Sydney Pool Safety Inspections

A compliance certificate for your swimming pool or spa is effective for three years from the date of issuance. This period of validity ensures that safety standards are maintained over time. For those interested in checking the compliance status of a specific property, the New South Wales Swimming Pool Register provides an online resource. By accessing their website, you can easily find out whether a property has a current certificate of compliance, offering assurance of the pool or spa’s safety and adherence to regulations. This resource is particularly useful for homeowners, potential property buyers, and real estate professionals seeking to verify compliance in line with New South Wales’ safety standards.

E1 Accredited Certifiers, serving as Public Officers, possess the authority to meticulously assess and verify that your swimming pool complies with all necessary standards. These officers, while hired by the pool owner, must prioritise the public interest. This commitment may entail advising pool owners to undertake specific modifications to meet compliance requirements.

It’s important to recognise that dissatisfaction with the results of an inspection does not influence its outcome. Should an inspection conclude with findings that require attention, the certifier is legally bound to issue a Notice to Comply, regardless of the pool owner’s personal sentiments towards the requested actions.

Although you might find yourself in disagreement with the proposed adjustments, it’s critical to understand that the regulatory framework does not accommodate personal opinions of pool owners. Private Certifiers are required to adhere strictly to the regulations, without the liberty to exercise discretion based on the pool owner’s requests or preferences.

For detailed insights into the obligations and roles of both pool owners and private certifiers, reaching out to Pool Safety Pros is advisable. They can provide you with a Fair Trading Information Sheet via email, offering comprehensive guidance on navigating these responsibilities.

A Pool Compliance Certificate verifies that your swimming pool or spa meets all the safety regulations and standards set by New South Wales law. It’s required for selling or leasing properties with a pool/spa and is valid for three years.

It’s recommended to have your pool inspected every three years to ensure ongoing compliance with safety regulations. However, a new inspection is required if you’re planning to sell or lease your property.

Common reasons include non-compliant pool barriers or fences, gates that don’t self-close or latch properly, gaps under the fence larger than 10cm, and the absence of resuscitation (CPR) signs.

Yes, and it’s encouraged to address any known issues beforehand. However, an accredited inspector can provide a more comprehensive assessment and identify any non-compliant aspects you might have overlooked.

You will receive a Notice to Comply, detailing the areas that need rectification. You typically have six weeks to address these issues and request a re-inspection.

A spa does need a compliance certificate however different standards can apply if the spa is covered by a child-resistant lockable lid and there is an appropriate warning sign, including details of resuscitation (CPR) techniques, in the immediate vicinity of the pool area which can be easily read from a distance of 3 metres.

If the spa does not have the above, a child-resistant barrier must be installed.

Ensure your pool fence and gate meet the legal requirements, check that your CPR signage is visible and up to date, and remove any climbable objects near the fence. You can also consult a checklist from a certified pool safety inspector for specific guidelines or download a checklist from the NSW Swimming Pool Register.

An E1 Accredited Certifier is authorised to inspect pools and spas to determine if they meet NSW safety standards. They can issue compliance certificates for pools that meet the requirements or a Notice to Comply for those that don’t.

For more detailed information or assistance, you can contact certified pool safety inspection services like Pool Safety Pros, or visit the NSW Fair Trading website. These resources offer comprehensive guidelines and support for achieving pool safety compliance.

Compliance for a spa pool can generally be achieved by relying on lockable straps, however Swim Spas are problematic for two reasons. One is that the segmented sections require additional straps to pass the lift test. Secondly the wording of the Swimming Pools Act 1992 determines what is a Spa Pool. A pool is for swimming and a spa has seats and jets and as such you cannot swim in it. When you swim against jets, it is still swimming and not a spa pool and therefore may not be eligible for an Exemption under Section 20 of the Act.