A Guide to Swimming Pool Certification in New South Wales

New South Wales, like every other Australian state, has recently amended The Swimming Pool Act of 1992, which means that every pool or spa must be certified as safe to use. Failure to comply will result in fines being levied, and with that in mind, here is an overview of the swimming pool certification process in New South Wales.

Safety First

To prevent children and pets from drowning, the pool area must be suitably fenced in, with the correct form of gating fitted, and if you are looking for a swimming pool fence certificate in Sydney, there are local companies who are accredited to certify pools and spas.

Pool Fencing

This is one area that the assessor will focus on, and the pool fencing should be of a suitable height for the pool size, and there should be no gaps larger than 100mm, including the underside of the fencing. The fencing must be of solid construction and comply with local authority guidelines, and if you are unsure about that, talk to an accredited pool certification company.

Climbing Hazards

The area outside the pool area must be completely clear of climbing hazards; objects that a child might use to climb over the pool fencing, and these include the following:

• Trees and shrubs – Trees and shrubs that are within 1200mm of the pool fencing must be removed.
• Furniture Items – Anything that is close to the pool fencing that could be used to climb over the fencing.

Inside the Pool Area

There must be signage that instructs how to carry out CPR, which must be visible from any location within the pool area. There must be no furniture within the pool area, with the exception of fixed slides and pool filtration equipment, so tables, chairs and BBQs need to be placed outside the pool area.

Certificate of Non-Compliance

Any person that wishes to sell their property that has a pool or spa that does not conform to the requirements will be issued with a non-compliance certificate, and should they wish to sell the property, the new owner has a period of 90 days to become compliant. While you can sell your home with a non-compliance certificate, this is one more thing that the new owner will have to do upon completion of the sale, so it is better for all concerned if you have the pool certified prior to putting the property on the market.

Online Solutions

If your pool has yet to be certified, search online for an accredited pool certification firm, and with their help, your pool will soon be certified as safe for use. Prior to arranging the pool inspection, you are advised to check the pool area and fencing and make sure that everything is as it should be. Any trees or fauna that is within 1200mm of the pool fencing should be removed, as this will be considered a climbing hazard that could be used by a child to climb over the pool fencing.

Safety around any pool is essential, and should there ever be an accident and it was found that your pool area did not have adequate safety precautions, you could be sued.