From the 29th of April 2016, the New South Wales government will require that all residences, hotels, spas and other types of accommodation that have swimming pools on their property, register them and obtain a certificate of compliance to ensure that their pools are safe to use, and are especially safe for children. On their website the NSW Building Professionals Board suggests that at least 95% of all pool owners will need to undergo at least three inspections before their pools pass, so if you want to make the most of your time and save money on more than one inspection, then here is a quick checklist that will help you get your pool up to regulation standards right now.
Your Pool’s Internal Cleaning Systems
One of the areas of compliance for pool certification NSW pool owners should know with regards to the components that keep the pool clean, such as in-floor cleaning systems that make use of suction outlets at the bottom of the pool, and ‘potty-style skimmer systems. When gone unchecked, these devices can be dangerous, especially for children. Faulty components or those that are easily tampered with can ensnare swimmers or trap them below the surface of the water due to their suction, which could lead to injuries or death from drowning.
- Ensure that skimmer boxes are securely closed and fastened with screws or glue so that they cannot be tampered with by curious children.
- In floor suction outlets should be firmly, and properly fixed. Especially those that are attached to main drains. They should also not pose any entrapment risks that can snare limbs, clothing, or hair. Any broken suction outlet covers should be immediately replaced for safety reasons, and therefore to comply with the NSW regulations.
- For added safety, pool owners should ensure that these outlets are not tampered with by children, know where the kill switch for the filtration system is and that it is clearly labelled, and should have an authorised resuscitation chart displayed on the wall where it can be read from more than 3 meters away.
Pool Electrics
You don’t need to be an engineer to understand why electricity and water make a dangerous mix, so when it comes to the electrics in and around your swimming pool, extra care should be taken to meet regulation standards.
- All pumps and filters should have an electrical safety number of compliance mark on it for assurance that it is safe for outdoor use.
- A safety trip switch should most certainly be attached to the house that accommodates the pool.
- A qualified electrician should install a weather proof power-outlet fairly near the pool to help avoid the need for extension cords.
- When extension cords are needed, only use single (at the appropriate length) heavy duty cords that are kept out of the way of lawn-mowers, pets, children, or areas where they can be walked or driven over.
Pool Barriers
Pool fences and barriers are the first line of defence when it comes to child safety, so it is only natural that these need to be regulated as well. This will not only help towards your compliance certificate, but ensure that no children enter into the dangerous pool area unattended.
- A safety barrier that separates the pool from the residential area should surround the pool at all times to ensure that children cannot easily wander into it.
- Doors or gates in the barrier should be kept closed and secure at all times as to not undermine the fence’s effectiveness.
- A warning sign should be clearly visible on the fence to deter children from trying to gain unattended access.
This should give you a better idea of what is expected to obtain a certificate of compliance for your swimming pools. Remember that as of the 29th of April, it will become necessary to provide this certificate for any sale of lease of property that contains a pool. Contact Australian Pool Compliance Services for more information on how you can make your pool child safe.
In this blog author is trying to give you information about pool certification NSW. Hope you enjoy reading this article!
Read More:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pool_fence
http://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/construction/BuildingPlumbing/PoolSafety/PoolSafetyLaws/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/Consumers/Product_and_service_safety/Pool_safety/Pool_fencing_requirements.page
