Home outdoor entertainment has become more prevalent in modern times, with homeowners spending more quality outdoor time with family and friends, and all in the comfort of their own homes. 

For those fortunate enough to own a swimming pool, we’re instantly transported to thoughts of sunshine, hot summers, relaxing weekends, BBQs, family/friends events, and the sound of kids and adults laughing and splashing about. What a great addition to your home!

Recessed Concrete Pool Fence Large Frameless Impressions

There’s no doubt you’re keen to jump into your new swimming pool as soon as it’s ready, but there’s one more important thing to do before you can call your pool swim-safe based on Victorian requirements; install pool fencing. In accordance with Australian regulations for pools and Australian Standard AS 1926.1 – 2012, you need to have compliant pool fencing installed in your yard before you can dive in.

There are a few styles that Aussies opt for; frameless glass pool fencing, semi-frameless glass pool fencing (which some also call “framed”), and metal pool fencing. It’s up to you which to choose, with style, budget, and desired aesthetic being the top three criteria for most homeowners. Below, we outline the main differences, along with the pros and cons of each, to help you make an informed decision on the best option for your yard.

While it’s easy to get caught up in the fun of dreaming about installing a swimming pool or spa, the protection and active supervision of young children and adults who are not that confident in-and-around water isn’t a consideration that should be overlooked.

Since the year 2000 there have been 27 drowning deaths of children 5 years and younger in private, residential pools. In these instances, the Coroner found that in at least 20 of these cases a non-compliant safety barrier may have played a role in the deaths of the young children. As a swimming pool and/or spa owner, you have a legal obligation to ensure and maintain the correct operation of barriers and fencing around pools to help prevent avoidable deaths like these.

If you’re lost and don’t know where to begin researching, check out the following guide on spa & swimming pool fencing regulations or read the full Victoria Building Authority (VBA) or Swimming Pool and Spa Association (SPASA) guides where they pinpoint a few of the more important things to note to ensure the safety of family, pets, and friends.