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3. PURPOSE
To advise pool owners, designers and builders of the minimum standard of pool barrier location to restrict access of young children. (under 4 years of age)
4. DEFINITION
Australian Standard 1926.1 - 1993; Fencing for Swimming Pools
Is the recognised standard in Australia that is referenced into Western Australian Legislation regarding the design, construction and performance of a child safety barrier designed to restrict access to the pool area by children aged 4 and under.
Local Government in assessing the performance of the barrier will benchmark the barrier against this standard. Some information contained within guideline FD 5.02 is a reflection of this standard.
Enclosure
Is the immediate area on the inside of a barrier that includes the pool as well as any other strucutre.
5. DESCRIPTION
5.1.1 Location of barrier relative to features inside the pool area.
Any substantial horizontal surface that is permanently located near the inside of the barrier must not be positioned less than 300mm from the barrier (see diagram). These surfaces may be used by young children as foot or toe hold for climbing .
If the barrier design is such that vertical uprights are not greater than 10mm apart then the clearance provision is not considered necessary.
The distance of the barrier from the pool should be sufficient to discourage diving and jumping from the barrier into the pool. Refer to Guideline on Pool Concourse.
5.1.2 Location of barrier relative to features outside the pool area.
Any substantial horizontal surface that is permanently located on the outside of the barrier that could be used as holds for climbing must not be within a 1.20m arc (see diagram) measured from the top of the barrier.
Where objects that are permanently located within 1.20m of the top of the barrier, the barrier must maitnain an effective height of 1.20m from the top surface of the climbable object and still maintain the correct design elements of the barrier.
For example:
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have no horizontal surfaces greater than 10mm
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horizontal surfaces or supports not to be less than than 900mm apart
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vertical spacings to be no more than 100mm apart
5.1.3 Location of barrier relative to ground surface.
The space between the finished ground level and the bottom of the barrier at any point shall not exceed 100mm.
5.1.3.1 Stable Ground Surface
The surface directly beneath and in front of the barrier must be stable and not be susceptible to eroision either by weather conditions, human or animal activity.
For example:
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grass
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pavers
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slabs
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sleepers
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garden rocks
5.1.4 Location of barrier relative to a building.
The barrier should not permit direct access to the pool area from the building. The use of a barrier that separates the pool from the buidling is the recommended option.
Refer to Buidling Regulations for the legal minimum requirements.
5.1.5 Location of barrier relative to the property boundary
The property boundary when used to form part of the barrier should not have objects considered climbable on the neighbouring side. Where climbable objects on the neigbouring (non-pool side) side of the pool area located, the barrier may still comply if the clearance of 1200mm from the top of the barrier is observed when measured on the inside of the barrier (pool side).
This clearance provision provided by the Building Regulations can only be applied to the inside of the barrier where boundary fences are used as part of the barrier.
5.1.6 Location of barrier relative to garden sheds and garages.
Where a wall of a garden shed or garage forms part of the barrier to the pool area, it should not be possible to gain access through this wall.
Access to the garden shed or garage should be located outside the pool enclosure.
5.1.7 Location of barrier relative to a balcony
Where a balcony projects into a pool enclosure and is lower in height than 2.40m from the finsihed ground surface of the pool area, child safety barriers must be applied. These can be through the treatment of doors and windows that lead directly to the balcony or through the installation of a barrier on top of the balcony that is compliant to Barrier - Design and Construction standards.
6. References
* All Australian Standards can be purchased on-line by following the link to the Standards Australia web-site
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