As stated in previous articles, when undertaking Compliance Inspections I often find non-compliance issues relating to the issue of a boundary fence where used as part of a pool barrier.
Standard AS1926.1-2012 states that where a boundary fence forms part of the pool barrier the boundary fence must have a height not less than 1,800mm on the pool side of the fence as well as there not having any climbable surface/objects/trees on the inside of the fence within a 900mm arc measured down and out from the top of the boundary fence.
At a recent pool barrier compliance inspection in Newtown, the homeowner’s pool enclosure was surrounded by Pencil Pine trees. They provided the pool enclosure with a degree of privacy from neighbours, don’t drop much matter into the pool and have a small ‘footprint’ allowing them to grow between the pool and the boundary fence. However, because they can be used as a climbable surface and because they are located within the 900mm non-climbable zone when measured as an arc out and down from level with the top of the boundary fence, they render the pool barrier non-compliant.
Rather than removing the pine trees, the homeowner wrapped the trees with ‘Mouse and Snake Mesh’. The Mesh has 6.5mm x 6.5mm apertures and results in that section of tree being non climbable – thus the pool barrier was deemed compliant. Over time the tree is likely to grow through the Mesh which will become less conspicuous. As long as any vegetation that grows through the Mesh remains less than 10mm in depth, and the Mesh’s location remains within the 900mm non-climbable zone, this will remain compliant over time.
