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Do you own a pool in Sydney? Are you concerned about pool safety? Do you have a valid pool safety certificate in Sydney? If you don't have this, you should organise a pool inspection by an Accredited Certifier in Sydney to advise you how to keep safe and maintained for years to come.
NSW laws specify that a pool fence must be in place before the pool is filled with water. The pool barrier must be at least 1200mm high, non-climbable with outward opening self-latching and self-closing gates. If a Boundary Fence is acting as a barrier, that fence must be 1800mm in height.
When a pool fence is relatively new, and the landscaping is minimal, we rarely find any major non compliances. However, with the increasing age of the pool fencing, and increasing complexity of the landscaping features, the number of non compliances often grows, as does the cost of rectifying them.
Whilst pool owners usually have a maintenance routine in place for their water & filtration equipment, the condition of the pool gate and fences is often put to the back of the mind. Take a moment to give your fence and gate an inspection. The pool enclosure is not secure if the gate is faulty or there are maintenance issues with the fencing.
Here are a few things you should look for as a part of a regular maintenance program for your swimming pool gates & fences:
1. You should make sure the pool gate self-latches reliably from any open position.
The ground supporting your gate posts can settle over time. Children may swing on your gate, adding more stress to the support posts. This could be why the latch no longer aligns as the gate closes.
With fencing installed to a deck, the fence posts may only be attached to the deck timbers rather than solid ground below. This will adversely affect reliable gate operation and require your attention.
2. How do I adjust the self-closing gate?
There are three factors that affect the adjustment of your self-closing gate:
- Make sure the gate's support posts are plumb and fully secured in the ground - if loose they may need to re-plumbed and cemented in place.
- The vertical height adjustment of the magnetically triggered latch requires adjustment
- The horizontal catch alignment (on the swinging frame) requires adjustment
3. For additional protection - use a pool gate alarm
As an added layer of security, consider the installation of a pool gate alarm to your pool gate. This will give you an audible alarm if the gate does not self-close and self-latch correctly within a fixed period of time. Make sure to test the functionality of the alarm regularly.
5. You should keep all unnecessary things away from the pool fence.
You might lean your ladder up or put your pot plants against the fence. Surely, your toddler won't figure it out. For the pool safety, you should keep anything that would help someone get over the fence should be at least 900mm away from the fence.
A toddler might figure out how to climb onto a chair and then climb over the fence more easily. Remember toddlers are attracted to the water and if there is a way into the pool, they will find it!
6. You should check the pool fence for repair.
Older style timber paling fences do not last for ever - palings deteriorate, may become loose or your your neighbour's dog might have dug under the fence! We recommend you do a thorough check once per year to check for any deteriorated or missing fence boards. Fences must be in good condition to gain certification. Fences with gaps of more than 100mm between or below will not pass certification inspection.
Don't forget to check the height of your pool barriers. They may have been 1200mm when installed but have you made changes? Did you install a deck or a raised garden bed that reduces the barrier height? Perhaps the ground level has sunk, revealing gaps of more than 100mm below the pool barrier? If you are unsure what to look for, just head to http://www.swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au and download a checklist appropriate to the age of your pool. You can then use it as a guide to look for defects.
7. You should never consider propping your gate open.
We are alarmed to still see pool owners propping their gates open - they use pot plants or rocks and some even attach a wire or rope with a hook to the fence for the specific purpose of propping the gate open! Pool owners are surprised to find that this is not only dangerous but illegal in NSW. If the certifier arrives to find a propped gate, this is an immediate failed inspection. Clearly a small child can wander into the pool when a gate is not locked.
Do not forget that no BBQ's, clothes line, kids play equipment such as trampolines or swingsets, dining tables and the like must never be placed inside the pool enclosure as these activities detract from active supervision of children.
8. Active Supervision - know where your toddlers are
This is especially critical for pool owners who have friends or relatives arrive with small children who may be playing outside with less than adequate supervision. The older child may open the pool gate for the younger ones, not realising the looming danger. In these situations, we recommend you assign one adult to watch the children to ensure they don't enter the pool enclosure unsupervised.
9. Ensure your Resuscitation Sign is legible and in an appropriate location
Your CPR Sign will likely be sun-resistant which means it does have a limited life of around 3-5 years.
Once the wording and instructions on the CPR Sign have faded, the Sign will need to be replaced. The most appropriate position for the CPR Sign is within the pool enclosure, near to the shallow end as well as near to a gate. An adequate area to allow for the patient to lay to receive CPR is recommended with the CPR Sign close by so that instructions can be followed more easily.
Conclusion -
Want to get a pool safety certificate in Sydney? Do your research and hire the best to help you with pool certification in Sydney. Keep your swimming pool safe and maintained to enjoy swimming all year-round. Get started today to be sure your pool will pass the pool certification inspection first time.
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