Swimming Pools
A swimming pool is defined as an excavation or structure capable of being filled with water to a depth greater than 300mm and includes swimming pools, spas or wading type structures (note that this includes inflatable pools). Every swimming pool must be enclosed by barrier installed in accordance with AS 1926.1 'Safety Barriers for Swimming Pools'.
Any private swimming pool requires a building licence before it can be installed. In order to expedite your building licence, the following information is required to be indicated on the site plan.
- If an isolated fence is to be provided, the location of the fence must be clearly shown on the site plan.
Any gate in the fence must open away from the pool and show that it is to be fitted with self closing and self latching mechanisms. - Where fences are provided between the dwelling and the boundary perimeter fence, the plan should indicate that they are unscaleable and 1200 or more in height. Any gates shall open away from the pool and it should be indicated that they will be fitted with self closing and self latching mechanisms.
- Where there are windows within the pool enclosure, the sills of which are less than 1200 above floor level, it must be clearly indicated that the windows are to be fitted with a grille with apertures of not less than 100mm, or that devices will be fitted to the windows which will prevent them from being opened more than 100mm.
- Note that the Building Regulations 1989 no longer allow doors from residences to open into swimming pool enclosures. This applies to any pool installed after the 5 November 2001.
If all this information is correctly provided and, where relevant, engineer signed drawings of the proposed pool are also provided, there should be no delay in the issue of a building licence. A compulsary inspection of the enclosure is required to be carried out by the Shire Manager of Building Services prior to any filling of the pool, to establish that the enclosure complies fully with AS 1926.1 and the Building A building licence for a swimming pool will not be issued unless the dwelling has been completed and is occupied.
Further Information
The Royal Life Saving Society of Australia has further information regarding swimming pool safety, found on their website at http://cat5.poolsafety.com.au/
Alternatively you can contact the Shire Manager of Building Services on (08) 9652 0800 for any further queries.