One of the advantages of living in such beautiful climate as we do here on the Gold Coast is being able to enjoy a swim in your own backyard pool. If you’re lucky enough to have a swimming pool in your backyard you can enjoy it virtually all year round if you wish. Pool heating and pool shading help make it a more usable environment in the harshest months of summer and winter.

In warm and sunny weather, a pool makes a great centrepiece for entertaining, exercising or just for relaxing by. While your pool can be fun for all the family, there is a serious side too. Safety. In the past few years’ rules have changed regarding pool safety. In this blog post we’ll discuss the current Queensland pool fencing regulations so you’ll not only be compliant with laws but safe as well.

A spa is considered to be a swimming pool if it has a filtration system and can hold at least 300mm of water. For most home owners, this means treating your spa in the same manner as you would a pool. Child-proof and enclosed behind pool fencing.

Surprisingly, there is no single one document that sets out pool fencing regulations for Queensland. Certified pool safety inspectors are able to obtain documents in order to cross-check and interpret local government requirements.

Pool fencing is naturally one of the critical pool safety factors so it’s important that it’s done correctly. There are rules regarding gates, barriers, openings, as well as rules around climbable objects attached or built into pool fencing.

If you are a private homeowner and you have a swimming pool on your property you are required to get your pool inspected and certified only if you are selling or leasing your property. If you are selling your property it is allowable to instead issue the buyer with a “Form 36” (Notice of No Pool Safety Certificate). If you choose to issue a “Form 36” you do not need to have your pool inspected before the sale because the buyer must make sure that the pool is compliant with regulations within 90 days of the settlement date.

If you are contacted by a pool safety inspector by letter and you believe that your pool is compliant you may disregard the letter. You need only act if you are selling or leasing your property.

In Queensland, all pools must be compliant with the December 2010 pool regulations by 30th November 2015. Your pool must be registered with the Department of Housing and Public Works by 4^th November 2011.

When choosing a pool safety inspector make sure that the pool inspector is licenced to carry out repairs (most aren’t). This means choosing pool safety inspector that has an unconditional licence.

If you’re considering upgrading your pool fencing or you need new pool fencing give us a call. We have a range of pool fencing options that will bring you pool safety piece of mind and fit your budget.