Queensland Pool Inspection Guide

The standards used for pool barrier assessments cover such things as the height and strength of barriers, non-climbable zones, pool equipment, gates, and their latching requirements and preventing direct access from a building into a pool area.

These standards can be extremely complex and the information below is designed only to provide you with a quick reference guide to some of the more common parts.

In Queensland, drownings are one of the many leading causes of death for young children. However, with the right steps in place, you can help to make your pool safe for your family. The below information is extracted information directed and unedited from the governing body Queensland Building and Construction Committee “QBCC” website.

To assist in finding out if your pool meets the QLD Pool Safety Standard, complete the below Pool Safety Checklist. The below information is extracted information directed from the governing body Queensland Building and Construction Committee “QBCC” website.

Please feel free to review your pool inspection checklist below or download your copy by clicking the download button. It’s important that your outdoor pool or indoor pool follow the correct guidelines for your pool safety inspection.

Download your free checklist below:

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Pool Inspection Checklist:

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Pool Fence Barriers

  • Is the barrier height a minimum of 1200mm from the ground to the top of the barrier?
  • Is the maximum gap from finished ground level to the bottom of any barrier 100mm?
  • Do the gaps between vertical members with horizontals a minimum of 900mm apart exceed 100mm?
  • Are the horizontal gaps less than 900mm apart with a 60-degree fillet attached and gaps between verticals under 10mm?
  • Are any climbable objects at least 900mm away from the pool barrier on the outside and 300mm on the inside?climbable objects and pool barriers infographic
  • Are there any objects nearby that could be climbed (decks, door sills, tables, etc.) that are over 1200mm?
  • Note: If you cannot achieve a 900mm non-climbable zone on the outside, then the fence height must be raised to 1800mm. 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 non-climbable zone infographic

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Pool Barrier Gates

  • Do all gates open away from the pool?
  • Are all pool gates self-closing and latching?
    pool barrier latches infographic
  • Is the bottom of any latch at least 1500mm above the ground and 1400mm above the top of the highest lower horizontal member?
    pool barrier gates infographic
  • Are the pool gate hinges at least 900mm apart or the lower hinge have a non-climbable (sixty degree) safety cap affixed to prevent climbing?
    pool gate hinges infographic

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Door and Windows

  • Is there no direct access through a door from the house to the pool area?
  • Are all windows opening onto the pool open no more than 100mm or are security screened?
  • Is the gap on any louvers less than 100mm?

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Signage

  • Is there a compliant CPR sign displayed either attached to the barrier for the pool, or displayed near the pool?

Helpful tips on making your pool safer

Below are some simple and cost-effective ways to make your pool safer and help you comply with the relevant pool safety standard laws for Queensland.

Garden beds and ground levels

  • Remove surrounding garden beds near the pool fence
  • Reduce the height of surrounding ground levels and garden beds
  • Raise the barrier height to at least 1200mm above the finished ground level

Gates

  • The gap between the gate post and the gate must not exceed 100mm
  • Adjust the gate to make it swing outwards away from the pool area
  • Ensure the gate is self-closing and self-latching from any angle
  • Adjust the self-closing mechanism or replace the hinges to make the gate self-closing
  • Oil gate hinges to ensure it closes properly
  • Regularly maintain the gate

Climbable objects

  • Shield any climbable objects with a non-climbable material such as flat polycarbonate sheeting, vertical palings or a ‘fillet’ that has an angle of 60 degrees or more
  • Trim any tree branches that are within 900mm of the pool barrier. If there are branches overhanging from an adjacent property, you may need to negotiate with your neighbour to remove them
  • Fix a wedge fillet along the horizontal rails of the barrier (fillet must be minimum 60-degree angle)
  • Shield any lattice or other climbable material with a non-climbable material such as flat polycarbonate sheeting or vertical palings
  • Trim any climbable vegetation away from the pool barrier
  • Secure all moveable objects near the swimming pool

Register your pool

For safety reasons all swimming pools must be registered as per the QBCC. It is free to access and register your pool with the QBCC and the necessary forms must be completed. To register your pool on the Queensland safety register visit qbcc.qld.gov.au.

Queensland Pool Safety Certificate

The QBCC issue you with your safety certificate for your pool after licensed QBCC pool inspectors assess your pool. If you are planning on moving and selling or leasing your home, you may require a pool safety certificate. A pool safety certificate will need to be on display if you have a shared pool.

To check if your pool has passed the certificate and safety inspections visit https://www.smarteda.qld.gov.au/pools/properties/propertySearch.action.

Your local government council enforces pool compliance, and they may audit, remove compliance, and act, as necessary. For pools that do not follow compliance measures, fines can be issued by the courts.

If you have heaps of time on your hands or you’re an engineer by heart, we have the links just for you - all 500+ pages.

A pool inspector is required to use a combination of three sets of standards.