Pool Fence Compliance in NSW: Getting It Right the First Time

Pool fencing in NSW is governed by the Swimming Pools Act and AS 1926. Certifiers apply it strictly, and for good reason. Here is what actually gets checked.

The core requirements

Height. Minimum 1200mm measured from the finished ground level on the outside of the barrier.

Gap at the bottom. Maximum 100mm between the ground and the bottom of the fence.

Gaps between verticals. Maximum 100mm.

Horizontal climbable elements. If horizontals on the outside are less than 900mm apart, the fence is climbable and fails.

Gates. Must self-close from any position and self-latch. Must open outward, away from the pool. The latch must be at least 1500mm above ground, or shielded.

The non-climbable zone

This is where most fences fail. There must be a clear zone of 900mm measured as an arc from the top of the barrier, on the outside, containing nothing that could be used as a foothold.

That means no:

• Barbecue, pot plant or garden bed coping within the zone
• Air conditioning unit or pool pump housing
• Retaining wall step
• Tree branch or shrub
• Chair, table or storage box

The zone applies permanently, not just on inspection day. Certifiers do check, and they do fail things.

Boundary fences as pool barriers

A boundary fence can form part of the barrier if it is at least 1800mm high and there is nothing climbable on the pool side within 300mm. This is a common arrangement and a common source of failure when the neighbour has a garden bed or a shed against it.

Windows and doors

A door from the house directly into the pool area is not permitted as part of the barrier for most pools. Windows opening into the pool area must be restricted to a 100mm opening or be fitted with a compliant screen.

Registration and certification

All pools in NSW must be registered on the NSW Swimming Pool Register. When you sell or lease, you need a valid certificate of compliance, or a certificate of non-compliance in limited circumstances.

Certificates are valid for three years.

Why we do fencing as part of a package

If the pool builder does the shell, the landscaper does the paving and someone else does the fence, the non-climbable zone frequently ends up compromised by decisions nobody coordinated. The paving level rises, the garden bed goes in, and suddenly the fence that would have passed does not.

Doing the decking, paving, retaining and fencing as one package means the levels and the clearances are designed together and the certifier signs it off the first time.

The practical summary

Design the barrier and everything around it at the same time. Check the non-climbable zone against the finished levels, not the existing ones. Do not put anything in that zone afterwards.

We take on pool surrounds and perimeter packages across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, built to pass certification.