Pool safety a priority
Published on 13 January 2016
13 January 2016
Whanganui District Council building team leader Greg Hoobin is reminding people to look out for their loved ones, especially children, and ensure their safety around swimming and spa pools.
“Many of us spend our summer days enjoying water-based activities but we all need to be mindful of the dangers that exist in any environment involving water, even in something as innocent as an inflatable paddling pool,” Mr Hoobin said.
“The recent spate of drownings in New Zealand is a sobering reminder that reliance on education and adult supervision alone is not enough to protect our loved ones where water is involved. Children are naturally inquisitive and often drawn to water. The consequences of allowing a young child unsupervised access to a pool can be fatal.”
All spa and swimming pools, whether they are in-ground or above-ground, are required by law to meet the requirements of the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987. The Act is currently under review and going through the Parliamentary process that is required for a law change. The proposed changes will simplify some of the current rules and may reduce compliance costs. However, until the new legislation is enacted (proposed 1 January 2017), pools must meet the current legal requirements.
“The Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 is designed to protect young children from the danger of drowning in unfenced pools,” Mr Hoobin said.
“Poorly maintained pool fencing and gates also increases this danger and allows easy access to pool areas. Most children who drown in home swimming pools do so when they are able to access pools that don’t comply with the Act. This is often due to the deterioration of pool fences, failing gates and gate latches, modifications to pool fences and gates being propped open. Maintenance of these features and supervision of children around swimming pools is essential and there must be an ongoing obligation from pool owners to ensure that this occurs. Pool fences must be compliant at all times to ensure safety of young children.”
If a pool can hold more than 400mm of water it requires a building consent that includes the pool fencing requirements. This also applies to inflatable, temporary kitset and spa pools (with or without lockable lids). The building consent process enables the council to add these pools to its swimming pools register and means the pools and fences can be audited to ensure they comply.
For new pools an inspection of the pool and fence is carried out as part of the building consent process. However, there is a dispensation for pool fencing when a swimming/spa pool meets the criteria set out in the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987.
The council has information to assist with swimming pool requirements available online at www.whanganui.govt.nz/building and through pamphlets available at the Municipal Building in Guyton Street.
“Our staff will be carrying out inspections throughout the year as part of a regular audit cycle of existing pools and spas to ensure they are adequately fenced and comply with the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987,” Mr Hoobin said.
“When the revised legislation has passed through Parliament, swimming pool owners will be contacted with information outlining the new audit process.
“In the meantime if you have a swimming/spa pool that has not been added to council’s register, or if you have concerns about pool fencing, we encourage you to contact us.”
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