To ensure you are compliant with pool and spa safety, the City is required by law to inspect pool and spa barriers.
All private swimming pools and spas capable of containing water more than 300mm deep must have a compliant barrier installed that restricts access by young children to the pool and or spa and its immediate surrounds.
Private swimming pool or spas include:
- In-ground and above-ground pools (including inflatable and portable pools)
- In-ground and above-ground spas
- Bathing or wading pools.
Safety hints
Nearly all drowning incidents can be attributed to a lack of supervision.
- Supervision means constant supervising at all times
- Supervision cannot be done through a window or through the pages of a newspaper
- If you must go inside, take the child with you - they should not be left alone in the pool or spa area at any time!
- Children cannot supervise children - this is the responsibility of an adult
- Regularly check and maintain your pool and spa safety barriers
- Encourage swimming lessons from an early age.
Design and construction elements
Fencing height, perforate materials and ground clearance
- The fence and its immediate surrounds are to be designed to form an effective barrier against child access at any point. Fencing must be a permanent structure, unable to be removed or undone by hand or key at any point. Fencing must be free of sharp edges, sharp projections and similar hazards
- Openings that are 13mm or less are deemed unclimbable. If the opening is greater than 13mm but less than 100mm, the fence must be at least 1800mm in height
- The space between the finished ground level and the lowest horizontal member of the fencing shall not exceed 100mm and the ground must be stable.
Types of materials, indentations and projections
- Fencing may be constructed of any material, provided it is durable and complies with the Australian Standard 1926.1.-2012. If the material used for the construction of the fence is suspected to be non-compliant the City may request a copy of a test report confirming its suitability.
- Any indentation, projection or gap greater than 10mm may be considered climbable. A wedge or fillet of at least 60 degrees to the horizontal can be fitted to most projections to render it unable to climb, although it must be flush with the wall/fence behind.
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Boundary barrier (dividing fences), above ground pools or spas
If a dividing fence or front fence forms part of the barrier, it must:
- Be at least 1800mm in height on the inside of the barrier
- Have 900mm non-climbable zone, measured from the top of the fence, on the inside of the barrier
- Alternatively use the non-pool side of a boundary barrier where it is at least 1200mm in height and complies with NCZ 1, 2, 3, and 4 (see diagram 15).
The walls of the pool or spa can be used as the barrier if they are not less than 1200mm in height and have no climbable projections or indentations. A fence and gate that complies with the Australian Standard 1926.1-2012 must be fitted around the designated access point to the above ground pool or spa.
Horizontal surfaces (including rods/braces/hinges)
Horizontal surfaces (including rods/ braces/hinges) Unless gaps between the verticals are 10mm or less, and horizontal rails of the fence are inaccessible or on the inside of the fence, the horizontal surfaces must be at least 900mm apart. There must be a 900mm non-climbable zone anywhere within the vertical height of the barrier.
Spacing between uprights must not exceed 100mm. Vertical members must be strong and rigid with very little flexibility.
Latching devices
Latching device - gates must be fitted with a self-latching device that will automatically operate on the closing of the gate and will prevent the gate from being re-opened without manually releasing the mechanism. The gate latch must not be able to be opened by the insertion of an implement particularly from underneath the latch. The gate latch must not be capable of being unlatched with the use of manual force (usually downwards) to the gate.
Location of latching device - gate latches must be located at least 1500mm high from the finished ground level and 1000mm above the highest lower horizontal member OR located on the inside of the gate. If located on the inside of the gate, the latch must be located at least 150mm below the top of the gate and shielded so no opening greater than 10mm occurs between the top of the gate and a radius of 450mm from the latch and below the latch. Any hand-hole to the latch must be at least 1200mm above the ground and 150mm above the latch release.
Did you know?
The City of Stirling is required by law to inspect pool and spa barriers for safety and to ensure the barriers are compliant at all times. Pool Inspectors are authorised under the entry power provisions contained within the Building Act 2011 to enter your property to conduct these inspections.
For further information about swimming pool and spa barriers, please visit the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
If an inspection is required, please make an appointment via the Contact Centre on (08) 9205 8555.
