Please note that information in this article was based on trends from 2015 and may now be outdated.
When keeping your swimming pool safe especially for kids, it’s not enough that you build any type of fence around it. Your pool fence should also comply with pool fencing regulations in Australia; this assures you that your fence has the features needed to prevent accidents such as drowning.
Each state in Australia has their own specific fencing requirements, but there are general regulations that apply to all the states. Here’s a list:
- The minimum height of pool fencing is 1.2m.
- The gap between the ground and the bottom of the pool fencing must not exceed 10cm.
- The gap between any panels or palings must not be more than 10cm.
- The gate of your pool fence must open outwards, and it must be self-closing and self-latching. Its latch must be placed on the inside of the gate so that you’ll need to reach over the gate to open it; this prevents children from easily accessing them. If you wish to have the latch on the outside of the gate, make sure that it’s at least 1.5m high.
- No climbable objects should be found within at least 90cm of the pool fence. Trees, pot plants, outdoor furniture, BBQs, and so on can be used by kids to help them climb over the fence.
- Walls can form part of your pool fencing but make sure that the swimming pool is not directly accessible from your home. There are cases wherein this type of structure is allowed, but self-closing and self-latching doors, as well as child-resistant windows, must be installed.
- For indoor pools, you must have self-closing and self-latching doors that open outwards away from the pool. They must also be child-resistant so that kids can’t go in and out whenever they feel like it.
Of course, your pool fence should be made from durable material. If you’re considering special types of fences like glass pool fencing, make sure to engage the services of a professional. ServiceSeeking.com.au has a list of top pool fencing installers.