Information
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Development Application No.
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Swimming Pool Safety Barrier
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Conducted on
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Prepared by；
- Josh Edginton
- Rob Freda
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Client / Site
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Location
Audit process for PERMANENT pool safety barrier.
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Is assessment on an above-ground pool?
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Are the side walls of the pool 1200mm high from the finished ground level to the top of the side wall, with no climbable objects within 900mm?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.9 ABOVE-GROUND POOLS
For above-ground pools that are factory fabricated and designed for assembly and installation on site, including inflatable pools, the walls of the pool shall be considered an effective barrier provided they comply with the relevant provisions of Clauses 2.1 to 2.3.
A barrier complying with Clauses 2.1 to 2.4 shall be placed around permanently fixed access ladders and around a designated access point to above-ground pools with removable ladders.
NOTE: Above-ground pools pose a particular hazard because of the tendency to leave climbable objects against or near the pool, which may be used for access into the pool. -
Is there a complying safety barrier around the permanently fixed access ladder or designated access point for a removable ladder?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.9 ABOVE-GROUND POOLS
A barrier complying with Clauses 2.1 to 2.4 shall be placed around permanently fixed access ladders and around a designated access point to above-ground pools with removable ladders.
NOTE: Above-ground pools pose a particular hazard because of the tendency to leave climbable objects against or near the pool, which may be used for access into the pool. -
Is Pool isolated from dwelling?
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Do any windows open into the pool area?
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Is the height from the sill of the lowest opening panel of the window to the finished ground level in the pool area greater than or equal to 1800mm?
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Is the openable portion of the window totally covered by bars or a metal screen that are fixed to the building with fasteners that can only be removed by the use of a tool? Are the openings between bars and the horizontal dimension of openings in a metal screen less than or equal to 100 mm, and/or, is the openable portion of the window fixed to the building with fasteners that can only be removed by the use of a tool so that it will remain closed or will open to a maximum of 100 mm.
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AS1926.1-2012 2.6 CHILD-RESISTANT OPENABLE PORTION OF WINDOW
Where a window opens directly into the pool area and the height from the sill of the lowest opening panel of the window to the finished ground level in the pool area is less than 1800 mm, the openable portion of the window shall comply with one of the following:
(a) Be totally covered by bars or a metal screen, that are fixed to the building with fasteners that can only be removed by the use of a tool. The opening between bars and the horizontal dimension of openings in a metal screen shall not be greater than
100 mm.
(b) Be fixed to the building with fasteners that can only be removed by the use of a tool so that it will remain closed or will open to a maximum of 100 mm. -
Can the pool enclosure be accessed by any doors including sliding doors and/or roller doors?
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Does the door open into an indoor pool or an indoor/outdoor pool?
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Is the door fitted with an appropriate Child Resistant Doorset as described in section 2.7 of AS1926.1?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.7 CHILD RESISTANT DOORSETS
Child-resistant doorsets shall only be installed for access to indoor pools and the indoor part of an indoor/outdoor pool and shall comply with the following:
(a) Doors shall be fitted with a self-closing device that will close the door from any position, with a stationary start, without the application of a manual force and operate the latch.
(b) The self-closing device shall be capable of complying with these requirements with the door at any position fully open to resting on the latch.
(c) Doors shall be fitted with a latch that complies with Clause 2.4.2 and which will automatically operate on the closing of the door and prevent the door from being reopened without being manually released.
(d) The release for the latch shall be located on the outside of the door and not less than 1500 mm above the floor.
(e) NCZ 1 shall apply to the outside of a door and the top of NCZ 1 shall be 1200 mm or less above the floor. See Clause 2.2.2(a).
(f) Perforated materials or mesh shall comply with the requirements of Clause 2.3.2.
(g) Pet doors shall not be placed in a child-resistant doorset.
(h) Door shall not open towards the pool.
NOTE: For examples of locations for use of doorsets see AS 1926.2. -
Is the height of the safety barrier 1200mm from finished ground level to top of barrier?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.1 GENERAL
The height of a barrier within the property shall be not less than 1200 mm on the outside of the barrier. -
Is the safety barrier constructed from glass?
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Is there evidence showing the glass used complies with the provisions of AS 1288?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.3.3 Glass barriers
Glass used in barriers shall comply with the provisions of AS 1288. -
Is the safety barrier free of any items or objects within a 900mm arc of the outside of the barrier that may be used by a small child as a handhold or foothold to facilitate climbing? This includes projections and indentations from or within the barrier that have a horizontal surface with a depth greater than 10mm. A barrier component or an item or object on a barrier that would otherwise be climbable is non-climbable if its top surface is sloped at more than 60° to the horizontal plane
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AS1926.1-2012 2.2 NON-CLIMBABLE ZONE (NCZ)
2.2.1 General
The height and radius of the arc of all NCZs (other than NCZ 4) shall be not less than 900 mm. Within an NCZ there shall be no handholds or footholds, objects or plants that will facilitate climbing. Where NCZs are required they shall apply to the entire length of a barrier. -
Does the barrier contain any vertical openings 10-100mm in width?
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Is there a non-climbable zone of 900mm high by 300mm deep rectangular space on the inside of the barrier?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.2.2 Barriers less than 1800 mm in height
(d) NCZ 4 is required on all barriers with vertical openings 10–100 mm in width and is a 900 mm high by 300 mm deep rectangular space on the inside of the barrier and shall align with NCZ 1. A barrier component or an item or object on a barrier that would otherwise be climbable is
non-climbable if its top surface is sloped at more than 60° to the horizontal plane. -
Is a boundary fence included as part of the safety barrier?
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Is the height of the boundary fence greater than or equal to 1800mm on the inside of the pool enclosure for the length of the fence that forms part of the barrier and for a distance of 900mm beyond any intersecting safety barrier fence?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.2.4 Boundary barriers
Where a boundary fence acts as a barrier to a pool, it shall have a height not less than 1800 mm on the inside. -
Is there a non-climbable zone formed as a quadrant of 900mm down from the top of the inside of the boundary fence?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.2.4 Boundary barriers
Where a boundary fence acts as a barrier to a pool, it shall have a height not less than 1800 mm on the inside and NCZ 5 formed as a quadrant of 900 mm radius down from the top of the inside of the barrier. -
Is the safety barrier free of any intersecting fences?
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Is the top of the intersecting fence less than 50mm in width?
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Does the height of the intersecting fence extend to 1800mm for a distance of not less than 900mm from the point of intersection?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.2.4 Boundary barriers
Where a boundary fence acts as a barrier to a pool, it shall have a height not less than 1800 mm on the inside and NCZ 5 formed as a quadrant of 900 mm radius down from the top of the inside of the barrier. The following also apply:
(a) NCZ 5 is not invalidated by the intersection of a compliant internal fence provided the width of the top rail or surface of the intersecting barrier is not more than 50 mm wide at any point within the non-climbable zone and intersects at an angle of between
45 and 135 degrees to the 1800 mm boundary barrier.
(b) Where the top rail or surface of the internal barrier is greater than 50 mm and is located within the NCZ 5, the height of the lower barrier shall extend to a height not less than 1800 mm and extend not less than 900 mm from the intersection. -
Are all gaps between any vertical components in the barrier less than 100mm?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.3.6 Vertical components
The clear opening between any vertical components shall not exceed 100 mm at any point in a barrier. -
Is the gap between the bottom of the barrier and the finished ground level less than or equal to 100mm with the surface below the barrier being permanent or not easily removed or eroded by a young child animals or weather?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.3.7 Ground clearance
The height of any opening between the bottom of the barrier and the finished ground level shall not exceed 100 mm.
The surface beneath the barrier shall be permanent and not easily removed or eroded by a young child, animals or weather. -
Does the gate open outwards from the pool area?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.4.1.1 Operation of gates
Gates shall be hung so that they only swing outwards, i.e. away from the pool area. -
Is the arc of operation of the gate clear of any building or doorway?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.4.1.1 Operation of gates
Gates shall be located so that the arc of operation is clear of any building or doorway. -
Does the gate have sufficient clearance to swing freely through the arc of operation?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.4.1.1 Operation of gates
Gates shall have sufficient clearance to swing freely through the arc of operation. -
Are the openings under the closed gate less than or equal to 100mm?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.4.1.1 Operation of gates
The opening under a closed gate shall not exceed 100 mm at any point. -
Is the gate fitted with a self-closing device that will close the gate from any position, with a stationary start, without the application of a manual force and operate the latch?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.4.1.2 Self-closing device
Gates shall be fitted with a self-closing device that will close the gate from any position, with a stationary start, without the application of a manual force and operate the latch.
The self-closing device shall be capable of complying with these requirements with the gate at any position from fully open to resting on the latch.
NOTES:
1 The self-closing device may require a cushioned back-checking operation to prevent shock when the gate is closing.
2 Gates subject to wind loading (which may prevent their closing) may require special consideration. -
Does the gate remain closed and latched when a force is applied whilst pulled downwards and upwards? Does the opening at the bottom of the gate remain at less than or equal to 100mm when force is applied?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.4.1.3 Security of closure
Gates shall be hung so that when a gate is closed and latched, and is lifted upwards or pulled downwards with a force of 250 N, movement of the gate does not—
(a) release the latch;
(b) unhinge the gate; or
(c) increase the opening between the bottom of the gate and the finished ground level to
more than 100 mm. -
Is the gate latch release point a minimum of 1500mm high from the finished ground level?
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Is the gate latch release point on the inside of the barrier and in such a position that to release the latch from the outside it will be necessary to reach over or through the barrier at a height of not less than 1200 mm above the finished ground level or not less than 1000 mm above the highest lower horizontal member and be at least 150 mm below the top of the barrier if a hand-hole is not provided, or at least 150 mm below the edge of any hand-hole if provided.
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AS1926.1-2012 2.4.2.2 Location of the latch
Where the release point of the latch is located at a height less than 1500 mm above the finished ground level, the location of the latch shall—
(a) not be on the outside of the barrier;
(b) be in such a position that to release the latch from the outside it will be necessary to reach over or through the barrier at a height of not less than 1200 mm above the finished ground level or not less than 1000 mm above the highest lower horizontal member; and
(c) be at least 150 mm below the top of the barrier if a hand-hole is not provided, or at least 150 mm below the edge of any hand-hole if provided. -
Is the protrusion of the gate hinges less than 10mm?
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Are the hinges greater than 900mm apart?
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Do the hinges have a top surface sloped at 60° to the horizontal or more?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.4.3 Gate hinges
Gate hinges that protrude out from the barrier with a horizontal top surface depth greater than 10 mm and those that create an opening between the gate post and the gate stile of more than 10 mm shall not be permitted in NCZs 1 and 2. Hinges with a top surface sloped at 60° to the horizontal or more may be located within NCZs 1 and 2. -
In your opinion, is the general strength and rigidity of the components of the barrier and method of construction sufficient to resist the forces a small child may apply in attempting to gain access to the pool area through methods other than through the unlatched gate?
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AS1926.1-2012 2.1 GENERAL
A barrier shall be designed and constructed so that it will restrict access by young children. The barrier shall be a permanent structure. -
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Please capture a minimum of 4 photographs, from each corner of the safety barrier showing the compliant construction as at the time of conducting the audit.
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