Swimming pool safety for display homes or construction sites

Swimming pools can attract young children, so it’s important to ensure measures are in place to restrict access when they are in display homes or on construction sites. Swimming pools pose a significant safety risk so it’s crucial to be extra vigilant about securing your site, especially if it includes a swimming pool or spa. This can include:

• display homes with a swimming pool or spa
• sites with an existing pool or spa
• sites where a pool is being constructed.

Display homes with a swimming pool or spa

Builders with display homes sites that have a swimming pool need to ensure that all fencing to the pool area meets the requirements of AS 1926.1.Wherever possible, add extra fencing or other measures to restrict access to the pool. Consideration should be given to installing locks on any swimming pool gates so they can’t be opened by the public.

It is also important that regular inspections of the swimming pool barrier are undertaken to check the barrier and make sure no objects have been placed near the fence that could enable a child to climb over the barrier.

A compliant resuscitation poster also needs to be erected in the pool area.

Sites where a pool or spa is being constructed

A temporary fence is required between the pool construction area and the dwelling when a swimming pool is being constructed at the same time as the dwelling. A temporary fence is also required at existing properties between the pool construction area and the dwelling.

During construction, pools maybe empty or filled with water (e.g. fibreglass pools). Concrete pools can also fill with water during construction (from rain) creating an unsafe situation. Keep vessels empty where practicable.

Full compliance with AS 1926.1 may be difficult to achieve during construction. Australian Standard AS4687.4 Temporary fencing and hoardings – Temporary swimming pool fencing provides guidance for temporary fencing and hoarding that can be used to restrict access to the pool area. You should check with your regulator if a temporary fence complying with this standard is appropriate.

Other precautionary measures for the temporary barrier that satisfy the design and construction requirements of Section 2 and the minimum horizontal loading requirements under Section 3 of AS 1926.1-2012 could also be considered.

In some states and territories, these temporary measures are required as a condition of the development or building approvals.

When a gate is installed in the temporary fence or hoarding, it must comply with AS 1926.1- 2012 to ensure that access to the swimming pool is restricted. When no gate is installed, the barrier must remain in place, except when access to the swimming pool area is required during construction. Workers must always be present while the barrier is open.

It should be noted that a standard temporary construction fence or hoarding at the site perimeter generally does not meet the minimum requirements of AS 1926.1.

Any barrier should be regularly inspected as part of site safety checks.

Alternative control measures

If a temporary pool fence or hoarding can’t be installed while under construction, you should strongly consider alternatives such as a solid pool cover or another enclosure subject to the approval of the relevant approval authority/building surveyor.

Any non-standard barrier proposed to restrict access to the swimming pool area during construction should satisfy the relevant Performance Requirement G1P2 or H7P1 of the NCC through a Performance Solution.

Sites with an existing pool

If you are undertaking a project such as a new home or renovation and there is an existing pool on site, you need to ensure that a suitable barrier is maintained during the construction works.

With existing pools, the type and location of the barrier may vary based on the age of the pool and the swimming pool barrier requirements in the relevant state or territory. This should be confirmed before the works start.

If there is an existing barrier, do not store any materials next to the barrier that could allow climbing. Maintain a clearance of 1.2 metres around the outside of the pool barrier.

If the barrier is removed or modified during construction, it will need to comply with AS 1926.1. Temporary barriers for pools under construction will be required. Again, regular inspections should be undertaken.

Spa pools

In some states and territories, a lockable child-safe lid may be used as a barrier. Further information should be sought from the relevant state and territory regulator.

Work, Health & Safety (WHS)

Members must comply with wide-ranging obligations as defined under the Health and Safety (WHS) legislation which covers all construction-related activities including swimming pool construction.

Key obligations include:

• management of risks to health and safety
• security of a workplace
• identifying hazards
• implementing measure to eliminate or minimise risk.

Site security

In addition to pool fencing, a site security fence should be used to control unauthorised entry onto the construction site. The fence should be at least 1.8 metres high. You must ensure:

• well-constructed gates and joints in fence sections are securely connected, without any weak points for entry
• proprietary systems are installed as per manufacturers’ specifications
• the fence is stable and able to withstand anticipated loads or forces, such as strong winds
• the fence prevents climbing and access from underneath.