Ever tried to wrap your head around pool fence regulations in Queensland? It can be a challenge at the best of times! But pool fencing regulations are critical for keeping young kids away from the water, and are routinely enforced across Queensland. It’s about maintaining a safe barrier so that no curious kids can find their way into your pool by accident.
In this article, we’ve simplified the pool fencing regulations for Queensland, so that you can quickly understand what you need to do to make your pool safe. It should be enough to get you started, but remember—rules change. It’s vital that you do your own research to ensure that your pool fence is compliant.
Pool fence height in Queensland
Let’s start by taking a quick look at the rules around pool fence heights in Queensland. To keep things simple, the height must be at least 1200mm from bottom to top. But that’s not all—you’ve also got to ensure that there are no objects within close proximity to your pool fence that could enable a child to climb the fence easily. That means vegetation must be trimmed back, and any climbable objects within 900mm of your pool fence need to be shielded, or removed altogether.
Pool fence replacement: QLD regulations
So what happens if your pool fence is looking a little worse for wear? Generally, that’s going to mean you’re up for a replacement. Some pool safety inspectors are licenced to carry out minor repair works on pool fences, such as defects relating to individual palings, hinges, or latches. But those repairs must be carried out so that your pool fence is restored to its original standard. If that’s not possible, or if you can’t find an appropriately licenced repair person, you’ll need to replace the pool fence with one that complies with current Queensland regulations.
Boundary fences vs pool fences
It’s common for Queensland pools to be directly adjacent to a boundary fence, so what does that mean in terms of the regulations? Well, it’s not unlawful to have a boundary fence that doubles as a pool fence. But there are some things that you should be aware of, if that’s the path you’re planning on taking. Most importantly, under pool safety rules in Queensland, you and your neighbour will both be responsible for maintaining the fence. And while that might sound the same as any boundary fence, you need to remember that pool fences are held to much higher standards—standards with which you will need to comply!
Rules for pool gates in Queensland
Every pool fence has a gate, and gates fall within the pool fencing regulations in Queensland. Specifically, gates need to be self-latching and spring loaded, so that they will close and latch by themselves. You’ve got to be confident that your pool gate will close every time, whether you check it or not. After all, the whole fence loses its effect if that doesn’t happen!
Tips to comply with pool fencing regulations in Qld
We’ve only covered pool fencing regulations in Queensland broadly here, so you’ll need to do your own research to ensure that your pool fence is compliant. And remember, the rules can change! So what can you do to make sure that your pool fence is safe and compliant with the Queensland rules? Our advice is to get frequent inspections from properly licensed and authorised pool safety inspectors. They have a wealth of knowledge, and they’ll be able to point out any defects, and recommend a course of action to fix them.