifully built pool barrier will have to be renovated when a pool compliance inspector reports that it is not compliant with the law.
Building a pool fence is expensive, so you have to make sure that it complis with the regulation the first time when you construct it. Having a pleasing and compliant pool fence can be costly, but it is more satisfactory to ensure that both compliance and design can both be attained.
Since safety is the number one priority, you can always plan ahead to achieve aesthetics at the same time. Regardless of what type of pool barriers you choose, it is important to make sure you have a certified pool fence. When you take these things into consideration, you will have a wonderful fence that is safe for everyone.
Conclusion
Having a beautiful and compliant pool barrier seems to be difficult and expensive to achieve at the same time, but you have to understand safety pool compliance before installing your attractive fence to avoid possible dangers around and in the pool.
Collaborating with a professional private certifier is recommended. A pool safety inspector can conduct a complete compliance inspection on your pool fence. They can help you ensure your swimming pool is safe for you and for your family.