australian pool fence regulations

Source: Kids Health SCHN

Inadequate pool fencing remains a major contributing factor in the rate of drowning among children under 5 years of age.

Key pool safety requirements in NSW are outlined below. The Office of Local Government is responsible for administering these laws. To make sure you meet your full legal responsibilities, please contact your local council for more detailed information.

Please be aware that the pool fencing laws relate to NSW only – there are different laws in other Australian states and territories.

The requirements for child-resistant barriers vary depending on when the pool was built and where the pool is located.

Access to the pool from the house must be restricted at all times. Windows and doors may form part of the barrier, but they must be compliant.

The pool must be surrounded by a fence that separates the pool from the house. Some exemptions apply if the pool is part of:

• a very small property (less than 230 square metres)
• a large property (2 hectares or over)
• a waterfront property.

All new pools must be surrounded by a fence that separates the pool from the house.

Owners of premises with swimming pools, including inflatable swimming pools, must ensure their pools comply with fencing laws.

Pool owners should ensure that their fencing meets the required measurements below. This is to stop a young child being able to squeeze under or between gaps in a fence, or being able to climb over it.

In NSW, a pool fence must:

• be at least 1.2m high (as measured from the finished ground level)
• not leave a gap at the bottom bigger than 10cm from the finished ground level
• not have gaps of more than 10cm between any vertical bars in the fence
• if containing horizontal climbable bars, have these spaced at least 90cm apart.

If your pool fencing does not satisfy these requirements, contact a licensed builder, pool technician or fencing contractor straight away.

To prevent children climbing over fencing into the pool area, the laws require pool owners to make sure they maintain a ‘non-climbable zone’ around the pool.

Any trees, shrubs or any other objects such as a barbeque, pot plants, toys, ladders and chairs must not be within the 90cm non climbable zone. This zone is measured in an arc shape from the top of the pool fence arching towards the ground. It also includes the space extending 30cm inside the pool area – this space should also be cleared of any potential footholds or handholds.

Any horizontal climbable bars on the pool fence must also be spaced AT LEAST 90cm apart.

If your pool area does not meet these requirements, you can contact a licensed builder, pool technician or fencing contractor to carry out work in line with these safety requirements.

Some older swimming pools might include doors or windows as part of the pool fence or barrier. This is no longer allowed in for any new pools being built.

Doors in pool barriers

If you have a door that forms part of a pool barrier you must make sure that:

• it self closes
• it self latches
• the latching device is at least 150cm off the ground
• it has a non climbable zone of 90cm that is at least 120cm above the floor
• it opens outwards from the pool enclosure
• it does not have any pet doors.

If all of the above criteria are not satisfied, you will need to take the necessary action to ensure that any door that is part of a pool barrier complies with these requirements.

Windows in pool barriers

If you have windows that form part of a pool barrier, they must have a locking device or a security screen that prevents them from opening more than 10cm.