Pool Fence Regulations NSW: Is Your Pool Fence Up to Scratch?

Pool fence regulations NSW. Is your pool fence up to scratch? With summer fast approaching, now is the best time to make sure your pool, and, in particular, your pool fence is safe and compliant.

Pool drownings in Australia have reached almost epidemic proportions, with the 2016 / 2017 summer season seeing a significant spike in drownings across NSW. The Royal Life Saving Society reported that between 1st December 2016 until 28th February 2017, 41 people lost their lives in drowning incidences. This is a whopping 4 times the average of previous years, with 24% of those deaths occurring in backyard swimming pools.

Swimming and water sports are an integral part of  Australian culture. Australia wide we all love the water, but unfortunately, we are often complacent or unaware of the danger that water poses, particularly to our young ones. The Westmead Hospital kid’s health unit reports that drowning is the leading external cause of death in children under 5 years of age.

Drowning can happen within seconds and is often silent. While adult supervision is without a doubt the best way to prevent drownings in backyard swimming pools, ensuring your pool fence and pool safety measures are compliant with current standards is also paramount.

Pool fence regulations NSW are straightforward with the Fair Trading NSW outlining all the requirements for pool fencing through their website. As a general guide, pool fencing in NSW must:

• Be surrounded by a fence that separates the pool from the house (for pools built after 1st August 1990, with some exemptions); or
• Have access to the pool from the house restricted at all times (for pools built before 1st August 1990)

The pool fencing must also:

• Be 1.2m high or higher (measured from finished ground level)
• Not have a gap greater than 10cm at the bottom of the fence (measured from finished ground level)
• Not have gaps between any vertical bars in the fence that are greater than 10cm
• Not have horizontal bars in the fence that are less than 90cm apart

A CPR resuscitation sign must also be displayed within the pool area and all pools within NSW must be recorded on the NSW Pool Register.

Pool Fence Regulations NSW start from before the pool is full

Pool fencing requirements start from before your pool is filled with water and pool fencing requirements also apply to outdoor spas and portable swimming pools that are not emptied and stored away after each use.

If your pool fence is currently not compliant, you are installing a new pool or renovating an existing pool, then installing a temporary fence is the best way to meet compliance standards and make your pool safe and secure before you can install a more permanent solution.

Erecting a temporary fence around your portable swimming pool for the duration of summer is also the perfect solution to ensure you meet safety compliance. Applying a temporary fence around your portable pool for summer does not make any permanent changes to your backyard and it saves you the extra work of emptying and refilling your pool each day.

All the staff at Hire Rite Temporary Fence are fully trained and up to date on pool fence regulations NSW and can help you find the best solutions for your pool and site.

Give us a call today and let’s get your temporary fence installed so your swimming pool is ready to go before the weather really starts to heat up.

For full details about pool fence regulations NSW, download our swimming pool fence checklist or contact your local council direct.