The looks of your poolside fencing will transform entirely depending on the material chosen for your swimming pool fences. Yes, they are mandatory if you have a swimming pool in your backyard, and since they are mandatory, you can choose from different materials like glass, steel, PVC, timber and so on. It is essential to understand all the materials before any selection and how they differ. You must also have an in-depth understanding of which one will be useful for you.
This guest post covers the top materials used in manufacturing pool fences for homes and commercial swimming pools. But let us first go through some pool fencing regulations that Aussie people must comply with.
SWIMMING POOL FENCING REGULATIONS IN AUSTRALIA
Swimming pool fencing regulations in Australia are devised for the complete safety of children and pets as they play around the swimming pool area. The pool fences designed as per these Australian regulations minimise the risk of drowning and other accidents around the pool area. It is important to note that different states have different regulations, and therefore, you must review your local region’s regulations. A general overview of pool fencing regulations in Australia is presented below.
FENCING HEIGHT
- Regardless of the material, the swimming pool fencing height should be at least 1200 mm or 1.2 metres.
- The non-climbable zone around the swimming pool must be around 900 mm outside the pool area.
REGULATION RELATED TO GATES
All swimming pool fences in Australia come with a gate, and there are some unambiguous guidelines related to gates. This includes –
- Self-closing and self-latching gates
- The latch should be at least 1.5 m above the ground to prevent easy access to young children.
- The gate must open outwards from the pool area.
CLIMBABLE OBJECTS
The homeowner must ensure that no objects around the swimming pool fencing assist the kids in climbing the frameless pool fencing.
NON CLIMBABLE ZONE
As mentioned above, a non-climbable zone should also be maintained around the pool fences to ensure that kids don’t find any help in climbing up the fences to access the poolside area.
Apart from these regulations, it is also essential that the pool owner ensures safety around the frameless pool fencing. This is easy to do by following the guidelines compiled for pool owners. This will include the following pointers.
Ensure your pool fencing is compliant with your state’s regulations.
- A pool fence isn’t a substitute for adult supervision.
- Don’t leave kids around water unsupervised, regardless of their swimming ability.
- Take your child to swimming lessons.
- Consider taking a CPR course.
- Display resuscitation instructions near your pool, such as on your pool fences.
- Place a ‘no diving’ sign if your pool is too shallow.
- Avoid leaving furniture and other climbable items near your pool.
- Avoid drinking alcohol around water.
REGULATIONS RELATED TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT MATERIAL
The fencing material chosen for swimming pool fencing should be durable and comply with Australian standards. Several materials are used in manufacturing these pool fences, and we have covered some details here in this segment, beginning with PVC pool fencing.
WHAT IS A PVC POOL FENCE?
Safety is the number one priority of families for their kids, as they play around the swimming pool area, and PVC pool fencing is the best option for them. They are installed as per the building regulations and Australian standards for pool safety. They come with high-quality, durable hinges and self-latching gates and are a modern alternative to timber, metal and glass pool fences. There are no drawbacks, and you get a powerful answer to all your safety, security and privacy-related questions. The top feature of vinyl or PVC pool fences is that the material does not rust, warp or corrode due to different weather conditions.
WHAT IS TUBULAR POOL FENCING?
Tubular pool fencing is a safe and secure solution to keep your kids safe around the pool area. The best feature of tubular pool fencing is that it is available in compliance with Australian Standards for Pool Safety, and you can customise it to suit your requirements. This tubular pool fencing is made from a pre-heated and corrosion-resistant material that has a durable powder-coated finish for maximum durability. The availability in more than 150 colours makes these pool fences versatile and the top choice of people in Australia. However, there are some drawbacks, and one is related to the cost. The expenditure involved in getting tubular pool fence installation done is really high. Lack of maintenance can generate rust, and this is a serious concern and a reason behind the next drawback: it requires more maintenance than usual.
WHAT ARE WROUGHT IRON POOL FENCING
Wrought iron pool fences are known for robust safety around the poolside area. Manufacturers use their creativity to innovate new styles and modern designs that make wrought iron pool fences even more versatile and loved. Ensuring that pool fences in Australia comply with local standards and regulations related to pool fencing is essential. This material is known for its excellent strength and durability, but at the same time, proper powder-coating or painting is required to protect it from corrosion and rusting. You can get customised wrought iron fences to ensure the design complements the property’s overall aesthetics and looks.
WHAT ARE ALUMINIUM POOL FENCING
Another trendy choice of Aussie people is aluminium pool fencing, which is available in different styles, shapes, and finishes. The top USP of this material is its resistance against corrosion, rusting, warping, etc., even when exposed to inclement weather conditions, air, water and chemicals. Another feature is that aluminium pool fences require no maintenance, painting, or coating for protection from weather conditions. The most common finish available is powder-coating that enhances the appearance and offers additional protection. Aluminium pool fencing is easy to install due to its lightweight availability, and maintenance becomes very easy.
WHAT ARE GLASS POOL FENCES?
The most popular version of pool fencing in Australia is glass fencing, i.e. available in two forms. The names are semi-frameless pool fencing and frameless pool fencing, and they are entirely different. Semi-frameless pool fencing comes with a frame that surrounds the 12mm toughened glass panels to keep them intact at their place, and these channels are attached to the posts installed on the ground. On the other hand, we have semi-frameless pool fencing that has no frame at all. The frameless pool fencing has 12-millimetre toughened glass panels that are stationary at their place using stainless steel spigots attached firmly to the ground. This semi-frameless and frameless pool fencing comes with 12 millimetres of toughened or tempered safety glass, known for its durability, strength and sturdiness. This glass is less likely to break, and even if it breaks somehow, it shatters into small, weightless chunks rather than bigger, sharp pieces that can harm anyone.
Semi-frameless and frameless glass fencing are preferred over others due to their pleasing looks and their spacious appearance in the poolside area. Again, the pool fencing installation must be done according to Australian regulations for pool fences.
