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Make your relocatable pool safe

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Relocatable pools are a fun way to enjoy a splash at home, but they pose a risk. Find out what safety requirements you need to follow when setting one up.

Relocatable pools range from small inflatables pools, to plastic splash pools, or flexible canvas attached to a frame.

Exposed bodies of water, are a real danger for young children. It is important that you do not treat relocatable pools as a toy.

It just takes 5cm of water for young children to drown. From 2002 to 2021, it was reported that 21 children aged 0-4 years drowned in portable pools in Australia.

To save lives from accidental drownings, the Victorian Government introduced safety standards for relocatable pools and spas in 2019.

If you are setting up a relocatable pool capable of holding a water depth of more than 30cm, you will need to install a compliant safety barrier to restrict access to it. The safety barrier must be installed for the entire duration of the erected relocatable pool.

If your relocatable pool is erected for 3 or more days in a row, there are additional safety standards you need to follow. You will need to:

  1. Register your relocatable pool with Council before or on the 4th day of the erected structure.
  2. Arrange an inspection with a Registered Building Inspector or Building Surveyor to certify that the barrier is compliant. If your barrier meets the safety standards, you will be issued with a Certificate of Pool and Spa Barrier Compliance.
  3. Lodge your Certificate of Pool and Spa Barrier Compliance with Council, within 30 days of registering

When your relocatable pool is not in use, it is good practice to empty out the water. Be mindful of other items that can gather water in the backyard, e.g. buckets, empty pots, wheelbarrows. It is recommended that you store these away to prevent rain collection.

Always ensure an adult is available to actively supervise children when they are playing in water at all times.

View the Royal Life Saving Australia Guide for portable pool buyers for more helpful advice.

Further information on the safety standards for relocatable pools available is available on our Swimming pools and spas webpage.

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