Mandatory requirements for a pool fence

It is now law in most states and territories in Australia to erect a safety fence around your pool to protect you and your family from pool related accidents. The fencing you choose must meet with Australian Standards safety regulations but as these can vary between local authorities, you will need to check with your local council before choosing or erecting a fence around your pool.

Pool fencing: Legal requirements

While there can be variations on some issues throughout localities, the basic standards for pool safety fences are:

• The fence must comply with AS 1926.1 requirements
• Fence must be a minimum of 1.2 metres tall
• Gates must have self closing hinges and latch attachments
• Gates must have locks
• Construction of the fence must be completed within six months of construction work commencing on the pool
• A building permit must be obtained to erect a pool safety fence

Primarily designed to prevent children from gaining unsupervised access to the pool, the fence needs to be devoid of footholds, high enough to prevent access over the top and gate latches need to be out of child reach. Gates should open outwards too and fitted in such a way that they will close and latch automatically with latches a minimum of 1.5 metres from the ground.

The space beneath the fence is important too and the maximum space allowed between the bottom of the fence and the ground is 100mm.

You can have walls as part of your pool fence but if they have windows or doors then both would be required to have self locking or latching devices at a minimum of 1.5 metres from the ground.

Types of pool fencing

Any material is acceptable for pool fencing as long as it is durable and carries all the safety features. Many fencing companies offer an extensive range of safe attractive functional pool fences to suit any decor. Pool fences are usually manufactured from aluminium (especially good for salt water pools and coastal areas) which are then powder coated only or pre-galvanized and powder coated and there are lots of colours and finishes.