Is your pool fence compliant? 5 checks you can do today

A quick pool fence compliance check covers five things. Is the fence 1200mm high with no gap over 100mm? Does the gate self-close and self-latch every time? Is the 900mm non-climbable zone clear? Can any door or window open into the pool area? Is your CPR sign compliant and easy to see?

Rob Blackbeard checks 100+ safety points at every inspection. These five are the ones you can test yourself with a tape measure and a few minutes. Sort what you find, and you walk into your inspection knowing exactly where your pool stands. Each check follows the Queensland pool safety standard set by the QBCC.

1. Is your pool fence at least 1200mm high, with no gap over 100mm?

Measure your pool fence at several points along its length. It must be at least 1200mm high from the finished ground level at every point. The gap under the fence and between any bars or slats must be 100mm or less. The fence must be rigid, with every part fixed in place and nothing broken or missing.

Look closely at these spots:

• Garden beds and mulch. Built-up soil at the base reduces the fence height.
• Stairs. Measure from each stair nosing straight up to the top of the fence.
• Glass panels. Shake each one. Panels can drop or shift as the ground moves.
• Ledges. Nothing on the outside can stick out or dip in by more than 10mm. A child could use it as a toehold.

2. Does your pool gate self-close and self-latch from any position?

Open your pool gate a little and let go. Then open it halfway, then all the way. Each time, it must swing shut and latch on its own, without a push. The gate must open away from the pool. Once latched, it should not open when you push, pull or jiggle it.

Check the latch is out of a child’s reach too. The right position depends on the gate, so Rob checks it on the day. If the gate is sluggish, oil the hinges and latch first. Sea air on the coast is hard on hinges. Never prop the gate open.

3. Is the 900mm non-climbable zone clear?

Nothing a child could climb can sit within 900mm of the outside of your pool fence. That means pot plants, chairs, BBQs, eskies, bins, toys, garden beds and overhanging branches. For fences under 1800mm high, also keep climbable items at least 300mm from the inside of the fence.

This zone changes as your yard changes. A chair gets moved. A shrub grows. A neighbour’s branch drops over the fence. Walk the fence line on both sides and clear anything close. Our guide to non-climbable pool plants shows what grows safely near a fence.

4. Can a door or window open into the pool area?

No door can open directly into an outdoor pool area. Child-resistant door sets are no longer accepted for outdoor pools. Any window that opens into the pool area must be restricted to open less than 100mm, or be fitted with a permanently fixed security screen. A window lock on its own does not comply.

Also check any balcony over or within 900mm of the pool fence. Its balustrade must meet the pool fence standard.

5. Is your CPR sign compliant and easy to see?

Your CPR sign must be attached to the pool fence or displayed near the pool, where anyone at the pool can see it. It must show CPR starting with 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths. It must be at least 300mm by 300mm, weatherproof, and explain what to do in an emergency. Replace a faded or outdated sign.

Poolinspec supplies a compliant CPR sign for $35 + GST. Our guide to a compliant CPR sign covers the detail.

What if your spot check finds a problem?

Many items on this list you can fix yourself. Trim the branch, move the pot plant, oil the hinge. For anything more, Rob does minor repairs himself. That covers gate latches and hinges, removing climbable objects and small fence sections. Bigger work is quoted upfront, before anything starts.

Rob spent 20 years designing and building pool fences, balustrades and staircases. He can tell you the smallest fix that will pass, and what it costs. Often it is a latch or a hinge.

What happens if the pool fails the inspection?

You get a non-conformity notice (Form 26) and a clear report with photos. It lists each fault and what will fix it. You then have 3 months to have the same inspector re-inspect. A re-inspection is from $79 + GST, and only if one is needed. Once the pool complies, your certificate is issued.

Not ready for an inspection? Book a pool safety consultation. Rob shows you what needs attention. It costs from $100 + GST. See every fee on our pool inspection prices page.

Want to go further than five checks?

Use our full pool safety checklist for QLD. It covers every area Rob looks at, point by point. For the reasons behind each rule, read our guide to pool fence regulations in QLD.

You need a current pool safety certificate (Form 23) when you sell or lease a property with a pool. Your fence must comply at all times, certificate or not. A certificate can never replace supervising your children around the pool.

Book your pool safety inspection with Rob

Done your five checks? Let Rob confirm it. He usually inspects within 24 hours of your call and walks you through every finding. If your pool complies, your certificate is delivered the same day, and your pool is registered with the QBCC at no extra cost.

Book a pool safety inspection or call Rob on 0457 445 197. Selling or leasing? See our pool safety certificates on the Gold Coast.