Swimming pools are often one of the centerpieces of your home. It is the place where your family can gather and bond together to have fun or simply just to cool down.
However, although a swimming pool can be a wonderful asset, it can also be a source of stress.
As a pool owner, you are responsible for the safety of your family. Your pool should always be well maintained. A quality pool compliance and safety inspection of your swimming pool guarantees that you're doing necessary works to ensure your swimming pool is compliant with the latest pool fence regulation and it is safe for the whole family to use.
Having an inspection with a licensed/certified inspector will provide a fresh perspective and find not only the non-compliance aspects of your pool fence and then fix them as well as the unsafe issue with the swimming pool.
You can then address these issues and correct them before they turn into heavy penalty from council or pool accident/tragedy for your family. Below are some answers to questions that clear up your confusion before asking an inspector for help.
1. How do I find out if my pool is registered and how do I register my pool?
You can visit NSW pool registry to check if your pool is registered. If your pool is not listed in the registry, you can register on the website. There is a form that asks information about your swimming pool that you must fill.
After registering your pool, you can ask assistance from pool certifier to help you obtain the certificate of compliance.
2. Do all Pool Compliance Inspector required to be licensed and insured?
All pool certifiers must be licensed to be able to operate their businesses. Safety inspectors help identify potential hazards and necessary repairs and advise you of options to solve any pool compliance and safety problems. The inspector will give you a full written report. It will take within a day or two after the inspection, or email you a copy.
3. Do Pool Safety Inspectors carry out minor repairs?
A pool owner should understand that NOT every pool safety certifier can carry out minor repairs to make the pool comply with the pool regulation standard in NSW. However, pool owners and property agents must note that some pool inspectors are only E1 certifier, which means that they don't provide pool repair services for pool compliance.
Thus you must hire a private certifier is capable of doing pool repairs and then fix your pool issues which help you get a certificate of compliance.
4. How long does a pool fence inspection take?
Pool fence inspection depends on the style of swimming pool or spa. Usually pools have different safety issues to be fixed. However, a regular backyard swimming pool inspection can usually be completed in 60-90 minutes onsite. The report of the inspection takes 2-3 working days to generate after the inspection.
5. What happens after the inspection?
If your pool is compliant after the inspection, pool certifier will issue a certificate of compliance.
However, if the pool inspector examined that your swimming pool poses a significant risk to public safety, a notice of non-compliance will be forwarded to the local authority immediately.
6. If my pool is non-compliant, how long do I have to get compliant after the inspection?
If your swimming pool is not compliant with the local regulation in NSW, your certifier will issue a notice and certificate of non-compliance. You will have 90 days to fixed the non-compliant issues.
This notice provides reasons why your pool is not compliant and the steps that need to be taken in order to achieve compliance. The owner will then have a period of six weeks to attend to the areas of non-compliance and arrange for a re-inspection.
7. Do I need to have my pool fence re-inspected if I change my pool barrier even though I have a current Certificate of Compliance?
If you’re planning to change your pool barrier, you should make sure that the changes meet the Australian Standard. When the upgrade of the pool safety barrier is complete, you must get a compliance certificate.
If your pool fencer has already have a compliance certificate, you should apply for a variation to make changes to them. If the upgrade you want meets the requirements of the Modified Australian Standard, a new compliance certificate must be issued.
8. How long does a Certificate of Compliance last?
Obtaining a pool fence compliance certificate guarantees that your pool is secured. It also verifies that it has been inspected by a licensed pool fence inspector and complied with the pool safety regulation in NSW. A certificate of compliance can only be issued by a licensed pool safety inspector or your local council. Certificate of compliance can last 3 years.
Conclusion
Pool accidents can cause death and long-term physical and mental disabilities. Drowning has been a leading cause of injury deaths in NSW for years and small children are at highest risk, particularly around residential pools. Thus, pool compliance and safety inspection must be carried out.