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Pool Fencing

How safe is your pool fencing? This is a question that has been asked time and time again as, tragically, there are still too many children under the age of five drowning in backyard swimming pools. Therefore, safety is a paramount concern when it comes to pools and spas, and there are strict legal requirements that need to be adhered to when installing pool fencing. Of course, as well as pool fencing, children should always be supervised by an adult whenever they are in or near the pool area.

Since 1991, strict new regulations have been put in place regarding fencing for inground and aboveground pools and spas. 1994 also saw the introduction of legislation that requires pools built before 1991 to be upgraded to provide effective safety barriers. Following are some nation-wide pool fencing requirements. As always, if you are unsure of anything, simply speak to your pool building professional or the local council for advice that is relevant to your situation.

Fencing Requirements and Regulations

• fences and gates must be at least 1.2 metres tall
• chain wire or mesh fences must be at least 1.8 metres tall with an additional angled section of 45 centimetres
• the area between the bottom of the fence and the ground must be no more than 100 millimetres
• any spaces between the vertical members of the fence (palings etc) must be no more than 100 millimetres
• gates must only open outwards and it needs to close and latch automatically
• the gate latch must be situated 1.5 metres from the ground or at 1.2 metres if the latch is reached over the fence
• walls as part of the fence is allowable providing that doors and windows have self locking or latching devices at least 1.5 metres above floor level
• paling fences are an acceptable part of the overall pool fence if it is at least 1.5 metres in height and any gates within the paling fence have self locking or latching devices also at least 1.5 metres above ground level
• any material can be used for fencing as long as it is durable and has a reasonable life span when exposed to pool chemicals, water and weather conditions

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