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Swimming Pool Safety (Access Compliance) Inspections are offered:-
 | as an optional add-on for our Standard or Premium Pre-purchase Inspection Services |
| as a stand-alone service for vendors who are seeking to comply with South Australian swimming pool safety legislation prior to property settlement and for other pool owners concerned about safety of young children |
What is this all about?
The safety of young children when it comes to managing swimming pool access.
Legislation in South Australia
Swimming Pool Safety requirements in South Australia apply under the Development (Assessment Procedures) Amendment Act (No 17 of 2007), Section 71AA and under 76D of the Development (Swimming Pool Safety) Variation Regulations 2008.
Different rules apply depending on the date the pool was constructed and when the property was sold.
What
is defined as a swimming pool?
The Development Act defines
a swimming pool as an excavation or structure that is capable of being filled
with water and is used primarily for swimming, wading, paddling or the like
and includes a bathing or wading pool or spa pool (but not a spa bath).
Inspection service provided:
We check that pool access controls comply with the standards applicable to the age of the pool as required under South Australian Legislation. Where that is not the case, we can provide recommendations to achieve compliance. Inspections are by David Murray who has undertaken the SA Government Planning SA course on swimming pool safety and was the first to have passed their requirements for swimming pool safety consultants. David uses equipment including a force gauge and attachments to assess strength & rigidity of gates, fencing & components per Australian Standard AS 1926.1 and can issue a Certificate of Compliance if all the access requirements have been met.
Legal advice provided to the Association of Building Consultants and confirmed by Planning SA is that all swimming pool consultants should be undertaking the tests required under the Australian Standard as part of their Duty of Care in assessing swimming pool access safety compliance.
In the case of properties for sale, should the pool inspection be arranged by the vendor or the purchaser?
If the statutory access requirements are not in place at the time of settlement for prescribed swimming pools & spas, a Division 4 fine can apply to the vendor (currently $15,000).
In terms of responsibility for the safety of young children, the owner of the property is responsible for ensuring access control is compliant. Prior to the settlement of the property, that responsibility rests with the vendor. Following settlement, the responsibility rests with the purchaser who inherits any aspects of non-compliance that may exist. For that reason, it is in the interests of BOTH the vendor AND the purchaser to be aware of any issues of non-compliance and for those issues to be addressed prior to settlement of the property.
Fees
Fees are based on a charge-out rate of A$250* per hour (inclusive of GST for inspection, report writing & consultation time). There is a minimum charge of A$400* (inclusive of GST) per site visit. Travel is not charged for if the site is within 30 minutes actual travel time from our base at Royston Park - travel charges may apply elsewhere.
* A 25% surcharge applies for inspections on weekends, public holidays & after normal working hours.
Fees are current till 30th June 2012
Call Natalie on 0419 806 429 for inspection inquiries & bookings
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© This Web was last updated on 26 January 2012
Adelaide Pre-purchase Inspections, a division of Nat Murray & Associates
- Consulting Engineers ©