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Pool Safety Inspections Sunshine Coast

compliantpoolfencevegetationtoodensetoclimb350X292 2 Elite Pool InspectionsThe critical role pool safety inspections Sunshine Coast play in minimising cases of immersion injuries among young children in both shared and non-shared swimming pools is immense. Pool owners have an obligation to ensure barriers placed all around their pools meet the stipulated pool fencing regulations. Any damaged fencing or barrier should immediately be fixed to prevent pool incidents where children access the pool area without adult supervision. 

Swimming pools are a popular feature in many homes across Queensland, but they also come with a significant risk of drowning and other serious injuries. That's why the Queensland Government has introduced a range of laws and regulations designed to ensure pool safety. In this article, we'll take a closer look at pool safety inspections in Queensland and what you need to know to keep your pool safe and compliant.

What is a Pool Safety Inspection?

Pool safety inspections are carried our by experts who are licensed by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) to undertake inspections of pools so as to determine if they comply with the pool safety standard. Where the pool complies, a pool safety certificate is issued to the owner of the pool.  

Is Your Pool Compliant?

Knowing whether your pool complies with the safety standard or not, is very important as it sets the stage for engagement with a pool safety inspector. Basically, the pool inspections at the Sunshine Coast service touches on a number of areas which as the property owner you ought to be aware of. These include: 

  • Fencing – The minimum height to the top of the pool barrier from finished ground level should be 120 cm. Where your horizontal rails measure a minimum of 90 cm apart, the gaps in the vertical members should not exceed 10 cm. In the event your boundary fence is less than 180 cm in height, climbable objects must not be found within a distance of 90 cm from the pool barrier on the outside.  
  • Doors and Windows – Windows that open directly onto the pool area must either have a secured screen fitted or should be screwed shut or not open more than 10 cm. The safety standard requires that there shouldn’t be a direct access from a door within the property housing the pool or from another building to the swimming pool area.  
  • Signage – The pool inspections Sunshine Coast professional will check whether the CPR sign is correctly displayed near the pool or attached to the pool fence as required so that it is conspicuous and visible to any person near the swimming pool. 

Pool Safety Laws in Queensland

In Queensland, all swimming pools must comply with the Pool Safety Standard, which is set out in the Building Act 1975 and the Building Regulation 2018. The standard specifies a range of safety requirements for pools, including fencing, gates, and other barriers. Pool owners must ensure that their pool complies with these requirements, or face significant fines and penalties. Part of the law only licenced Pool inspectors can carry out Pool Safety Inspections.

Non-Compliance Penalties

If your pool is not compliant, the local government has the legal power to conduct independent pool safety inspections at the Sunshine Coast and if found culpable, you get fined. The fines are usually on the spot and applied to both individuals and companies. The maximum fine the court can impose for non-compliance is $2,356. 

How to Make Your Pool Complaint  

In order to make your swimming pool compliant with the safety standard, you need the services of a pool safety inspector who will advise on the thingsClimbable objects and pool barriers Elite Pool Inspections you need to do in order to make your swimming pool complaint. Upon entering into a contractual agreement, the pool safety inspections Sunshine Coast company can go ahead and conduct a Pool Safety Inspection with the view to rectifying the non-compliant elements.  

Pool Safety Inspections Professionals conduct formal pool safety inspection and can issue you with a pool safety certificate if your pool is complaint and if it is not, they give you a non-conformity notice. Upon receiving the notice, you need to make everything right as highlighted in the Pool Safety Inspection Report and request a re-inspection within a span of three months’ failure to not have a re-inspection within the three months will result in the Pool Safety Inspections inspector submitting a copy of the non-conformity notice to the local government.

Who Needs a Pool Safety Inspections?

Under Queensland law, all pool owners are required to obtain a pool safety certificate before they can sell or lease their property. This certificate verifies that the pool meets the safety standards set out in the Pool Safety Standard. In addition, pool owners who don't have a valid pool safety certificate must have their pool inspected by a licensed pool safety inspector when selling or renting.

What Happens During a Pool Safety Inspection?

During a pool safety inspections, a licensed inspector will assess the safety of your pool and its surroundings. The pool safety inspections will cover a range of safety features, including fencing, gates, latches, and other barriers. The inspector will also check the pool area for any potential hazards, such as slippery surfaces or sharp edges. If your pool complies with the safety standards, you will receive a pool safety certificate. If there are any issues, the inspector will provide you with a list of required improvements.  

Pool Safety Certificate  

Also known as Form 23, the pool safety certificate is a confirmation that your pool has been inspected by a licensed pool inspector and found to be compliant with the safety standard. This certificate is useful when selling, leasing, or entering into an accommodation agreement and your property has a pool. These certificates have a validity of one year for shared pools while for non-shared pools; the validity period is two years. When your certificate expires, you do not necessarily require a new one unless you want to lease or sell. 

Pool Safety Inspections Services 

Contractors qualified by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission have the capacity to work on your pool barriers. However, depending on the extent of the work to be carried out, a building approval may be needed. The law requires that you do not change your pool safety inspections professional within the three months after issuance of Form 26.

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