A swimming pool can be a fun place for people of all ages to enjoy a little dip, splash, or just lazily float atop. Many childhood memories are formed at the swimming pool, and it’s also a great place to lounge for adults and to meet and mingle casually.
Whether it’s your own private pool or a pool available to the general public, it’s essential to uphold not just the fun part of pools but to do so with safety in mind first and foremost. Safety and regulatory compliance are key for swimming pools, and there are several regulations in NSW and other states and territories in Australia regarding the construction of swimming pools and the features they must have for safety reasons.
Here are a few quick tips on how to build (or maintain) a safe and compliant swimming pool in Sydney & NSW:
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Install a safe and compliant pool fence
Every swimming pool in Sydney must have a child-resistant safety barrier erected whenever the pool is deeper than 300mm. The swimming pool fencing itself must be at least 1200mm tall, contain self-closing, self-latching gates, and not have gaps underneath exceeding 100mm. Any boundary fence surrounding the pool should be at least 1800mm tall.
Many other regulations pertaining to swimming pool safety can be found in Swimming Pools Regulation 2018 as well as various Australian Standards. Is there a lot of red tape for installing a pool? Yes. But keep in mind that all of this is necessary for the safety of children (and adults, too) and to ensure that accident risks are minimised.
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Make sure to register your pool and have it inspected
If you’re setting up a little inflatable pool to cool off during the summer, let’s be honest, it’s not going to be a big deal, and you don’t need to run through red tape just to set it up. But we’re not talking about inflatable pools, and if you’re building an in-ground or above-ground permanent swimming pool, then you’ll need to go through the necessary steps for registering it as well as its surrounding fence/barrier.
Your pool must be registered with your state or territory (NSW if you’re in Sydney, of course). When selling, leasing, or renting a property that has a pool, you must obtain a pool safety certificate as well.
Pool barriers also need compliance certificates, which often have to be renewed every few years. These certificates are essential because they demonstrate ongoing adherence and compliance to safety regulations, so don’t neglect these important aspects of owning a pool.
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Use slip-resistant pool surfaces
When building your pool, always make sure that the contractor is using slip-resistant surfaces. Drainage should also be managed professionally, since puddling and standing water pose immediate or long-term hazards such as slipping or attracting mosquitoes.
Slipping is perhaps the most common cause of injury in swimming pools, so minimising slipping by having slip-resistant surfaces is a natural consideration.
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Put up safety signage
The Swimming Pools Regulation 2018, mentioned previously, outlines many requirements of pool owners to properly display signage. CPR signage, as well as informational signage, e.g. deep end is X metres deep, NO DIVING, etc., can all help users remain safe and mitigate injuries. It can also provide them with fast solutions in the event of a medical emergency.
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Supervise the pool and keep stock of safety equipment
Your pool should always be well-maintained, whether it’s your private pool at home in your garden or a public pool that you own/manage. Chlorination, cleaning up debris such as leaves or branches, and filtering out water regularly are all routine chores one must perform.
You should also regularly perform inventory checks of your stocks of safety equipment, such as flotation devices or first aid kits.
Mint Fencing in Sydney
Start building your pool with quality fencing materials from Mint Fencing, your trusted fencing contractors in Sydney.