Guidelines for pool owners and property agents - Department of ...

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Guidelines for pool owners and property agents Page 14 of 56 Gates must self-close and self-latch from all positions and must not open inwards towards the pool area. Gate latch releases must be located at least 1500 millimetres above the ground and at least 1400 millimetres above the highest lower rail on the fence, or appropriately shielded. It is the responsibility of the occupiers and pool owners to ensure that gates and doors giving access to a pool are kept securely closed at all times when they are not in use. 6.2 Non-climbable zone Since the introduction of pool safety laws in 1991, there has been a requirement to provide a NCZ around the pool barrier. The purpose of the NCZ is to prevent children climbing the barrier or using climbable objects near the pool barrier to access the pool. The pool safety standard requires a 900 millimetre NCZ around the entire pool barrier. The NCZ extends both upwards and downwards in an arc from the barrier (refer to Appendix A − Figures 1, 2 and 3). The NCZ is to be located on the outside for pool fences that are less than 1800 millimetres high. However, for pool fences 1800 millimetres or more in height, the NCZ can be located either on the outside or on the inside of the fence. This is particularly useful for dividing fences that are also used as pool fences. In this case, if the neighbour’s side of the fence has climbable objects within the NCZ, the pool fence can be raised to a height of at least 1800 millimetres and the NCZ can be located on the inside of the pool fence (refer to Appendix A − Figure 4). Objects with a substantially horizontal surface of 10 millimetres or more that allow a young child to gain a foot or hand hold must not be located in the NCZ. This includes climbable trees, outdoor furniture, barbeques, taps, pot plants, lattice, trellis, projections, indentations or retaining walls. Objects such as smooth tree trunks or other non-climbable vegetation are permitted in the NCZ (refer to Appendix A − Figures 2 and 3) as they are either not climbable by young children or they create an additional barrier for young children. The standard specifically allows bushes that are not easily climbable by young children to be located in the NCZ as they can create an additional barrier for young children. Bushes with dense, spiked, thorned, rough or otherwise irritating or hindering foliage that would deter a young child from climbing are acceptable. Bushes or shrubs that are fragile or crush easily or are so weak that a child could not climb them are also acceptable. They are acceptable even where the bushes conceal or contain thick branches that could hold a young child’s weight provided the branches are impractical for a young child to reach or use to climb the barrier. Where a bush, shrub or tree has a thick (10 millimetres or more in width and substantially horizontal) exposed branch in the NCZ it is acceptable once the substantially horizontal branch is removed. The bush, shrub or tree does not need to be removed. Stumps or bushes that are cut back may be climbable and it is preferable to retain foliage that will deter young children or to remove exposed stumps. Where bushes, shrubs or trees remain inside a NCZ, owners are responsible for monitoring them and trimming any substantially horizontal branches that do become exposed so as to prevent children climbing them. Refer to Appendix A which provides photographs of vegetation that is and is not acceptable. Building Codes Queensland
Guidelines for pool owners and property agents Page 15 of 56 6.3 Child resistant doors used as a pool barrier The pool safety standard does not allow self-closing and self-latching child resistant doors which provide direct access from a building into a pool area to be used as a pool barrier, other than for indoor pools. Child resistant doors have not been allowed for new pools in Queensland since 1991. However, some pool owners may have been granted an exemption by their local government. These exemptions (except for valid disability exemptions) end on 30 November 2015, or earlier if the property is sold or leased before then. Child resistant doors pose a serious risk to children. Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit research indicates that the relative risk of a young child drowning in a pool is almost 11 times higher where child resistant doors are used compared to where a separate fence is provided, assuming that the barrier is properly maintained. Upgrading of child resistant doors can be achieved by installing a separate fence between the building and pool. Costs can be minimised by installing a small section of fencing and a gate around the child resistant door (refer to Appendix A − Figure 5). This does not include installing a pool gate directly across a door. A person must first be able to step outside of the building before being able to open the gate and step into the pool area. Where strict compliance with the pool safety standard would be impracticable − such as where part of a building would need to be demolished to provide a complying barrier − pool owners can apply to their local government for an impracticality exemption. However, impracticality exemptions cannot be given just because of aesthetic concerns, because no children reside on or visit the property, because the pool is near to another body of water such as a canal or dam, or because the property is rural or remotely located. 6.4 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation signs A CPR sign (refer to Appendix D) must be clearly and conspicuously displayed near the pool. Under the BR, the sign must comply with the Australian Resuscitation Council’s Guideline 7 − cardiopulmonary resuscitation, be at least 300 millimetres by 300 millimetres in size, be made of a durable and weatherproof material and clearly state what to do in an emergency e.g. phone 000, ask for ambulance, stay with injured person, call for help and resuscitate. 7 Pool safety register 7.1 What is the pool safety register? The pool safety register is a state-wide database that keeps a record of all the regulated pools in Queensland and is available online at www.hpw.qld.gov.au/PoolSafetyRegister The purpose of the register is to provide local governments, pool safety inspectors, the department, the PSC, pool owners, property agents and the general public with a central source of information about pools, pool safety certificates and pool safety inspectors. Authority to enter data into the register is restricted to local governments, the department, the PSC and pool safety inspectors. The PSC has administrative access to the register to approve pool safety inspector licence applications and other key functions. The PSC can also enter any record of disciplinary action taken against a pool safety inspector, including any tribunal order made against a pool safety inspector. This information is available to the public. Building Codes Queensland
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