Does your pool comply?
The pool safety standard covers such things as the height and strength of barriers, mandatory non-climbable zones, gates and their latching requirements and preventing direct access from a building into a pool area.
To assist in finding out if your pool meets the current pool safety standard, use the checklist below as it covers some of the main issues:
Fences
The minimum height from finished ground level to the top of the barrier is 1200mm.
The maximum allowable gap from finished ground level to the bottom of any barrier is 100mm.
There must be one gap of at least 900mm between any horizontal rails on the outside, and the gaps in the vertical members must not exceed 100mm.
If there is no gap between horizontal rails of at least 900mm, then the horizontal rails must be on the inside and the gaps in the vertical rails must not exceed 10mm.
For fences less than 1800mm high, climbable objects must be at least 900mm away from the pool barrier on the outside and, where the verticals are more than 10mm apart, 300mm on the inside.
For fences at least 1800mm high, the 900mm non-climbable zone may be on the inside of the fence and must be measured from the top of the inside. This could be useful for a boundary fence, for example, where it is difficult to make the non climbable zone outside the fence. Make sure that there is nothing underneath this zone that a child could jump on to, which would reduce the effective height of the fence from the minimum 1800mm.
Pool gates must not open inwards to the pool area and must be self-closing and self-latching from all positions.
Latches on the the gate must be at least 1500mm high from the ground level and 1400mm from the top part of the lower horizontal railings. If not, the latch must be located inside so that it is necessary to reach over or through the fencing at a height of not less than 1200mm above ground level or at least 1000mm above the top part of the lower horizontal railings. It must also be 150mm below the top of the gate or the edge of any hand hole opening and, if necessary, covered with a 450mm radius shield with no openings greater than 10mm
Pool gate hinges thicker than 10mm must be at least 900mm apart or the lower hinge must have a non-climbable (sixty degree) safety cap fixed to prevent climbing.
There can be no direct access through a door from the house or another building, to the pool area.
Generally, any windows opening onto the pool area must not open more than 100mm or must have a security screen fitted.
Signage
A compliant CPR sign must be displayed, either attached to the pool fence, or displayed near the pool, so that the sign is easily visible to anyone near the pool.
More information
For more information please see the Pools and Safety Home owner’s guide from QBCC or If in doubt, contact us for advice and assistance.
Images used are from the QBCC website.
Selling or leasing a property with a pool
sELLING OR LEASING A PROPERTY WITH A POOL
The process for when you need to get a pool safety certificate differs depending on whether you are selling or leasing a property and if your pool is shared or non-shared. The cost of a pool safety certificate is $40.35 (GST-free)(certificate only, not inclusive of additional inspection expenses).
Selling or leasing a property with a non-shared pool
A non-shared pool is only accessible to the residents of one dwelling and is typically associated with houses and units or townhouses with private spas or pools.
Selling
You can sell your property with or without a pool safety certificate. However, if you are not providing a certificate, you must give the buyer a Form 36-notice of no pool safety certificate prior to entering a contract of sale and send a completed copy of the form to QBCC (poolsafety@qbcc.qld.gov.au) before settlement.
The buyer must get a pool safety certificate within 90 days of settlement.
Leasing
If leasing your home, a pool safety certificate must be obtained before entering into the accommodation agreement.
Expiry date for certificates
Pool safety certificates for non-shared pools are valid for 2 years from date of issue.
Selling or leasing a property with a shared pool
A shared pool is accessible to residents of two or more dwellings. They are typically associated with apartment and unit complexes, hotels, motels, backpacker hostels and caravan parks.
Selling
If you own a unit or apartment with a shared pool, you can sell it with or without a pool safety certificate. However, if you are not providing a certificate, you must give a completed copy of the Form 36-notice of no pool safety certificate to the buyer before entering the contract of sale.
Before settlement, you must provide a completed copy of this form to the owner of the pool (usually a body corporate) and the QBCC (poolsafety@qbcc.qld.gov.au).
The owner of the pool (usually the body corporate) then has 90 days to obtain a pool safety certificate.
Leasing
Before you enter into the accommodation agreement, you must provide a pool safety certificate or Form 36-notice of no pool safety certificate to the new occupier and the owner of the pool (usually a body corporate) as well as the QBCC (poolsafety@qbcc.qld.gov.au).
If a Form 36 has been provided, the pool owner then has 90 days from when they entered the accommodation agreement, to obtain a pool safety certificate.
Expiry date for certificates
Pool safety certificates for shared pools are valid for 1 year from date of issue.
Pool safety management plans for hotels, motels, resorts and other class 3 buildings
Owners of class 3 buildings, such as a hotel, have the option of using an approved pool safety management plan in place of a pool safety certificate. Owners who opt to use a plan as an alternative to constructing a compliant pool barrier must have it approved by the QBCC. The plan must be updated annually.
In some cases, a new certificate or pool safety management plan may not be needed. For example, if the hotel is closing for renovations, there will be no new accommodation agreements.
Use the Pool safety management plan guideline to help you plan and apply by completing a Pool safety management plan application form 38 (PDF).
Display of pool safety certificate for shared pools
Display the certificate near the main entrance to the premises or the pool.
If you lose your certificate, you can download a hard copy at property search.