Don’t lose sleep worrying about how to pass a pool safety inspection. Many state and local government authorities around the world now require a pool safety certificate when buying, selling or leasing a property with a swimming pool and/or spa pool. Existing properties may also be required to erect a swimming pool fence or enclosure to comply with regulations.
Read this article to learn what you need to do before you call out a pool safety inspector.
Table of Contents
Do I Need a Pool Safety Certificate?
Many authorities around the world now require a pool safety certificate when buying, selling or leasing a property with a swimming pool. A pool safety certificate can be required even if there are no young children in the household.
Check with your local authority.
Usually the land titles office will not complete a title transfer for the sale of a property without the pool safety certificate. If you are a property owner and rent your property you can be fined for not having a pool safety certificate and a pool fence.
How do I get a pool safety certificate?
The process of how to pass a pool safety inspection and obtaining a safety certificate is to contact the local authority for a pool safety compliance inspector to visit your home and check your pool and backyard is in compliance with the regulations.
The safety inspector will issue a pool safety certificate when you meet the compliance regulations.
Search on the internet for a pool safety inspector in your area.
Note: There is a charge for a swimming pool inspection. Ensure that you have complied with the regulations before you call out an inspector as they will fail you and then you will need to call them out again costing you another inspection fee.
For example: There was one pool that I asked to be inspected which failed on a small fencing issue. I easily fixed the non-compliance issue. I send a photo of the fence to the inspector so he didn’t have to re-inspect the pool. This saved the owner another inspection call out fee.
How long do pool safety certificates last?
This varies considerably so check with your local authority. Typically, if the property is rented the certificate must be renewed every 2 or 3 years and whenever a new tenant first occupies the property.
If there has been a change to the law you may need to obtain a new safety certificate.
Typically, a homeowner must renew when the property is sold or rented.
Swimming Pool Fencing Regulations
Most pool fencing regulations are based on similar requirements. The regulations make it compulsory to erect a pool fence to act as a child resistant barrier. The fence is usually required to separate your pool from the house so a child cannot freely move from the house to the pool area.
Regulations vary depending on:
- house construction date
- pool construction date
- property size
- property zoning
- usage of property
- existing boundary fences
- waterfront access
The regulations may also cover portable and inflatable pools over a minimum depth. So your inflatable spa pool will need a safety cover. Always empty a child’s pool after use to comply with regulations.
Read our article on Why You Need a Swimming Pool Enclosure
Basic Pool Fence Safety Inspection Checklist
How to pass a pool safety inspection and pool fencing regulations vary from state to state, country to country. However, the items below are very standard and apply almost universally. Most of these items are relatively easy to comply with and are common sense.
Pool Gates
- Self-closing gate
- Opens outwards away from the pool
- Latch a minimum of 1500mm above finished ground level
- Bottom of gate is less than 100mm above ground level
- Gate is at least 1200mm high
- There are no items to hold open the gate
Fencing
How high must a fence be around a swimming pool?
- Fence is at least 1200mm (48 inches) high
- Utilize boundary fences on one or two sides (min 1800mm high)
- Minimum distance between the bottom and top rails to be 1100mm (45 inches)
- Young children cannot climb the pool fence
- Bottom of fence is less than 100mm above the finished ground level
- Gaps in vertical bars are less than 100mm
- Fences must have no unrepaired damage
Windows
Windows from a house that access a pool area
- Do not open more than 100mm or have security screen fitted
Pergolas, Cabanas, Gazebos, Sheds
These structures are allowed within the pool area and must be free-standing.
They must not be associated with the residential building.
Above Ground Pools
The walls of above ground pools do not constitute a pool safety barrier.
These pools still require a pool safety fence.
Resuscitation Sign (CPR)
Where do you put the CPR sign in pool?
- Inside the pool area
- Permanently attached to the fence or safety barrier
- Visible from within the whole pool area
- 300mm x 300mm minimum size
- Read the sign from 3 meters
- Durable and weather proof
Outdoor Furniture
Ensure that all outdoor furniture is well away from your pool fence. This prevents young children using the furniture as a climbing step to scale the pool fence. A pool safety inspector will check that furniture is at least 1.2 meters away from the fence. Children must not be able to be easily move the outdoor furniture to the pool fence.
Recommendation
I recommend the use of semi-frameless laminated glass pool fencing. The support posts are metal construction where the laminated glass panels slide down into the support posts. The fences are strong, durable and long lasting.
These fences look great around any pool and add value to your pool landscape. They are climb-proof for small children and dogs. They don’t obstruct the view of your pool and backyard.
These fences are easy to construct for a do-it-yourself person and are no more expensive than a traditional metal vertical bar pool fence. Bolt the posts down to existing paved surfaces or concrete the posts into a hole for extra strength.
Cleaning is easy with soapy water and a garden hose or pressure washer.
Conclusion
Most pool owners agree that protecting young children is a top priority. However, many have found the pool fencing regulations and the pool safety certificate to be expensive and burdensome. This is especially true for retired or semi-retired pool owners who have limited income or access to finance. They have been happily living in their residence for many years and now they have to burden the cost of a pool fence. Most of these people do not have young children living at their residence.
