The applicable Standard for this swimming pool barrier (AS1926.1-2012) requires the boundary fence between two properties to be at least 1,800mm in height for it to be an effective pool barrier. Furthermore, it must not have any horizontal climbable surfaces within 900mm from the top of the boundary fence on the pool side. When undertaking this pool fencing compliance inspection, we were advised that the boundary fence for this homeowner initially included a brick wall with piers on the pool side up against a paling fence which was greater than 1,800mm high. Because the brick wall wasn’t quite 1,800mm high, the top of the wall and its piers represented a non-complying horizontal surface. Rather than extending the brick wall to a height of 1,800mm, this homeowner built and attached a Merbau feature wall to the existing boundary fence. It was greater than 1,800mm in height and with vertical spaces between the Merbau uprights being no greater than 10mm, the supporting framework was not considered climbable. The homeowner extended the feature wall past the intersection of the pool fence by a distance of 900mm which was also required for compliance with the Standard. It should be noted that the top surface of the pool fence was no greater than 50mm so that the top of the pool fence was able to be within the non-climbable zone when measured 900mm down from the top of the new boundary feature wall.
