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If you’re in the middle of constructing a new pool or getting the fence of your old pool refurbished, you’ve probably wondered about pool fence height and the minimum height a pool fence has to be. These rules are law nationally across Australia, and are extremely important to follow, as you can be fined for not complying. Thankfully, because the regulations are standard across the country, it’s very easy to learn the information you need. Read on to learn about the mandated pool fence height requirements, why they’re important, and how to get yours approved.
Pool Fence Height Victoria
In Victoria, and Australia as a whole, any swimming pool or spa containing more than 30 centimetres of water must have an appropriate pool fence or barrier. These are the specific regulations”
- By Australian law, the minimum height of a pull fence is 1.2 metres off the ground.
- The barrier must have self-closing and self-latching gates.
- The gate must open outward.
- If the pool is up against your home’s boundary fence, the boundary barrier must be 1.8 metres high.
- The gate latch must be 1500 millimeters off the ground, with a gate that always opens outwards.
- Meanwhile, the maximum gap between the bottom of the fence and the ground is 100mm.
- If you’re getting a mesh or perforated fence, the holes cannot be greater than 13 millimeters.
Why Pool Fence Height Matters
Due to Australia being known for its hot summers and beach culture, it’s logical that as time went by, more and more homeowners started building personal pools in their backyards and homes. As the existence of prefabricated fibreglass pools became more available in the 1970’s, the rate of drownings skyrocketed, especially for children under five years old.
This is why pool fencing laws are so specific. Children are naturally curious and are likely to try and climb over fences or squeeze through gaps to go to areas that interest them. By making sure your fence is built to regulation, you can avoid unnecessary and preventable harm or death. Even if you don’t have young children, pool fences are still essential barriers preventing pets or inebriated persons from accidentally falling into the pool. In sum: these laws are a net good for society, and have empirically saved many from drowning.
Getting a Certificate of Barrier Compliance
When you register your new swimming pool with your local council, you also need to have your pool fences—legally referred to as “safety barriers”—inspected and lodged with a certificate of barrier compliance. There are many inspection services you can hire to inspect your pool. Get different quotes to find out which ones are the best for you. These inspections can be carried out by a registered building surveyor, building inspector, pool inspector, or municipal building surveyor. If your barrier is compliant and successfully passes the inspection, you will earn a certificate of barrier compliance. You will need to update your certificate every four years, as regular maintenance is required to make sure your pool remains compliant.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
In Victoria, there isn’t a fixed penalty fee for having a non-compliant pool, as they’re very dependent on the circumstances of the offence. The average fine for non-compliance can range from 1,652 AUD for minor offences and escalate to 8,261 AUD for serious offence. They can go as high as nearly 20,000 AUD in fees for repeat offenders who have been negligent in maintaining their pool fence. So don’t skimp on your pool fencing duties!
Choose Precision Glass Fencing as Your Next Pool Fence Builders
After reading this guide, you’ll now have a clear understanding of the minimum height for pool fencing, what makes a pool fence compliant, and why these laws are so important. By complying with these standards, you aren’t just following the law, but you are greatly reducing the likelihood of any fatal accidents occurring in your home.
If you want pool fencing that is safe, robust, but also sleek and beautiful, you can’t do better than hiring Precision Glass Fencing. Our glass panes come in a variety of preselected sizes and styles. We can also create completely custom pane sizes and spacings as we manufacture our glass fencing ourselves. Whether you want an aluminium fence, a semi-frameless glass fence, or a completely frameless glass fence, Precision Glass can provide everything you need.
Interested? Get in touch with us today! We will dazzle and impress you with our stellar and cordial service. Let us transform your pool to be the height of safety and style.