Swimming, spa and portable pools

The Building Regulations 2012 (the Regulations) require all private swimming, spa, and portable pools that contain water that is more than 300mm (30cm) deep to have a compliant safety barrier installed that restricts access by young children to the pool and its immediate surrounds. This webpage contains general information as well as useful publications and links for consumers and local govenrments. 

Safety campaign: Don't duck out, make if safe

 

General information

In Western Australia, there are two sets of safety barrier requirements depending on when the private swimming pool was installed or when plans for the installation of the pool were submitted to the permit authority for approval.

Generally:

  • Post 1 May 2016 private swimming pools are required to have safety barriers that comply with the edition of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) currently in effect. The BCA references AS 1926.1:2012 (Safety barriers for swimming pools) and AS 1926.2:2007 (Location of safety barriers for swimming pools) incorporating amendments 1 and 2;
  • Pre 1 May 2016 private swimming pools can continue to comply with their existing requirements under the Regulations or alternatively comply with the new requirements (that is the BCA).

Publications

Building and Energy has produced the following publications to assist swimming pool and spa owners to understand the barrier requirements for swimming and spa pools:

Publications for consumers

Publications for practitioners

Reports

Recalls

2022

2018 

Links

For specific advice as to whether your swimming or spa pool barrier complies with the requirements, please contact your local government. Contact details are available on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries website.

Go to the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries website http://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au

The BCA is now freely available via the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) website.

Go to the ABCB website http://www.abcb.gov.au

The Building Act 2011 and the Building Regulations 2012 contain laws related to swimming and spa pools and can viewed on the Parliamentary Counsel's Office website.

Go to the Parliamentary Counsel's Office website http://www.legislation.wa.gov.au

Copies of Australian Standards related to swimming pools and safety barriers that are directly referenced in the Building Regulations 2012 are available to view free of charge in the reserve section of the State Library of Western Australia. 

Go to the State Library of Western Australia website www.slwa.wa.gov.au

Reader Room is an initiative by Standards Australia which provides limited, no-fee access to many Australian Standards for non-commercial purposes. 

Go to the Standards Australia Reader Room website www.readerroom.standards.org.au

Copies of Australian Standards can be purchased and/or accessed via paid subscription from Intertek Inform (formerly SAI Global Standards), Techstreet Store and Standards Australia.

Go to the Standards Australia website www.standards.org.au

Go to the Intertek Inform website www.intertekinform.com

Go to the Techstreet Store website www.techstreet.com

Specific information on portable pools can be found on the 'Portable swimming pool safety' webpage.

Go to the Portable pools webpage www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/portable-pools

Consumer Protection 'Don't Duck Out – Make it Safe' campaign

Go to the 'Don't Duck Out – Make it Safe' https://www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/makeitsafe/

Product safety recalls from ACCC – Product Safety Australia.

Go to the ACCC – Product Safety Australia website www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls

 

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