Spa, indoor and portable pool requirements

While fun for small children, serious hazards are associated with inflatable and portable pools.

Legislation requires all swimming pools, including inflatable or portable pools, to have a child-resistant barrier to prevent drownings.

Large inflatable pool (more than 300mm high)

You need approval to install an inflatable or portable pool that can be filled with a capacity greater than 2000 litres.

You must, by law, have a child-resistant barrier constructed to Australian Standards around any pool that is capable of being filled with water to greater than 300mm deep.

Small inflatable pool (less than 300mm high)

If you cannot provide a fence around an inflatable or portable pool that is capable of being filled with water greater than 300mm deep, your only option is to purchase a smaller inflatable pool that is less than 300mm high, which you can put away after each use.

A spa pool (also known as a hot tub or Jacuzzi) is subject to the same requirements as an indoor or outdoor pool. The spa must be surrounded by either:

• A child-resistant barrier (swimming pool fence) complying with Australian Standard AS1926.1
• An exemption exists under the legislation that allows spa pool not to be surrounded by a child-resistant barrier (swimming pool fence) if the spa pool has a lockable child-safe structure, such as a door, lid, grille or mesh that is:
  • of substantial construction and has no opening through which a testing apparatus* could be passed, and
  • fastened to the spa pool by a device that is itself of substantial construction and having no opening through which a testing apparatus* could be passed

The lid must be capable of being operated, removed, reinstalled and locked by a single person. The exemption for a lockable lid does not apply to swim spas or spa pools that are manufactured for the purpose of swimming.

*A testing apparatus is defined within Australian Standard AS1926.1.

Owners must ensure that access to an indoor pool area is restricted in accordance with the legislation. The standard for restriction, for example, child-resistant windows and doors, is set out in Australian Standard AS1926.1. 

Indoor pool access door

A side-hung door forming part of a barrier for an indoor pool must open outwards from the indoor pool area and the latching device must be located at least 1500mm from floor level.

Glass viewing door insert

It is recommended that a glass viewing insert be provided within the door of an indoor pool area to enable viewing into the pool area and for safety when the door is being opened.