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Pool Safety

It is now compulsory by law for all pools in Queensland to be compliant with state and national regulations and the Queensland Development Code for Pool Safety. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is the authority responsible for the administration and implementation of the state pool safety regulations. If you are not familiar with the latest pool safety regulations, please take a minute to browse through the following extract of information from the QBCC website:

Pool safety compliance

  • Pool barriers must be compliant to ensure small children cannot access swimming pools
  • As of the 30th November, 2015, all spas, pools and some portable pools have to comply with the agreed upon safety standard
  • This standard is applicable to properties with both new, or existing pools, plus long-term and short-term accommodation premises. Such properties include houses, hotels, unit complexes, motels, caravan parks, backpacker accommodation, as well as mobile van parks

So what is considered a swimming pool?

The official definition of a pool is a below or above ground structure used primarily for bathing or swimming. This of course includes some variations that are completely portable.

If your portable spa or pool holds more than 300 millimetres of water, then these laws may apply to you. These laws do not apply to fishponds, however, if you have converted a swimming pool for another purpose e.g. as a fishpond, then it is still considered a pool and thus must have a compliant barrier in place.

Should my pool be registered?

All pools in Queensland must be registered with the QBCC. The QBCC Pool Register can be found at the following link https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-building-owners/pool-safety/registering-your-pool fulfils

What you should do if your pool is non-compliant

You only require a pool safety certificate if the property is sold or leased. However although a pool safety certificate is not mandatory, the regulations are and fines will be imposed by local authorities on owners of non-compliant pools.

How can I make my pool compliant and avoid a fine?

You can:

Consult with a pool safety inspector to learn what you must do to ensure your pool complies, or better yet, have them conduct a formal inspection to obtain a safety certificate for peace of mind.

If the formal inspection reveals that your pool does not comply, you will be given a non-conformity notice. If you do not have a re-inspection completed within three months, the pool safety inspector is bound to pass on a copy of the notice to your local government.

More detailed information on pool safety regulations is available at
https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-building-owners/pool-safety/does-your-pool-comply