New Standard for pool safety

Child safety around swimming pools is covered by both Clause F4 Safety from Falling of the Building Code and the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 ('The Act'). The means of compliance for constructing barriers around pools is in the Schedule to the Act. Responsibility for administering this Act was transferred to the Department in October this year.

There has been a large increase in the number of spa pools. These are often located on a deck, where it is more difficult to provide adequate protection for children.

Standards New Zealand, in conjunction with the Department and New Zealand Water Safety, developed a new Standard for protecting children around pools called NZS 8500: 2006 Safety Barriers and Fences Around Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs.

The new Standard has been designed to reflect modern forms of construction and the technologies now available. The committee that developed the Standard included representatives of the pool industry, child safety organis-ations and territorial authorities.

The Standard follows the Schedule for basic fencing requirements, but gives other options where a fence between the house and pool is not feasible.

Following a public consult-ation process, the Standard was published by Standards New Zealand in November this year. The new Standard will be useful as a guide for territorial authorities in enforcing the Act.