No, all our balustrades are custom made for each individual customer’s project, they are measured, fabricated, colour coated and installed to fit the area and so are suitable for most building applications. This flexibility means customers can work with the balustrade dealer to get the look they really want for their individual home.

must restrict access to the pool and the immediate pool area
must be at least 1.2m in height above the ground and any permanent projection (for example, steps, retaining walls, raised gardens, etc) or object placed on the ground outside and within 1.2m of the barrier
must have no climbable features on the outside of the barrier (or adjoining barrier) that could be used for climbing unless they are spaced at least 900mm apart
must not have any gaps that exceed 100mm in or under it, including pet doors
Trellis or mesh fencing around the pool:

higher than 1.8m must have openings 50mm or less, or be fitted with a protective cover
with height between 1.2m – 1.8m must have openings 10mm or less, or be fitted with a protective cover.
Ensure there are no trees that could assist young children climbing the fence.

External removable ladders must be disabled or removed after use. For pools installed after 1 January 2017, ladders are not allowed unless they are surrounded by a complying barrier and gate.

If your pool barrier features a building or boundary fence, see Other structures used as part of the pool barrier.

The new rules place more emphasis on the pool owner being responsible for safety. The responsibility does depend on the type of pool you have and where it is (eg home, rental, commercial).
More specifically, responsibility sits with:

the owner of the pool
the pool operator
the owner of the land the pool is on
the occupier of the property the pool is on
if the pool is available for hire, the person who is hiring the pool
if the pool is on premises that are not subject to a tenancy (under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986) but the pool is subject to a lease or is part of premises subject to a lease, the lessee of the pool or the premises.

Research shows that fencing reduces drowning of young children in home pools.

Drownings decreased dramatically after the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act was enacted in 1987. Before pool fencing legislation was enacted, on average 10 young children per year drowned in residential swimming pools. This average has reduced to two young children per year. Most of the children who have drowned were under three years of age.

Portable pools must have a barrier

Portable pools are treated in the same way as other residential pools. They must have barriers that restrict unsupervised access by young children if they can hold water to a depth of 400mm or more and have water in them (even if the pool is only partially filled).

Indoor residential pools must have a barrier

Young children are at risk if they have unrestricted access to pools whether the pool is inside or outside. Therefore, indoor residential pools are now subject to the same barrier requirements as other residential pools. For example, children must not be able to readily open the doors to the pool room. Pool room doors need to be self-closing or have an alarm.

Safety covers for small heated pools

Safety covers can be the barrier that restricts access to a small heated pool, such as a spa pool, where:

the water surface area is 5m2 or less
the side walls of the pool are at least 760mm high above the adjacent floor
the side walls cannot be easily climbed.
A safety cover must have signage indicating its child safety features, and must be able to:

restrict entry of children under five years of age when closed
withstand a foreseeable load
be readily returned to the closed position.
Acceptable Solution F9/AS2 has more information.

Self-closers and alarms for doors

What is counted as a fence or fencing?

A fence includes any part of a building and any gate or door that forms part of a fence.
Fencing is any barrier used to enclose a pool to restrict or prevent access to the pool.

Can I use a boundary fence as part of my pool fence?

Yes, although if the fence forming part of the pool area has horizontal rails on the outside of the pool area, the rails need to be more than 900mm apart so it’s unclimbable for small children.
Alternatively you can install triangle fillets along the top of the horizontal rails or attach another 4×2 rail on top of each rail so it can’t be gripped by hands and feet making it very difficult to climb. If you need to add fillets or 4×2 rails on your neighbours side of the fence, the Council recommends contacting your neighbour before you do any work.

If your neighbour plants a tree or builds a structure within 1.2m of the boundary fence and it provides a toehold or climbing point, your fence becomes non-compliant.

Can I use my house as part of my pool fence?

Yes, but all windows and doors leading into the pool area must not be able to be readily opened by children. Doors must either have an alarm if the door is opened or automatically close. Windows need to be positioned so children are not able to get into the pool area.

Can I report a non-compliant pool fence that isn’t my own?

If you would like to raise an issue about a pool fence, call the Council and they’ll review the information and do a site inspection if required.

Balustrade is a barrier in any building element intended to prevent a person from falling and to retain, stop or guide a person. A Fence is a barrier for all other situations where there is no fall – e.g. a Pool Fence. Reference to the New Zealand Building code and Acceptable Solutions must be referred to for full details.

A pool barrier must restrict access to the pool from:

the house
other buildings
vehicle or pedestrian access ways
other areas of the property.
Non-pool related items and activities can not be located inside the pool area. These include:
clothes lines
play equipment
vegetable gardens
dog kennels
general storage areas.

There are rules about what can and can’t be included in the area within your pool fence (immediate pool area).

The following items can be used to climb or gain access to the pool area or are unsafe and are not allowed in the immediate pool area:

vehicle or pedestrian access ways
clotheslines
sandpits and playgrounds
slides
swings
vegetable gardens
other objects not normally related to using a pool.

The minimum balustrade heights are as indicated on Table 1 of the Acceptable Solutions F4/AS1 available here. “Detached dwellings” are typically the interior and exterior of a residential dwelling. “All other buildings” apply to all other building situations. Reference should also be made to the current New Zealand Building Code, in particular Clause F4, for a full guide

Manufactured from Grade A, 12mm toughened safety glass, it meets all New Zealand pool safety regulation standards AS/NZS 2208, NZS8500

Panel height: 1200mm (approx 1250mm high when installed)
Panel Lengths: 600-1600mm (ex stock)
Panel Thickness: 12mm toughened safety glass to ASNZS
Standard Gate: 1200mm high x 900mm wide (10mm safety glass)

open away from the pool area
self-close and self-latch unaided from any distance
comply with the rules for fences.

a minimum of 1.5m above the ground and any objects within 1.2m of the barrier, if accessible from the outside of the barrier
inaccessible from the outside except by reaching at least 1.2m if mounted on the inside of the gate for pools installed from 1 January 2017, if the latch is accessible only by reaching over the gate, it must be set at least 150mm from the top or be shielded.If the latch is accessible only by reaching over the gate, it must be set at least 150mm from the top or be shielded.

open away from the pool area
self-close and self-latch unaided from any distance
comply with the rules for fences.
The gate latch must be:

a minimum of 1.5m above the ground and any objects within 1.2m of the barrier, if accessible from the outside of the barrier
inaccessible from the outside except by reaching at least 1.2m if mounted on the inside of the gate
for pools installed from 1 January 2017, if the latch is accessible only by reaching over the gate, it must be set at least 150mm from the top or be shielded.
If the latch is accessible only by reaching over the gate, it must be set at least 150mm from the top or be shielded.

What type of pool gate. hardwares and definition?

Hinges: allow your gate to pivot from the glass side panel, wall or post.
Closing mechanisms: provide an additional layer of security. Choose from self-closing hinges or self-closing mechanisms that use floor springs to activate.
Gates shall not open into the pool area, and must be fitted with an automatic closer capable of returning the gate to the closed position and operating a child proof latching device. The latching device should be mounted on the inside of the gate at a height of 1.2m above ground level or on the outside of the gate at a height of 1.5m above ground level.
With our high performance Gate Section, spring hinges are casting from duplex 2205 Stainless steel and tested 10,000 times of self closing. Latch will have Magnetic self close lock.
With our premium hydraulic hinges, your pool gate will be truly soft closing, and no gate slamming anymore! Our premium hydraulic hinges are designed in Australia, easy installation and adjustment, explore brand new premium hydraulic hinges today.

New pool safety legislation took effect on 1 January 2017. The Building (Pools) Amendment Act 2016 repealed the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 and the requirements for restricting access to residential pools has been moved to the Building Act 2004.

a new requirement for mandatory inspections of swimming pools every three years
allowing safety covers to be used as barriers for spa pools and hot tubs
indoor pools now require a means of restricting access
introducing additional enforcement tools for territorial authorities, including notices to fix.
These changes took effect from 1 January 2017.

All pools in New Zealand will now need to be inspected every three years by the local Council to proactively make sure safety measure s are correctly in place.
If a fence is to be constructed of perforated material, netting or mesh which has a dimension greater than 10mm, the fence shall extend 1.8m above ground level or pool projections. The maximum size opening of any perforated material, netting or mesh, excluding circumference or perimeter is 50mm.
This will include diagonal measurements. Pool projections also mean objects permanently placed on the ground within 1.2m of the fence, and includes trees etc.
Such materials must be fixed at the top and bottom, or be of such a nature, that the fence cannot be readily crossed by children under the age of six years.
Any clearance between the bottom of the fence and gate and ground level shall not exceed 100mm.
The spacing between adjacent vertical poles, panels or other posts shall not exceed 100mm at any point. All fencing supports, nails, rods, wires, bracing or other similar posts shall be on the inside of the fence and be inaccessible for use for climbing from the outside. Horizontal rails should be at least 900mm apart.

Where a building forms part of a fence and the pool is not contained within the building, any door that gives access to the immediate pool area will be required to be fitted with a locking device that when property operated, prevents the door from being readily opened by a child under the age of six years.
This also applies to an opening window if any part of the sash is within 1.2m of the floor, and must be fitted with a window restrictor so that it cannot open more than 100mm or be lockable. The immediate pool area must not contain vegetable gardens, clotheslines, children’s sand pits, slides, swings etc.

The fence should also be situated to prevent children moving directly to the pool from the house.
This is only a guide to the fencing requirements and does not cover all situations or aspects of the fencing requirements.

When will my swimming and/or spa pool be inspected?

All swimming pools are now required to be inspected by the Council at least once every three years. These mandatory inspections do not apply to spa pools where the barrier is a lockable cover. You can call the Council anytime on 07 838 6699 and book an inspection for your pool. Otherwise the Council will be working through all the pools in the city by geographic location. You will receive a letter prior to the inspection.

If the inspection is related to a building consent, the owner or agent will need to call the Council and book an inspection.

Will you contact me before you come and inspect my pool?

Yes, you’ll receive a letter from the Council when your pool is coming up for inspection. If you would like to get it done sooner, call the Council on 07 838 6699 and book an inspection.

Do I need to be home for you to inspect my pool?

You don’t need to be home for the inspection but if you would like to be there, call Council
If you are not home, the inspector will leave you a calling card so you know someone has been around.

What if I failed the inspection

All pool owners are strongly encouraged to proactively look at the details in the new fencing rules and make sure their fencing is up to standard.
If there is no fence or if your fence fails an inspection, depending on the problem, the Council may issue a notice for you to fix the issues (Notice to Fix) and/or ask you to drain your pool.

If an IQPI inspector notices issues with the pool fencing, the inspector must, within three working days of the date of inspection, give the written decision to the Council, attaching any other information that’s required.

The council will then follow up and if necessary, issue a Notice to Fix.

Can an Independent Qualified Pool Inspector (IQPI) do an inspection instead of the Council?

If an official IQPI completes a pool inspection and provides the Council with a certificate of periodic inspections, it may be accepted as the official pool inspection. If the Council does not accept an IQPI inspection, they will be notified in writing stating the reasons it wasn’t accepted.

Residential pools must be inspected every three years. These mandatory inspections do not apply to small heated pools, such as spa pools and hot tubs, where the barrier is a safety cover.

Pool owners can choose who undertakes the mandatory inspection of their pool – either the territorial authority, or an independently qualified pool inspector (IQPI). The IQPI is a person accepted by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as qualified to carry out periodic inspections.

Independently qualified pool inspectors on Trading Standards’ pool inspector website has more information.

In addition to three yearly inspections, territorial authorities also have discretion to inspect any residential pool at any time, including small heated pools, to determine whether the pool barrier requirements are being complied with.、

Your small heated pool does not need an inspection every three years if it meets the following criteria:

a water surface area of 5 square metres or less
760mm high unclimbable sides (including no steps)
a complying lockable lid, that must;
be capable of supporting 20kg of weight at its centre
have hold-down straps and fasteners capable of fixing the cover in place so there is no opening greater than 100mm
fasteners should have a minimum main width of 33mm
have a prominently displayed hazard warning notice – for example: “WARNING: This spa pool cover must be kept locked except when under adult supervision”.
be constructed with a slope from the centre to the outside to prevent water collecting on top.

Residential pools that are filled or partly filled with water must have physical barriers that restrict access by unsupervised children under five years of age. This requirement applies to pools that can be filled with water to a depth of 400mm or more.
New pool safety legislation took effect on 1 January 2017. The Building (Pools) Amendment Act 2016 repealed the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 and the requirements for restricting access to residential pools has been moved to the Building Act 2004.
a new requirement for mandatory inspections of swimming pools every three years
allowing safety covers to be used as barriers for spa pools and hot tubs
indoor pools now require a means of restricting access
introducing additional enforcement tools for territorial authorities, including notices to fix.
These changes took effect from 1 January 2017.

Spa pool

A spa pool (that is subject to these fencing rules) has a water surface area of less than 5m2 and is designed for therapeutic or recreational use. Spa pools are also referred to as “small heated pools” in the new legislation.

Why do I have to fence my swimming pool?

Previous pool fencing restrictions have seen a significant reduction in drownings across the country, but we still need to do more. Safety and consistency are the biggest drivers for the new rules. The rules are in place to protect you and anyone who may be in or around your pool.

Why do I have to fence my spa pool? Are there any alternatives to a fence?

It all depends what size your spa pool is. You will either need to have a fence surrounding the spa pool or (if it meets a criteria) can be made safe by having a lockable cover.

If your spa’s water surface area is less than 5m2 and sides higher than 760mm which small children are unable to climb – you can have a lockable cover.

If your spa is larger or shorter, you will need to have a full fence around the spa.

My spa pool only needs a lockable cover, are there specific things the cover needs to have/do?

A lockable cover must have signage indicating its child safety features, and must be able to:

restrict entry of children under five years of age when closed
withstand a foreseeable load
be quickly closed when the spa isn’t being used
no projections are to be present within 760mm of the spa – this includes steps.
the spa must have a surface no greater than 5m squared
the sides of the spa must be unclimbable.
Do portable/inflatable pools need fencing too?

Yes, portable/inflatable pools are treated in the same way as other swimming pools. They must have barriers that restrict access by young children if they are filled or partly filled with water. Portable pools with sides lower than 400mm in height are exempt.

Small heated pools (hot tubs and spa pools)
Your small heated pool does not need an inspection every three years if it meets the following criteria:

a water surface area of 5 square metres or less
760mm high unclimbable sides (including no steps)
a complying lockable lid, that must;
be capable of supporting 20kg of weight at its centre
have hold-down straps and fasteners capable of fixing the cover in place so there is no opening greater than 100mm
fasteners should have a minimum main width of 33mm
have a prominently displayed hazard warning notice – for example: “WARNING: This spa pool cover must be kept locked except when under adult supervision”.
be constructed with a slope from the centre to the outside to prevent water collecting on top.

I don’t have small children, why do I need to do this?

Yes, there is a focus on safety for children under five but even if you don’t have children the new rules apply as they create safety consistency across pools throughout New Zealand.

I want to install a new pool, do I need a building consent?

Yes, any pool and its associated fencing, which is capable of holding more than 400mm depth of water requires a building consent; this includes kitset and inflatable pools, which are in place for a short period of time each season and spa pools.