All fences have Non Climbable Zones.
Today we will talk about NCZ5 which is applicable to the Boundary Barrier Fence that is shared with your neighbour.
Under the current Standard a Non Climbable Zone is located in the upper 900mm quadrant of the fence height.
Measure the height of the Non Climbable Zone in a downward arc from the top of the fence. Within any of the five Non Climbable Zones there shall be no handholds, footholds, objects that facilitates climbing.
The exception to this requirement is that NCZ 5 is not invalidated by the intersection of a compliant internal fence. The proviso is that the width of the top rail or surface of the intersecting barrier is not more than 50mm within the NCZ.
Let’s talk about how this impacts the compliance of many pool enclosures. A boundary fence requires a smooth surface in the upper 900mm with no open apertures or climbable points . Many pool owners are unaware of this basic requirement to remove any scalability from within this Non Climbable Zone. Below we can see some examples of a failure to comply with this requirement.
Making Pools Safer, One Inspection at a Time
Book An Inspection1 – A product available from hardware stores is the fake vine. This product is no more suitable in this location that a living vine. Both create climbable points when placed in NCZ 5.
2 – Horizontal rails. We see them with large and small spacings, sturdy or flimsy. Your Certifier must determine whether they do create a handhold or foothold and these clearly do.
3 – Brushwood fencing that has not been secretly wired. This type of fencing is often seen in a deteriorated condition, not to correct height and with exposed wires that are spaced less than 900mm apart. 2 – 3 rows of wires are typically evident within NCZ 5.
4 – Another popular product that pool owners install, often at some expense, is a screen which owners attach onto the Boundary Fence. Bamboo screens can be flimsy or substantial however they all have one feature in common – the wires or strings create a handhold or foothold within NCZ 5. Additionally, a screen cannot be used to extend the height of a low Boundary Barrier. As you can see this screen is flexible and flimsy and the boundary fence does not achieve 1200mm in height, let alone the required 1800mm for this enclosure.
5 – A structure like a pool filter enclosure where its height does not match the height of the Boundary Fence. The surface of this pool filter enclosure is clearly within NCZ 5. It creates a large landing place that contravenes the requirements of this clause.
The resolution for each of these examples is essentially the same. Remove the object or surface from within NCZ 5. Remove the fake (or real) vines, remove the screening material and increase the height of the boundary fence accordingly, cover the wires of the brushwood fencing and replace the low pool filter enclosure with one that is constructed to a height to match or exceed the new Boundary Fencing.
6 – hedging is evident within NCZ5 of the Boundary Fencing. The owner wishes to retain the hedging for privacy purposes.
So reach out to our Pool Compliance Inspector at Pool Certify
Our Pool Certifier Sydney services Greater Sydney areas.
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. The publisher of this article cannot be held liable for the creation of any new non-compliances, a failure to comply issued by this or any other inspector, that may have resulted after reading and acting on the general information contained herein, or any damages, injuries, or losses that may result from the application of the information provided where the pool owner has not sought appropriate professional on-site advice prior to taking action.