New South Wales has taken an appreciable initiative in order to offer home owners more security. Reflecting on the acute statistics of number of children drowning in swimming pools every year, the state government has made it mandatory for owners and contractors (of new unsold houses) to get a ‘certificate of compliances’ for the pool.
Fencing law
This form of security appertains to pool fencing. Swimming Pool Act 1992 was a landmark law and has got strengthened with this additional step. Different safety measures have been regulated for swimming pools built before 1990, between 1990 and 2010 and after 2010.
Pools built before 1990
The emphasis is on swimming pool safety for children. Swimming pools made prior to 1990 were rarely fenced and thus, they often do not have adequate space and infrastructure to reinsert fencing. These houses therefore should nevertheless have proper window and door barriers and no direct access from the living area. Windows and doors should be fastened so that kids cannot open them on the bye.
Pools built in last two decades
Swimming pools built between 1990 and 2010 should firstly have proper fencing around. The physical measurements should be on the mark. The fencing should be 1.2 meters high, vertical bars on fencing should be less than 10 cm so that kids cannot find toe-hold. Moreover, any auxiliary unit (which may help kids climb fence like trees or a table) should be at a safe distance from the fence.
Certain leeway has been offered to the 1990-2010 pools, considering they were not built with such safety consciousness. Exemptions have been made in case of small space or other conditional factors.
Recent constructions
Swimming pools built after 2010 will be handled with an iron grip and must have overall fencing and should meet compliance of regulation. Accesses created for disabled people should not be available to kids in any case. Of course, owners have to be careful about pets breaking rules (they are generally better equipped to climb bars and fences than kids!).
Inspection of swimming pools
Government authorities will, from now onwards (after 29th April, 2014), make an inspection of the swimming pool area and give a certificate of compliance. The same is also needed for a swimming spa. The certificate will be made a compulsory inclusion in housing contracts, and transgressors will be severely fined. Bathroom spa has been exempted from this contract.
This fencing law may appear a building headache at the onset, but when you consider its assurance of security, you have got to appreciate this initiative by the state government.
What measures do you take to safeguard kids from visiting swimming pools unattended?
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