Following the local pool safety requirements for your pool fence and barriers is essential to help reduce accidents in and around pool area. NSW pool owners must obey the pool regulations and safety standards that were implemented by Australian government.
Pool compliance regulation was amended to make sure swimming pools are safe for use. Obtaining a swimming pool compliance certificate means that your pool meets the legal requirement.
Private inspectors can assist you in getting a pool compliant certificate. Some of them can perform inspections and provide repair services to ensure that your swimming pool obeys the law.
For the convenience of the pool owners, swimming pool register provided a self-assessment list on their website. Based on it, we created this quick guide that can help you get your pool certificate of compliance successfully.
How to self-evaluate a pool?
As a pool owner, you will need to make sure that your children and other pool users are safe around the pool area. You can self-assess your pool in order to know if it is safe and compliant with the legislation.
Here are some questions to identify whether your indoor pool or spa pool is safety:
Do you have indoor, portable or spa pool?
Does your pool have safety barriers?
Does your pool meet the required Non-climbable zone measurement?
Does your pool have the proper measurement for the fence and windows as required by the law?
Swimming Pool Register website provides self-assessment checklists for you to evaluate whether your pool barrier follows the legal requirements in NSW. After you complete the checklist, you can engage with pool inspector to assist you in obtaining a compliance certificate.
What is a safety pool inspector?
A pool compliance inspector’s role is to inspect pools to determine whether it complies with the safety standard. If your pool is compliant, the pool certifier will issue a pool safety certificate. If the pool does not meet the legislation, the pool owner will be fined, unless:
The inspector re-examines the pool within two days after the initial inspection and can see that the pool now complies; or
The owner and pool safety inspector will agree that the inspector will fix minor repairs within 20 business days from the original inspection.
If you need advice about your pool for your barrier, you can engage to an inspector. Pool compliance inspector performs full inspection on your pool.
Some inspectors can also do minor repairs such as adjusting or replacing a latch or striker and removing climbable objects. Read below to know what happens after the inspection.
What happens after the inspection?
If your swimming pool barrier meets the local pool safety regulation, your local council or a private inspector can easily provide you a Certificate of Compliance.
However, if your swimming pool is not compliant with the legislation, the private certifier will provide a report detailing areas in the pool where it is not compliant. You will also receive a "Notice of Intention to Serve A Direction" and a Draft "Direction To Comply". These contain timeframes wherein you will have to make the pool barrier compliant.
When the required repair work has been completed, the final inspection can be made. If the barrier is then considered compliant, a Certificate of Compliance will be issued.
What is a swimming pool compliance certificate?
State Government requires all pool and spa owners in NSW must have a valid certificate of compliance. This legislation applies to all in-and above ground, indoor, portable and other pools and spa pools, capable of being filled with 300mm or more of water.
Pool owners can ask for an assistance from local council or an accredited pool certifier to obtain a certificate of compliance. The certificate of compliance guarantees that the swimming pool complies with the necessary safety requirements.
If you are uncertain as to whether your swimming pool already has a certificate of compliance, you can check it on the NSW Swimming Pool Register. NSW Swimming pool register has information on all registered pools and whether a certificate of compliance has been issued.
Why do you need a compliance certificate?
The Australian Standard has comprehensive specifications and measurements about how pool safety barriers should be built. Having a compliance certificate means your pool is safe and can function well.
Constructing your pool safety barriers with the required dimension is a great way to protect children from the dangers related swimming pools. Following pool compliance regulation can also prevent you from paying expensive fines.
A compliance certificate confirms your pool safety barrier has been inspected by a pool certifier or your local council and meets the Australian Standard.
How to obtain compliance certificate?
Spa and indoor pool owners are required to obtain appropriate certificate of compliance. You can get a an certificate of compliance through inspection done by an accredited certifier.
Requirements under the pool safety regulation include:
The pools and spas must be recorded on the NSW Swimming Pools Register;
The pools and spas should be surrounded by a complying child-resistant pool fence or safety barrier at all times;
All types of pools and spas are required to display a warning and resuscitation sign.
If the pool and spa barriers do not comply with pool compliance requirements, the private pool certifier will advise the pool owners on what is needed to do in order to comply with the pool regulation.
However, if the pool or spa still does not comply on the second inspection, the pool owner has to meet pool requirements within a reasonable time. The owner or landlord can also be subject to a Penalty Infringement Notice.
Conclusion
The latest pool compliance and safety legislation was amended to minimise accidents from happening around the pool area. It also prevents small children from entering the pool area on their own. Pool barriers should meet the required measurements to protect your children to ensure that your pool is safety.
Hope the guide above does help you get your pool compliant certificate.