Swimming Pool Fence Inspections
BE SAFE POOL FENCE INSPECTION is a privately owned and operated Pool Safety Inspection Company. The 2 directors Josh & Dane conduct 98% of the pool safety inspections themselves and with over 1000 pool safety inspections under their belt since Dec 1st 2010 they have the experienced and knowledge to provide you with the right advice and service on your pool fence. Wheather you require a prepurchase pool fence inspection, compliance advice or a pool safety certificate to sell or lease your house.
Don't be fooled by companies that claim they have conducted 2000 + pool inspections as this is spread out across over 30 contractors Qld wide.
That works out at only a few inspections per pool inspector. Do you want an inexperienced safety inspector checking your pool? Risking your childs life? Providing poor advice on repairs? These contracted inspectors are only paid around $70 per inspection by their head contracting company.
Don't be tricked by cheap quotes that fail to tell you they charge an extra $27.50 per additional entry point. This means if you have 3 gates your looking at an extra $55.00. NOT COOL!
With Be Safe Pool Fence Inspections the inspection fee includes unlimited pool gates and GST. View our pool safety inspection pricelist.
Always ask when you book an inspection for the inspectors name & license number, if they can't provide it, hang up. Don't risk a random pool safety inspector, get what you pay for and book your pool safety inspection with an experienced licensed pool fence inspector from Be Safe Pool Fence Inspections.
PRE-PURCHASE Pool Fence Inspection
Before you purchase a property with a pool, ask the sellers agent for a copy of the pool safety certificate also lknow as a FORM 23. If they don't have a pool safety certificate for the property you should arrange a pool fence inspection with BE SAFE POOL FENCE INSPECTIONS. Just like a pest and building inspection, we'll write you a report with photos and any non-compliance issues that we find along with solutions to fix the problem areas. As a buyer it will be your responsibility to obtain a pool safety certificate within 90 days of settlement if they seller does not provide one when you sign the contract. If you are selling your home it is advisable to arrange a pool fence safety inspection to obtain a pool safety certificate. It could end up saving you thousands during the negotiation process if your already have the certificate. Without a pool safety certificate buyers are more likely to offer a lower price, often the differnece is greater than the cost of the inspection and repairs themselves.
By arranging a pool fence inspection prior to purchasing or selling you will be in a better position for negitiations.
Queensland Pool Safety LAWS
The Queensland Government has introduced Australia's toughest new pool safety laws as a result of a comprehensive review of Queensland's swimming pool safety laws. The new pool laws target the pool fencing regulations and rules that were previously know as the Queensland pool safety standard.
Who Needs a Pool Safety Certificate - FORM 23 ?
- Anybody selling a private home with a pool or the person buying the home must obtain a pool safety certificate within 90 days of settlement if the seller did not provide a pool safety certificate.
- Landlords wishing to Rent or lease a private residential home to a tenant must have a pool safety certificate prior to a tenant moving in or risk being fined. Note there is currently an exemption period for non-shared pools due to the Queensland natural desasters - any property leased between 8th January - 8th July does not require a certificate.
Short Term Accommodation Providers such as Hotels, Motels, Resorts with a shared pool will only have until 31st May 2011 to have a pool safety certificate in place.
The first step will be to book a pool safety inspection. If your pool is compliant you will be issued with a pool safety certificate, if your pool is not compliant you will be issued with a notice of non-compliance along with details of what needs fixing to become compliant. To Avoid the rush, book a pool fence safety inspection with BE SAFE POOL FENCE INSPECTIONS - our pool inspectors are fully qualified and ready to inspect your pool, BIG or small. Book a pool safety inspection
The new pool safety laws aim to further reduce the incidences of drowning and serious immersion injuries of young children in swimming pools.
Queensland's swimming pool safety improvement strategy has two stages.
Stage 1 was introduced on 1 December 2009 and applies to new residential pools.
Stage 2, The final stage of the swimming pool safety laws is expected to start this summer (December 2010). Stage 2 mostly affects existing swimming pools. It is important that all pool owners are familiar with these new laws.
POOL FENCE DIAGRAMS - CLICK TO VIEW
View the Standard - This must be read in conjunction with the QDC MP3.4 2010 as there have been amendments to the pool fencing standards and rules.
Buy your own copy of the Standard from the SAI Global InfoStore
Side slice of a pool fence that shows the Non-climbable Zone, Additional Clear Area, Internal Clear Area, Fence Heights & Gaps.
Why we need swimming pool safety laws
38 children under the age of 5 yrs drowned in Queensland residential swimming pools or wadding pools between January 2004 and May 18th 2010.
Data from the Commission of Children, Young People and the Child Guardian show that drowning is the leading cause of death in Queensland for children aged one to four, at 5.2 per 100 000, including 4 per 100 000 in pools. In addition it is estimated that 50 children attend emergency departments each year due to immersion injuries, some of whom will suffer permanent brain damage.
It is widely acknowledged that supervision is the first line of protection for children. However, an effective pool barrier provides added protection in cases where supervision is ineffective. Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit research in 2002 revealed at least 70 people are alive today because of the introduction of pool fencing laws in the early 1990s.
Review of Queensland's swimming pool safety laws The two-staged pool safety improvement strategy was developed by the Queensland Government with the assistance of an expert committee established in January 2009 to review Queensland's swimming pool safety laws. On 26 April 2009 the committee released a report which included 23 recommendations for improving Queensland's swimming pool safety laws.
How Do THE NEW POOL SAFETY LAWS Affect You
Selling a property with a pool?
As the seller, you have the option of either obtaining a pool compliance certificate know as a FORM 23 - Pool Safety Certificate prior to settlement or you will need to inform the buyers that you have not obtained a safety certificate know as a FORM 36 - notification of no pool safety certificate. If the buyers choose to proceed it will be their responsibility to arrange a pool safety inspection within 90 days of settlement.
Buying a property with a pool?
As the buyer of a property with a pool where there is no pool safety certificate we highly recommend arranging a pre-purchase pool safety inspection. Often there is a reason the sellers have not obtained a compliance certificate. As the buyer it is now your legal obligation to obtain a pool safety certificate within 90 days of settlement. By arranging a pre-purchase pool inspection you will find out if the pool fence is compliant or non-compliant before you buy, just like a pest and building inspection. If the pool is not compliant, our written report will outline all non-compliance issues, photos and a solution. Don't be left in the dark with a pool fence repair worth thousands, arrange a Brisabne pool fence inspection today with Josh & Dane by calling 0488 55 8526 or 1300 677 665.
Got a question out your pool fence?
If you have a question about your pool fence, check our forum, if the answer is not there, join the discussion and ask a question, we'd be happy to answer, you can even upload photos. visit the forum here >> POOL INSPECTION FORUM.
Shared pools associated with short-term accommodation - eg: Hotels, Motels & Reports
Under the new pool safety laws, owners or managers of shared pools associated with short-term accommodation have 6 months from the legislation date to obtain a safety certificate for the pool.
Shared pools associated with long-term accommodation - eg: block of units with long term tenants
Properties associated with long-term accommodation have have been granted a two-year phase in period to obtain a pool safety certificate. A certificate is not required until 30th of November 2012. A pool safety certificate is not requiredto be provided when a property is being sold during this phase in period.
Tenants of rental properties with pools
If you are renting a property with a swimming pool it is your responsible for ensuring that the gate is kept closed and that there are not any objects that would allow children to access the pool.
If a person renting a property buys a pool that requires pool a pool fence, the owner of the pool must ensure the pool has a compliant pool safety barrier. For more information view the Swimming pool safety guidelines.
Accommodation Operators: Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Backpackers, Caravan Parks, Hostels & Boarding Houses
As of December 2010 accommodation operators who sell room accommodation will be required to have their pool certified every year to comply with the new pool safety laws. Without a pool safety certificate short term accommodation operators will not be able to book overnight rooms. Short term accommodation operators have until May 31st to arrange a pool fence safety inspection & obtain a Form 23 - Pool Safety Certificate.
Due to the large number of accommodation operators who will require pool ispections, the Queensland government has allowed a 6 month phase in pediod. This mean that come the last day of May 2011 if you do not have a pool safety certificate you will not be able to let out a room associated with short-term accommodation. To avoid the last minuet rush, book a pool fence inspection with a Licensed pool fence inspector from BE SAFE POOL FENCE INSPECTIONS.
POOL FENCE INSPECTION BLOG
Balcony edges that can be accessed around by climbing over the lower balcony rail or from going around the side where open.
During a recent pool fence inspection we came across a Pool Fence that connected to the balcony perpendicular. Now the balcony itself was being used as part of the pool fence and this is where the non-compliance issue arose. Like most timber balconies, it had an edge or lip on the other side of the railings. This lip could be accessed by climbing around the outside of the balcony by shuffling along from the staircase (not seen in photo) or by climbing over the shorter panel beside it until reaching the pool fence side. Now black the pool fence was compliant and measured 1205mm in height from ground level but the problem was that while the pool fence itself was compliant, the top of the fence only just reached the floor of the balcony, so by standing on the edge of the balcony after shuffling around the edge one would soon find themselves inside the pool enclosure having walked passed the top of the pool fence at foot level. See the photo below.
The Blue box represents the position a shield needs to be installed to prevent access past the pool fence intersection point with the balcony. The shield must be a minimum of 1200mm in height measured from the balcony floorboards and extend out 900mm along the black pool fence panel. The shielding must also be able to withstand 330N of force which is equivalent to 33kg.
Pool pump and pipes within the 300mm clear area on the inside of the pool fence
This is very common and will always result in a failed pool fence inspection. A pool pump provides a perfect foothold for a child to stand on and provides leverage to get over the pool fence.
There must be a clear 300mm on the inside of the fence. To achieve this without having to move the pool pump, you could either install a Perspex or timber shield to the pool fence from top to bottom and to a width equal to at least 300mm from any opening in the fence to the pump.
There is a second non-compliance issue above, did you spot it? The window ledge is compromising the 900mm non-climbable zone of the pool fence, measured from the top rail in the photo above. This window sill is less than 900mm from the ground and has a horizontal surface area of more than 10mm, a perfect climbing point for a young child to gain access over the pool fence.
The solution here is simple, just install a perspex panel that covers the window ledge and make sure the top of the perspex panel is at least 900mm from the ground or highest lower rail of the fence.
Non-compliant CPR signs
It's surprising how many pools we inspect that are missing CRP signs altogether and the pools that have them, 50% are either out of date, damaged, obstructed by vegetation or installed around the corner outside of the pool enclosure where they are of no use.
The photo below is one of many CPR signs we have encountered during our pool safety inspections. This sign is out of date, faded & difficult to read and extremely damaged.
This sign needs to be replaced and installed where it can easily be read should the need to perform resuscitation occur.
BE SAFE POOL FENCE INSPECTIONS NEWS
10 February 2012 - The Duo team reaches 1050 pool safety inspections since Dec 2010 - Expereice Counts!