Swimming Pool Safety Regulations 2004

regulation 6

1. Interpretation

inside, in relation to a swimming pool barrier, means the side of the barrier that faces the pool area.

outside, in relation to a swimming pool barrier, means the side of the barrier that faces away from the pool area.

(2) A reference in these guidelines to a measurement on the outside of a swimming pool barrier is, in relation to a dividing barrier, a reference to a measurement on the inside of the dividing barrier.

(3) These guidelines do not require any action to be taken by any person on adjoining premises to ensure a dividing barrier complies with the Community Safety Standard.

2. Swimming pool barrier

(2) The swimming pool barrier should have the effect of isolating the swimming pool from the main entrance to the premises at which the swimming pool is situated and from any other means of access to the premises.

(3) Driveway gates should not be used as part of the swimming pool barrier.

(4) The swimming pool barrier must be high enough to prevent a child from gaining unsupervised access to the swimming pool (unless subclause (5) applies – approximately 1.2 m at all points measured vertically from the outside of the barrier).

(5) If the swimming pool barrier is made of chainmesh, the height of the swimming pool barrier should be approximately 1.7 m at all points measured vertically from the outside of the swimming pool barrier.

(6) All horizontal rails should be a suitable distance apart (a minimum of approximately 900 mm) or have some means of preventing a child from gaining unsupervised access to the swimming pool.

(7) Apertures in the swimming pool barrier should not be greater than approximately 100 mm.

3. Use of part of perimeter boundary as swimming pool barrier

Although section 11(2) of the Act precludes the whole of a perimeter boundary from being used as a swimming pool barrier, it does not prevent any part of the perimeter boundary that forms a dividing barrier from being used as a swimming pool barrier.

4. Gates in swimming pool barriers

(1) Any gate that forms part of the swimming pool barrier should open away from the swimming pool and should automatically self-close and self-latch (including when at rest on the latching mechanism).

(2) The latching release mechanism should be a minimum of approximately 1.5 m from the ground, and a minimum of approximately 1.4 m from the highest point of the lower horizontal part of the swimming pool barrier, measured vertically on the outside of the swimming pool barrier.

(3) Double gates are not suitable to form part of the swimming pool barrier.

(4) At no time should any gate forming part of the swimming pool barrier be propped open.

5. Doors in swimming pool barriers

(1) Any door that forms part of the swimming pool barrier should automatically self-close and self-latch (including when at rest on the latching mechanism).

(2) The release for the latching device, or the bottom of the door handle, should be a minimum of approximately 1.5 m measured vertically above the ground level.

(3) Double doors are not suitable to form part of the swimming pool barrier.

6. Windows in swimming pool barriers

Any window that forms part of the swimming pool barrier should not have an unscreened gap of more than approximately 100 mm that is accessible by a child.

7. General safety matters

(1) Vegetation within the premises at which the swimming pool is situated that could assist a child to gain unsupervised access to the swimming pool should be cleared to a distance of approximately 1.2 m.

(2) Objects that might assist a child to climb over the swimming pool barrier to gain unsupervised access to the swimming pool should not be placed against or close to the swimming pool barrier.