Pool Fencing Rules & Information

Pool Safety

Pelican Panels are about providing security, preserving privacy, enhancing aesthetics and ensuring pool safety.
Owning a backyard pool brings a lot of family fun and enjoyment, however as a swimming pool or spa pool owner, you are responsible for safety.
Drowning is the biggest cause of accidental death for young children. Most happen in private backyard swimming pools. You are required to reduce the risk of accidents in your swimming pool or spa pool by installing appropriate safety barriers and ensuring young children are supervised at all times.

Pool Fencing

All swimming or spa pools are required to have a continuous safety barrier maintained by the pool owner that restricts access to the pool by young children.

Pool Fencing needs to be constructed in such a way to ensure:

  • It is an effective barrier to young children
  • young children cannot crawl under the barrier, nor climb over it using foot and hand holds
  • it is a permanent barrier
  • Height: Minimum height 1.2 metres finished height (at top of top rail) and any boundary fences used as part of the barrier are at least 1.8 metres high wherever the property boundary faces the pool. A 900 millimetres non-climbable zone is required in the fencing.

Gates to the pool area must:

  • swing away from the pool area
  • be self-closing and self latching.
  • Latch must be at least 1.5 metres above ground level.

Spas

Hard spa covers, even if child resistant, can not be used as safety barriers instead of fencing for above-ground spa pools because:

  • when the cover is off the spa pool there is no barrier at all
  • there are no current regulatory standards for these spa pool covers.

As the owner of a poor or spa, you must ensure that all required pool safety features are maintained, and in working order at all times. 

Gates should never be propped open (no drop bolts on pool gates) and gates must close and latch every time it is opened. 

Close child supervision will help to reduce the number of drownings in private swimming pools.

New Pool Application & Development

Development approval is required for a new swimming pool, spa pool and safety fencing. Your local council will check:

  • structural support strength
  • pump and other utilities safety
  • the details and location of safety barriers
  • location of signage (if required) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Fencing must be installed prior to putting water into the pool or spa.

Above Ground or Inflatable Pools & Portable Spa Pools

If the pool or spa pool has a filtration system you must:

The sides of an above-ground pool can be a suitable safety barrier if:

  • they are non-climbable and are at least 1.2 metres high
  • a barrier is installed around the ladder (even if it is removable), and anything else that can be climbed on to gain access to the pool or spa.
View gallery of pool safety fencing products

Legal obligations when selling a house with a swimming pool

Pools built before 1 July 1993

If the property you are selling has a swimming pool or spa pool, you are responsible for ensuring that all current safety requirements for swimming pool safety are met. This may mean you must upgrade fencing or barriers.

If the property with the pool or spa is not for sale, the pool can continue to comply with the old Swimming Pools Safety Act 1972. The Act requires the owner to ensure that the swimming pool is enclosed by a fence, wall or building to restrict access by young children.

If the property is sold after 1 October 2008, the child-safety barriers must comply with Ministerial Building Standard MBS 004 – Swimming pool safety – designated safety features for pools built before 1 July 1993 prior to settlement. This means that barriers must be installed to separate the pool area from the house wherever possible.

Pools built on or after 1 July 1993

Spas or pools built on or after 1 July 1993 must comply with the rules that were current when the application for construction was submitted. This includes the provisions of the Development Act 1993 or the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 and the Building Code of Australia to restrict access to the pool from the house, garage, street and any adjoining properties.

Source: SA Government Department for Trade & Investment

If you are unsure on any of the above you can contact Pelican Panels for advice. If we cannot help you we will share contact details of our Preferred Pool Compliance Officers.

Phone (08) 8384 2736

Office:
Monday-Thursday 9am-3pm
Friday 9am – 1.30pm

Factory:
Monday-Thursday 7am-4pm
Friday 7am – 1.30pm