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: DMIRS Don't duck out, make if safe

Consultation Draft – Building Amendment Regulations 2022

Building and Energy is currently seeking feedback on draft Amendment Regulations that amend the swimming pool and safety barrier requirements in the Building Regulations 2012. Details of the public consultation and copies of the consultation documents can be found here:

Consultation: Draft Building Amendment Regulations – Swimming Pool and Safety Barrier Control

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 

Videos

Professional Development for Pool Inspectors

In late 2020, Building and Energy teamed up with the Royal Life Saving Society WA and the City of Joondalup to provide its annual professional development content for pool inspectors.
The bite sized presentations are informative, topical and free to view online.

1. Welcome
(Running time 1:52 min)


2. Toddler drowning – an overview 
(Running time 21:09 min)


3. Isolation fences vs child-resistant doorsets – a comparative analysis
(Running time 36:31 min)


4. Home pool safety – adding value to home pool barrier inspection programs
(Running time 24:55 min)


5. Various issues and common queries
(Running time 15:09 min)


6. City of Joondalup – case study
(Running time 11:20 min)

 

In April and May 2016, DMIRS held a number of information sessions on the changing requirements for swimming and spa pool safety barriers. An adaption of these presentations is available to view online:

Online information session:
Swimming and spa pool safety barriers – changes to the rules (Part 1)

Amendments to Building Regulations 2012
Building Code of Australia 2016

Click here to view Part 1 (Running time 17:41 min)

Online information session:
Swimming and spa pool safety barriers – changes to the rules (Part 2)

AS 1926.1-2012 Safety barriers for swimming pools
AS 1926.2-2007 Location of safety barriers for swimming pools
Scenarios

Click here to view Part 2 (Running time 24:04 min)

 

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 can be purchased from SAI Global.

Go to the SAI Global website http://www.saiglobal.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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