Well-designed pool fencing is not only a vital safety element of your pool area; it is a legal requirement in Australia. Glass pool fencing is a very popular choice. But what considerations are there when planning your pool area and incorporating a glass pool fence? Read on for some helpful guidelines.
Positioning your fence
To save valuable space, you could incorporate your garden's boundary fence into your pool fence line, although to comply with Australian government legislation, the pool fence must be at least 1.2 metres high.
The fence must be soundly constructed and stable, and there must also be no objects that could be used by children to climb over it, or gaps allowing them unsupervised access to the pool area. If your pool is situated close to your neighbour's boundary fence, you should ensure that water cannot be splashed into their property where the chlorine it contains could cause damage to plants.
You should not have self-closing windows and doors forming part of your pool fencing, and any gates that are set into the fence must open away from the pool and must be self-closing.
Unless you have a huge backyard, try not to take up too much space with your pool area fencing, as this will limit the area you have at your disposal for socialising and other outdoor activities.
Electrics
It's extremely important that you factor in the placement of electrical cables to allow for earth bonding. This ensures that metal components of your glass pool fence can be safely connected to an earth bond to reduce the likelihood of electric shock from electricity supplies to lighting etc.
Pool surround considerations
It's very important to make sure that your pool surround is suitable for the installation of glass pool fencing. For example, glass fencing cannot be connected directly to timber decking, but must be affixed to the decking frame itself in order to ensure stability. Fixing the fence to the frame may also help to eliminate some of the movement of the timber as it expands and contracts.
If you have paving slabs as a pool surround, they must be laid on concrete in order to be suitable for a glass pool fence. If your paving is laid on sand or crushed rock, it will be liable to movement which over time will damage the structural integrity of the fencing.
In conclusion
Glass pool fencing can really enhance the beauty of your pool and make it the focal point of your outside space. When planning and designing your pool area, remember to take into account the considerations outlined above, and have a chat with an experienced fencing contractor for more advice.
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