Swimming Pool Barrier Height Requirements in Australia

What This Requirement Covers

Swimming pool barrier height requirements are the rules that determine how high and how constructed fences, walls, gates, and other barriers must be to prevent unsupervised access to swimming pools, spas and wading pools. They exist to reduce the risk of drowning and serious injury to young children by creating a physical separation between a pool and areas children can access. These requirements are applied to new and modified pools, and to pool surrounds where the National Construction Code (NCC) and state or territory legislation require a barrier for pools with more than 300 mm of water depth.

The rules apply to owners, designers, builders and certifiers responsible for residential and non-residential pools associated with buildings (for example, Class 1 houses and Class 2-9 buildings) and to standalone private pools where state or territory pool safety legislation applies. Compliance is achieved by meeting the performance requirements in the NCC together with the technical requirements in the relevant Australian Standard, primarily AS 1926.1-2012 (or current edition) and AS 1926.2-2007 (or current edition), and any applicable state schedule or local regulation.

Key Requirements

1. Barrier height
2. The minimum barrier height is 1200 mm measured vertically from the finished ground level (or pool surround) to the top of the barrier, as specified in AS 1926.1 and adopted by the NCC guidance for pool barriers.
3. Clearances beneath and around the barrier
4. The maximum permissible clearance between the finished ground level and the underside of the barrier is 100 mm where the ground is level and not climbable, in accordance with AS 1926.1.
5. Where a graded surface or landscaping creates a slope, the barrier must be installed so the clearance does not exceed 100 mm at any point unless the design meets AS 1926.1 alternative provisions for stepped/fenced terrain.
6. Horizontal and vertical gap limits
7. Maximum gap between vertical barrier elements (for example, vertical pickets) is 100 mm where climbable surface conditions apply; for fences with horizontals, the spacing and arrangement must prevent footholds in line with AS 1926.1.
8. Where horizontal rails are present on the pool side, vertical clearance and rail positioning must not create footholds less than 900 mm apart as detailed in AS 1926.1.
9. Gate requirements
10. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching with the latch positioned at least 1500 mm above ground level or otherwise shielded to prevent operation by young children, in accordance with AS 1926.1 and NCC H7P1 / G1P2 provisions as applicable.
11. Gates must open outward, away from the pool, and must not reduce the effective height of the barrier when open.
12. Walls, doors and windows that form part of the barrier
13. Where a wall, building, deck or other structure forms part of a barrier, the barrier height and any climbable projections must comply with the dimensions and restrictions in AS 1926.1 and NCC provisions (for example, limiting climbable projections and ensuring door hardware restricts child access).
14. Structural strength
15. Barriers, gates and fixings must be of sufficient strength to resist foreseeable impact and repeated use. Structural design should be in accordance with the NCC’s performance requirements and, where relevant, Australian Standards for structural members (for example, in accordance with AS 1664/AS 1684 for timber framing if used, or AS 4100 for steel members).
16. Applicable building classes
17. Residential private pools associated with Class 1 and Class 10 buildings.
18. Pools associated with multi-unit residential or non-residential buildings including Class 2-9 and Class 4 parts where the NCC requires barriers.
19. Relevant NCC clauses and Standards (key references)
20. NCC Volume Two (for houses and small buildings) - Part H7 and explanatory notes referencing AS 1926.1/AS 1926.2.
21. NCC Volume One (for Class 2-9 buildings) - Section G1 (G1P2/G1D2) and Part H7 (H7P1/H7D2) as applicable to pool access and barriers.
22. Australian Standard AS 1926.1 - Swimming pool safety - Safety barriers for swimming pools (technical dimensions and requirements).
23. Australian Standard AS 1926.2 - Swimming pool safety - Location of safety barriers for private swimming pools.
24. Australian Standard AS 1926.3 - Safety aspects of pool recirculation systems (relevant for safety, not barrier height).
25. Structural and construction Standards to reference where barrier elements are structural: AS 1684 (timber framing) and AS 4100 (steel structures) where applicable.

Residential vs Commercial

1. Residential (Class 1 and Class 10)
2. Private residential pools are typically regulated by NCC Volume Two provisions together with AS 1926.1 and AS 1926.2. The common baseline requirements include 1200 mm minimum barrier height, 100 mm maximum clearance under barriers, self-closing and self-latching gates (latch at ≥1500 mm or shielded), and limitations on gaps and footholds described in AS 1926.1.
3. State pool safety legislation often imposes additional obligations on private residential pools, including registration, periodic inspection and compliance timeframes.
4. Commercial and multi-occupancy (Class 2-9)
5. Pools associated with Class 2-9 buildings are covered under NCC Volume One provisions (G1P2/H7P1 and corresponding deemed-to-satisfy provisions), and must comply with AS 1926 suite. Additional constraints apply for children’s services, public pools, and pools used by clients - these often require more rigorous zoning, signage, access control, and compliance with public health and safety regulations.
6. Public or commercial pools may also have additional local government or health department requirements for supervision, lifeguards, alarm systems, and asset maintenance beyond barrier dimensions.

Exceptions and Exemptions

1. Pools with water depth of ≤300 mm (for example, certain portable or temporary pools) are commonly excluded from the NCC barrier provisions; check state legislation since some jurisdictions may still regulate these.
2. Out-of-ground and above-ground pool walls (for example, inflatable pools or pools where the pool wall itself is not considered an effective barrier) are not treated as effective barriers unless they meet specific criteria in AS 1926.1; such pools often require separate fencing.
3. Where an existing building element (for example, a boundary wall or house wall) forms part of a barrier, alternative compliance measures in AS 1926.1 / AS 1926.2 may allow different detailing so long as the overall safety objective is met and dimensions equivalent to the standard are satisfied.
4. State or territory legislation may provide exemptions, transitional arrangements, or grandfathering for pre-existing pools; verify the relevant state schedule in NCC Volume One (Schedules 4-12) and local pool safety laws.

State and Territory Variations

1. The NCC is national, but each state and territory maintains schedules or local laws that can modify or add to NCC requirements. Key examples:
2. New South Wales
3. NSW replaces certain NCC clauses with NSW G1P2/NSW H7P1 and requires compliance with AS 1926.1/AS 1926.2 for pools deeper than 300 mm, and references the Swimming Pools Act 1992 and Swimming Pools Regulation 2018. See NCC Volume One and Volume Two NSW schedules (NSW G1D2, NSW H7D2).
4. Victoria
5. VIC G1P2 and VIC G1D2 require barriers in accordance with AS 1926.1/AS 1926.2 for pools with depth greater than 300 mm, with specific provisions for children’s services and Class 2/3 associated pools. See NCC Volume One Victoria schedule.
6. Other jurisdictions
7. Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and the ACT each have state-based pool safety laws, regulations and timing for inspections and registration. Always check the relevant state schedule in NCC Volume One (Schedules 4-12) and local pool safety legislation for variations such as inspection cycles, additional technical requirements, and enforcement provisions.
8. Practical note
9. Where state schedules differ from the NCC, the state provision in the NCC schedule will identify the modification; always verify against the applicable schedule and the current edition of AS 1926.1/AS 1926.2.

Practical Compliance Tips

1. Read the right documents: always check AS 1926.1 and AS 1926.2 alongside the applicable NCC volume and the relevant state/territory schedule before designing or building a barrier.
2. Measure from finished surfaces: measure the 1200 mm barrier height and 100 mm clearances from the finished ground or pool surround level after landscaping is complete to avoid non-compliance due to later ground works.
3. Position latches correctly: place self-latching devices at 1500 mm or higher above finished ground or provide shielding to prevent child access; ensure gates are self-closing and swing away from the pool.
4. Avoid climbable elements: do not install horizontal rails or features on the pool side that provide footholds within 900 mm vertical spacing; follow AS 1926.1 details to prevent climbability.
5. Check boundary fences: a property boundary fence may be part of the barrier only if it meets AS 1926.1 requirements; otherwise install a compliant internal barrier and gate.
6. Account for maintenance and wear: use durable materials and fixings suitable to local conditions (timber treated to AS 1684 where applicable, or steel to AS 4100), and inspect latches, hinges and footings regularly.
7. Confirm state obligations: register pools and arrange mandatory inspections where required by state law, and check for local council requirements or transitional exemptions that might apply to existing pools.

References cited inline above include: NCC Volume One (G1P2, H7P1 and schedules), NCC Volume Two (Part H7), AS 1926.1 - Safety barriers for swimming pools, AS 1926.2 - Location of safety barriers, and AS 1926.3 for recirculation safety. For structural member standards reference AS 1684 and AS 4100 where applicable. Always verify the current edition of each Standard and the current NCC edition and your state schedule before finalising design or construction.