Pool fence in your building contract: what to check

A pool fence is easy to leave vague in a building contract. Pin down these points before you sign.

Is the pool fence actually included?

Do not assume a pool fence is part of the contract price. Ask whether the contract includes the fence, only allows an amount for it, or leaves it out. If it is not in the contract, work out who organises it and who pays.

Questions to put in writing

• Which fence style: frameless or semi-frameless? See the comparison.
• Who supplies it, and who installs it?
• What is the licence number of the person doing the work? The QBCC says a contractor's licence is required when the value of the work and materials is $3,300 or more.
• Does the price include the pool safety inspection? The QBCC says there is no set charge for a full inspection, so ask who pays and who books it.
• What happens if finished levels change? The QBCC measures the minimum 1200mm fence height from finished ground level.
• Who fixes the fence if it fails the inspection and a non-conformity notice (Form 26) is issued?

Timing matters

The fence has to be in place and inspected before the pool is used, so the contract should say when the fence is installed in the build sequence. Ask your certifier or the QBCC which approvals and inspections apply to your pool.

Compare builders on the pool fence

When you compare builders, compare what each one includes for the pool fence, not just the total. CKS Projects, a Wollongong custom home builder, publishes guides on what its building inclusions cover in NSW, where pool rules differ from Queensland, so check the rules for your own state and read any contract against them.

Common questions