Why do we need to have our pool barriers certified?
New legislation introduced in December of 2019 required landowners with pools or spas to register and certify their pool barriers every four years.
Contact us immediately if you have not yet registered or submitted your first Certificate of Compliance with your council.
Ongoing compliance with the pool safety standards requires a reinspection every four years in Victoria or within 60 days under the following circumstances:
- Selling (or buying) the property on which the pool is located.
- Signing a new rental lease or renewing an existing lease that includes the pool.
- Resizing an existing pool.
- Erecting a new barrier fence or modifying/replacing an existing fence around the pool – either complete or a significant section.
- At the direction of your bank or council.
Book a consultation with us if you have any plans to change the design of your pool or spa barrier.. We especially urge body corporates, strata managers, institutions, and businesses with controlled access pools to remain updated about their responsibilities regarding pool safety barriers.
Assistance with DIY Checklists
The path to receiving your Certificate of Compliance (Form 23) is rather straightforward. It can be fast-tracked by performing a DIY pool inspection to identify non-compliance points before booking an appointment with us.
The VBA has three checklists based on the build date of your pool or spa. The checklists focus on three primary areas of concern, gates, fences, and the surrounding area. It’s all very technical, with engineering diagrams and mathematical formulae. Still, it boils down to the following aspects that you should check regularly as part of your annual pool maintenance regime:
- Gates. The gate must open away from the pool area. The gate needs to self close and self latch from any position.
- Fences. The height of the fence must be a minimum of 1.2m, and any gaps must be less than 10cm.
- Surrounding area. Clear the area around the fence so it is always visible, without climbable objects or trees nearby.