New Zealand Pool Safety
Splashing about in the backyard pool is a way of life in New Zealand –
especially during a hot summer and school holidays. However, it
is important to remember that swimming pools, whether backyard "splash-fests"
or public facilities, need to be safely enclosed and properly
constructed.
A pool is a great asset, providing many hours of
fun and activity for the family, however statistics show that it
can present a significant danger for young children.
Standards, acts, codes, compliance and layers of
protection are just words, but what do they really mean for
anyone who owns, is building or planning to build, a pool, to
ensure that the pool is safe.
This website aims to educate and inform
New Zealanders about Pool Safety, the existing legislation and the
New Zealand Standards.
Pool Safety Simulation
The water safety and pool safety sectors have a
new education tool at their disposal with the new Swimming and
Spa Pool Safety Solution - a 3D virtual reality simulation
solution. This simulation software is available to
download from this website free of charge.
Click here
to download the
Pool Safety Simlulation Software
Pool Safety
Standards
Before the Fencing of Swimming
Pools Act 1987 was passed, toddler drownings alone averaged 12
per year. Despite this, pool safety remains a contentious area,
with concerns over inconsistent requirements and difficult
regulations. Among groups with an interest in this issue are
water safety organisations, child safety representatives,
Plunket, spa pool and pool manufacturers, councils, architects,
the Department of Building and Housing (DBH) and ACC.
It was agreed by industry representatives at a scoping session,
hosted by Standards NZ in June 2005, that producing a Standard
would be a good opportunity to consult with the industry and
address the outstanding issues and general lack of clarity
associated with the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act.
A Standards Committee was established to provide a way of moving
forward via a consensus process to produce clear rules about
pool fencing.
The aims of the new Standard are to:
-
Reduce the incidence of
drowning, especially in under 5’s
-
Provide clarity and guidance for pool construction and
maintenance
-
Provide a guidance document that can be referenced in
regulations as a means of specifying the requirements
for building and maintaining pools.
Work on the Standard was jointly
funded by the Department of Building and Housing and Water
Safety New Zealand.
... more
on Pool Safety Standards
Click here to obtain a copy of the
NZ Pool Safety Standards
Pool Safety Product Suppliers
The Pool safety Virtual Simulation
software solution has been made possible thanks to sponsorship
from leading pool safety equipment manufacturers and suppliers.
These Pool Safety suppliers provide everything from Swimming
Pool and Spa Pool Covers, Alarms, Fencing, Gates, Gate Latches,
and many other Pool Safety solutions.
Click here for a list of
Pool Safety Suppliers
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Compliance
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