Background:

  • January 2017 - Introduction of  the Building Act 2004 - NZBC F9
  • April 2017 - The non-mandatory AS1 published and cites NZS 8500-2006 as the reference document.
  • NZBC F9  and non-mandatory AS1 and AS2 is attached on Pool-Safety Legislation page 1 for review
  • Pool-safety legislation as determined by a High Court Declaratory Judgement in 2004, requires the home-pool owner to know how they propose to use their pool, who will be involved in its use and what activities are proposed in conjunction with its use!
  • Many of the challenges faced by home-pool owners during the compliance process are related to the cavalier way pool consent applications are submitted.
  • Based on our experiences, most applications show the general location of the pool, the engineering and plumbing required, the pool construction and little else.

Therefore, before any decisions are made or consent applications are submitted, the home pool owner must consider:

  • Who will be using the pool?
  • The general age and experience of the potential users?
  • What activities are proposed to take place within the pool area?
  • What general supervision is proposed when the pool is in use?
  • Your proposed pool rules in regard to supervision of children and young adults?
  • Children and young adults drown in water hazards including the home pool, because they are either unaware of basic water safety principals or indeed, they have not been demonstrated, used or enforced, during their family visits to the beach, rivers, lakes or, a home-pool.
  • A good starting point would be to review the Swish Supervision page and brochure. Then, use the links to the practical water safety organisations provided.
  • "Your pool your responsibility," the time spent planning pool activities and usage, could well prevent a drowning or, immersion injury...

   Randerson

   Supervision

   PoolZones