Where a boundary fence forms part of the pool barrier the most recent Standard (AS1926.1-2012) requires there not to be any climbable surface/objects on the inside of the fence within a 900mm arc measured down and out from the top of the boundary fence.
The most prevalent climbable objects I see within the boundary fence’s non-climbable zone are trees and vines which require pruning and/or removing. However, where paling fences are the boundary fence and the horizontal rails are on the pool side of the fence, the highest horizontal rail of the paling fence is accessible and within the 900mm non climbable zone when measured from the top of the fence. Furthermore, the top of the fence post is usually lower than level with the top of the palings and as such are within the non-climbable zone. As such, there needs to be a solution that removes access to the upper surface of the top horizontal fence rail and also removes access to the top of the fence post – and this must extend at least 900mm past the point where the pool barrier intersects with the boundary fence.
Recently, when performing a pool barrier compliance inspection, I witnessed a solution whereby the homeowner ‘double skinned’ the paling fence by securing palings on their side of the boundary fence. However, importantly, they ‘skinned’ the fence post to remove access to the top surface of the post. This was an inexpensive solution that resulted in compliance with this clause of the Standard.
