Pool Fence Defect Gallery A- Non Compliant Pool Gates Non self closing & self latching gate Same gate with adjustable catch out of alignment Large gate closing operation fouled by long grass Strained hinges on glass gate don’t allow self closure B- Non Compliant Pool Gate Latches Magnalatch latching device should be 1500mm from ground to the underside of the lifting knob Esi-fit latching device should be 1500mm from ground to the underside of the lifting knob D-Latch latching device out of alignment and doesn’t allow self closure of the gate Older style lifting device in post doesn’t allow self closure of the gate C- Non Compliant Pool Gate Hinges Non adjustable gate hinges are not 900mm apart measured from the top of the bottom hinge to the top of the upper hinge Different gate – same issue with earlier model adjustable hinges – positioning deemed climbable D- Non Compliant Pool Fence Height Should be 1200mm minimum height from ground level to top of pool fence Same 1200mm height required for timber paling pool fence Climbable timber fence with numerous footholds Metal pool fence buried in decorative gravel resulting in overall height of less than 1200mm Raked metal pool fence is less that 1200mm with climbable Koppers logs beneath E- Excessive Virtical Gaps Gaps in vertical members of metal pool fences should be 100mm or less Gap between vertical member of metal pool fence & intersecting timber paling boundary fence exceeds 100mm maximum allowance F- Excessive Gaps Under Pool Fences Gap under metal pool fence to patterned concrete exceeds 100mm maximum allowance Different metal fence – same issue but with loose gravel underneath fence Concrete wall blocks dislodged plus missing & loose palings allows direct access to pool zone How not to address a sloping block of land within a pool zone – hard standing material should be permanently fixed into position Excessive gap under pool fence between loose landscaping rocks should be filled in G- Climbable Objects Near Pool Fence Pot plants shouldn’t be positioned within 300mm on the inside of a pool fence Pot plants shouldn’t be positioned within 300mm on the outside of a pool fence Oh dear! – 5 pots plant next to pool fence – which one will I use to climb fence? Pool pump, plumbing & chlorine drum within 300mm of inside of pool fence Power box & waterproof power point within 300mm of outside of pool fence Climbable mesh pool cover on roller positioned within300mm of pool fence A large rock, timber sleepers & raised step are within 300mm of the base of the inside of a pool fence How many climbable objects can one place next to a pool fence? Oh – oh! Here is a heap more to choose from Now these are climbable rocks right next to the inside of a pool fence Same pool – more large rocks within 300mm from the inside of a pool fence Anyone for brick steps to get into a pool area! An yet another tap (with hose) within the 300mm no-go zone H- Climbable Shrubs & Trees Climbable branches from shrub next to outside of pool fence Different climbable shrub next to another pool fence What were smaller shrubs are now climbable trees I- Direct Access From House To Pool Area Back door leads directly into unfenced pool zone Sliding kitchen window + servery ledge leads directly into the unfenced pool zone Same house with timber sliding doors leading directly into the unfenced pool zone An yet another – at least this house was vacant at the time I inspected the pool Double bunger! – temporary fixed window screen & a non-compliant sliding door Climbable horizontal wire fence + timber paling fence which is less than 1200mm in height Mightn’t be able to fall down steps from lawn area but can clearly walk down top of wall Non compliant fencing – Gate at top of steps opens inwards towards pool, access up the outside of step treads, bottom horizontal rails act as ladder & vertical fence around pool is 800mm high Just when we though pool fencing reached a new low, this fence just runs into the hill Pool fence! – What pool fence? Non-compliant with NO pool fencing Same pool with compliant pool fencing J- Damaged Pool Fence Panels Horizontal rail dislodged from pool fence post Rusted steel gate hinge post Tec-screw fixing dislodged from adjoining post Broken top rail fitting at end of pool fence panel What’s going on here? Fence to nowhere! Make shift fence provides footholds to metal fence – I couldn’t work out why it was there Weld broken away from top of metal pool gate Fence panel dislodged from pool fence post What’s holding this retaining wall up? Metal stay provides foothold onto horizontal threaded rod, onto top of sleeper wall & onto the illegal height timber paling fence Dislodged top horizontal rail of metal fence plus bottom of fence buried in mulch which decreases the overall height of the fence to 1100mm K- Portable Spa No fencing around the portable spa. Lock down covers do not form compliancy L- Climbable Pool Fence Breeze block boundary fencing provides ladder effect & direct access to pool zone 1, 2, 3, up & over & we are in the pool! Another ladder effect Trellis makes a good ladder too! What a mess – hello pool here we come Another way to get into a pool area rather than using a gate A garden fence posing as a pool fence is not a substitute for a real pool fence– nice garden though If you can climb the slope – you’re into the pool Same deal on the other end of the same pool M- Highset Houses Climb along the outside of the house steps, over fence & in the pool Same deal – different pool area Another house with no pool fence, but it does have a CPR sign Same property has Granny flat with direct access into the pool area – sure hope Granny can swim Not a pool security in sight – one is likely to fall down the steps & break one’s neck Down the steps from the house – straight into the pool N- Inward Facing Pool Gates Front boundary gate opens directly into pool zone. It is not fitted with any form of catching device or spring loaded hinges Garden gate at front of property leads directly into unfenced pool zone Non compliant gate does not self close of self latch from any position although the 4m drop from the landing would hurt And another inward facing gate on a front street boundary which allows direct access to the pool area. Padlocks, chains, etc. are not permissible under the Legislation Same gate secured with metal plates that could only be removed with ‘a tool’ O- Above Ground Pools Horizontal timber rails provide a ladder effect to access the pool area Top of pool wall is less than 1200mm in height Angled steps provide direct climbable access over the pool gate into the pool zone Another ladder effect which is deemed to provide footholds More climbable horizontal timber rails to a pool fence less than 1200mm in height P- Intersections Top of mid rail to top of bottom rail should be 900mm or more or hielded 1200mm back from the intersection with the pool fence Only 9 palings are fixed to the boundary timber fence - 4 have been dislodged Climbable square mesh panel intersects with pool fence Trellis style fencing intersects with metal pool fence Shielding or 60 degree timber filets should be fitted to the horizontal rails Not much point having this inward facing non-compliant gate where it is, as one could simply climb over the wall & enter an otherwise unprotected pool zone Climbable garden fence abuts a 1600mm block wall A chain wire fence with 30 degree support post meets an otherwise compliant timber paling pool fence Perspex screen not doing too much as a child could walk along the white wall, climb up the small panel, scale the pool gate & climb down the chain wire on the other side Q- Keeps Dogs Out - Lets Kids In Plastic mesh secured to bottom of pool fence & gate – pot plants also within 300mm Wire mesh attached to pool fence as a trellis for the adjacent vegetable garden More ‘unnecessary’ climbable chain wire attached to an otherwise compliant pool fence Plastic mesh fixed to another wise compliant pool fence – little dogs mightn’t drown but what about the kiddies? Maybe an extra invitation if the ball was in the pool area or even in the pool R- Rear Boundary Gates Rear boundary gate enters directly into unprotected pool zone from adjoining park. Note the scalable tap on the outside of the gate which is only secured by a barrel bolt Rear boundary gate swings inwards, the D latch is unprotected & both CPR signs are illegible The non-compliant gate between the adjoining public park and the pool zone swings inwards, is not 1200mm high, has gaps exceeding 10mm, has a scalable 45 degree cross brace & is secured by a barrel bolt & padlock Yet another non-compliant gate between the street & the pool zone which is secured only with a barrel bolt & a padlock – note the climbable 45 degree adjustable brace & the vertical gaps between the palings which exceed the maximum allowable gap of 10mm. It might be a acreage block in suburbia but this gate swings inwards, does not self-close & self-latch, has a scalable electric power point nearby and the corrugated fence panel on the right is 900mm high Expensive aluminium fence adjacent to otherwise unprotected pool zone isn’t fitted with self-closing or self-latching hardware S- Non Climbable Zone A child could climb from the upper level to the I beams then onto the fence on the second level before walking down the second flight of stairs to the pool area T- Horizonal Rails The bad news is the gap between the top of the bottom rail & that of the upper rail does not meet the minimum legislative requirement of 900mm The good news is that at least consideration was given to display a CPR sign Non compliant fencing as numerous footholds exist between ground level, the decking & the mid rail of the fence. The fence is also not 1200mm above the deck height
