Glass Pool Fences
BlueHaven offers glass pool fences, with designs such as pre-formed concrete, minipost, aluminum channel, side anchor, and double disc. They emphasize the importance of proper subfloor preparation to minimize potential movement. The under-deck mounted channel fence provides a clean and elegant look with the option of a door/gate. BlueHaven is an approved installer by the Auckland City Council.
Glass balustrades are popular due to their ability to make spaces appear larger and allow natural light and unobstructed views. They are easy to clean and maintain, and their thick, tempered glass construction makes them highly durable and resistant to breaking under extreme pressure.
When designing your glass pool fence, it’s crucial to consult with your architect or builders to ensure compliance with swimming pool fence regulations. At BlueHaven, we understand the importance of adhering to safety guidelines while creating a visually stunning pool fence.
Swimming pools are a source of joy and physical development for children. However, tragic incidents of drowning occur every year. As responsible pool owners, it is our duty to prioritize safety and minimize the risk of such tragedies.
Our team at BlueHaven collaborates closely with homeowners, builders, and landscapers to provide frameless glass pool fence solutions for hundreds of pools each year. We offer expert advice on pool fence design, starting from the initial concept phase to the completion of your project.
With our Glass Pool Fence solutions, you can create a secure environment while enjoying uninterrupted views of your pool area. Our team combines functionality with elegance, crafting custom designs that blend seamlessly with your surroundings.
Safety
Safety
Compliance with Regulations
Unobstructed View
Unobstructed View
Frequently Asked Questions
About pool fence inspection
If the inspection is connected to a building permit, the owner or representative will need to contact the Council and schedule an inspection.
Certainly! The Council will send you a letter when it is time for your pool to be inspected.
You do not have to be present during the inspection, but if you prefer to be there, just contact the Council. In case you are not at home, the inspector will leave a calling card to let you know they have visited.
If an inspector identifies issues with the pool fence, they must provide a written decision to the Council within three working days of the inspection, along with any necessary additional information. The Council will then take appropriate action, including issuing a notice to fix if needed.
Residential pools need to be inspected every three years. However, this rule doesn’t apply to small heated pools like spa pools or hot tubs that have safety covers as barriers.
Pool owners have the option to choose either the local authority or an independently qualified pool inspector (IQPI) to conduct the mandatory pool inspection. An IQPI is someone recognized by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as qualified to perform periodic inspections.
For more information, you can visit the Trading Standards’ pool inspector website, where independently qualified pool inspectors are listed.
Besides the regular three-yearly inspections, local authorities have the discretion to inspect any residential pool, including small heated pools, at any time to ensure compliance with the pool barrier requirements.
About glass pool fence
Studies have found that having fences around home pools helps prevent young children from drowning. Since the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act was introduced in 1987, the number of drownings has significantly decreased. Before this law, about 10 young children per year would drown in residential pools. Now, the average has dropped to two young children per year. It’s important to note that most of these tragic incidents involve children under the age of three.
Various materials can be used to construct a pool fence, including:
- Metal Fencing: This can include aluminium which are durable and provide a strong barrier. They can be designed with vertical bars or panels with minimal gaps to prevent climbing.
- Glass Fencing: Glass pool fences offer a modern and transparent look. They are usually made of tempered or toughened glass panels that are securely installed and provide a clear view of the pool area.
The new rules make it clear that pool owners are responsible for ensuring safety. The extent of responsibility depends on the type and location of the pool, such as whether it’s at a home, rental property, or commercial establishment.
Specifically, the responsibility lies with:
– The owner of the pool
– The person operating the pool
– The owner of the property where the pool is located
– The person living on the property where the pool is located
– If the pool is being rented out, the person renting the pool
– If the pool is on premises not covered by the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 but is part of a lease agreement, the lessee of the pool or the leased premises.
However, if your neighbor plants a tree or builds something close to the fence within 1.2m, and it creates a climbing point, your fence will no longer meet the requirements.
The pool fence should prevent people from getting to the pool through:
- The house
- Other buildings
- Paths used by vehicles or pedestrians
- Other parts of the property.
Things that are not related to the pool or swimming should not be placed inside the pool area. These include:
- Clotheslines
- Playground equipment
- Vegetable gardens
- Dog kennels
- General storage areas
There are rules that determine what is allowed and not allowed within the area around your pool fence, which is called the immediate pool area.
The following things are not allowed in the immediate pool area because they can be used to climb over and enter the pool area or because they are unsafe:
- Paths or walkways for vehicles or people
- Clotheslines
- Sandpits and playground equipment
- Slides
- Swings
- Vegetable gardens
- Other objects that are not typically associated with using a pool.
Panel height: 1200mm (approx 1250mm high when installed)
Panel length: 600-1800mm (ex stock)
Panel thickness: 12mm toughened safety glass to ASNZS
Standard gate: 1200mm high x 800mm wide (10mm safety glass)
The gate for the pool area should:
– Open away from the pool area.
– Close and latch by itself without needing any help, no matter how far you are from the gate.
– Follow the rules for fences.
The gate should be:
– At least 1.5 meters above the ground and any objects within 1.2 meters of the barrier, if they can be reached from the outside of the gate.
– Not reachable from the outside, except if someone can reach it by extending their arm at least 1.2 meters. This rule applies to gates installed after 1 January 2017.
– If the latch on the gate can only be reached by extending over the gate, it must be positioned at least 150mm from the top or be protected in some way.
Hinges: These allow your gate to swing from the glass side panel, wall, or post.
Closing mechanisms: They provide extra security. You can choose self-closing hinges or mechanisms that use floor springs to close the gate automatically.
Gates must not open into the pool area. They should have an automatic closer that can return the gate to the closed position and a child-proof latch.
The latch should be installed on the inside of the gate at a height of 1.2m above the ground or on the outside at a height of 1.5m above the ground.
About spa pool
It depends on the size of your spa pool. If your spa pool is smaller and meets certain conditions, you can have a lockable cover instead of a fence. The conditions are that the water surface area is less than 5 square meters and the sides are higher than 760mm, making it difficult for small children to climb.
However, if your spa pool is larger or doesn’t meet those conditions, you will need to have a complete fence around the spa.
A lockable cover for a spa or hot tub needs to have signs showing that it’s safe for children. The cover should be able to keep children under five years old from getting in when it’s closed. It should also be strong enough to handle expected weight and should be easy to close when the spa is not in use. There shouldn’t be anything sticking out within 760mm of the spa, like steps. The spa should have a surface area of no more than 5 square meters, and the sides should be designed so that they cannot be climbed.
To keep the pool area safe, certain rules must be followed:
– The barrier around the pool and its immediate area must restrict access.
– The barrier should be at least 1.2m tall, counting from the ground and any permanent structures or objects within 1.2m of the barrier.
– There should be no features on the outside of the barrier that can be climbed, unless they are spaced at least 900mm apart.
– The barrier must not have any gaps larger than 100mm, including pet doors.
– If the barrier is made of trellis or mesh:
– If it is higher than 1.8m, the openings should be 50mm or less, or have a protective cover.
– If it is between 1.2m and 1.8m in height, the openings should be 10mm or less, or have a protective cover.
– Make sure there are no trees near the fence that children could use to climb over.
– After using external removable ladders, they should be disabled or removed. Pools installed after 1 January 2017 should not have ladders unless they are surrounded by a compliant barrier and gate.