Depending on the Standard, there shall be no handholds or footholds, objects or plants that will facilitate climbing within a non-climbable zone (arc of 900mm or 1200mm measured from the top of the pool barrier). An item or object that would be considered climbable is non-climbable if its top surface is sloped at more than 60o to the horizontal plane.
During a Pool Barrier Inspection Service in Geelong, this homeowner had a power point on a rendered wall within the 1200mm non-climbable zone on the outside of the pool barrier. The upper horizontal surface of the power point was able to be used by a young child as a foothold and as such was an aid to climbing the pool barrier. The cost to relocate the power point to a position outside the non-climbable zone was prohibitive and as such an alternative was sought.
The homeowner was able to purchase a low cost 60o polycarbonate power point pool safety cover. It was easily secured to the wall above the power point by two screws and removed access by a small child to the upper horizontal surface of the power point thus rendering it non-climbable and compliant with the relevant Standard.
While this particular instance related to a power point, it also applies to other objects where there is a horizontal surface greater than 10mm in depth within the non-climbable zone such as taps and door handles.
