As a homeowner with a private swimming pool, ensuring your family's and guests' safety is paramount. One crucial aspect of swimming pool safety is appropriately installing and maintaining safety barriers. This article will focus on the requirements for gate hinges in private swimming pool safety barriers, according to Australian Standards, and provide a clear, easy-to-understand guide to help you comply with these regulations.
Swimming Pool Safety Barrier Regulations
According to Part 8 Division 2 of the Building Regulations 2012, safety barriers for private swimming pools must comply with the following Australian Standards, depending on the age of the pool:
AS 1926.1-1993 incorporating amendment no 1, for pre-May 2016 pools
AS 1926.1-2012 and AS 1926.2-2007 incorporating amendments no 1 and 2, for post-May 2016 pools
These standards outline requirements for indentations and projections that could potentially form a handhold or foothold, including gate hinges.
Gate Hinge Requirements
Both editions of AS 1926.1 state that indentations and projections, such as gate hinges, exceeding 10mm in depth must be spaced at least 900mm vertically apart. This applies to all components within the hinge that could provide a handhold or foothold.
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| Figure 1: The handhold and foothold locations of hinges are typically at the top of the hinge, but this may vary between different brands. The lowest handhold must be spaced at least 900mm vertically from the highest foothold. |
Ensuring that the lowest handhold is spaced at least 900mm vertically from the highest foothold is essential. If indentations and projections are sloped at 60° to the horizontal, they are generally not considered handholds or footholds and are permitted within the 900mm area. However, some gate hinges may have additional adjoining horizontal surfaces that exceed 10mm, and these surfaces are not allowed within the 900mm area.
For simplicity and compliance, it is recommended that the bottom of the top hinge be spaced at least 900mm from the top of the bottom hinge.
The Importance of Pool Gate Compliance
Pool gates are considered high-risk areas and are statistically the most common avenue of access for young children who drown in pools. They are also the most frequent element of non-compliance when inspected. As a responsible homeowner, ensuring that your swimming pool safety barriers, including gate hinges, meet the required standards to provide a safe and secure environment is vital.
Conclusion
Understanding and complying with swimming pool safety barrier regulations is essential for homeowners with private swimming pools. By ensuring that your gate hinges meet the requirements set forth in the Australian Standards, you can provide a safer environment for your family and guests while reducing the risk of accidents and non-compliance.
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