Pool fence design: questions to ask your designer

A short list of questions keeps the pool fence from being forgotten in the design.

Before the drawings start

• Will the plans show finished ground levels around the whole pool? The QBCC measures the minimum 1200mm fence height from finished ground level.
• Will they show every step near the barrier? The QBCC says to measure stair-side panels from the tread nosing.
• Who decides the fence style, frameless or semi-frameless? See the comparison.

During the design

• Where does the gate go, and how do people reach the pool from the house?
• Are there ledges, planters or walls near the outside of the fence? The QBCC says there should be no accessible ledge greater than 10mm on the outside.
• How will the gap under the barrier be kept to 100mm or less, including at steps?
• Do the levels suit the fence you want, or does the fence need to change?

Approvals and inspection

• What approvals does this job need, and who prepares them?
• Who books the pool safety inspection, and when?
• If the pool will be sold or leased later, do you have what you need for a pool safety certificate?

About the designer

It is worth asking any designer how often they work on homes with pools. Francis Design, a building designer working across Sydney and the Illawarra, lists custom homes, renovations, extensions and granny flats among its services in NSW, where approval rules differ from Queensland, so check the rules where you are building.

Common questions