Pool entry requirements

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Pool entry requirements

1 | 2

Lullapie

15 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#3402772 15-Aug-2025 11:14

wellygary:

Lullapie:

I saw the moat idea on Grand Designs - isn't it filled with water?

I'm guessing not, as it would then be a pool of its own (>400mm depth) - and you need a 1.2m wall against the pool

I've found another place in CHC that also has a "Ha ha" as a pool fence, so it does seem to be a thing... although it simply throws up the absurdity of H+S as you are apparently allowed to build a house with an unfenced 1.2 metre pit in your back yard,

(would it still be legal if you had punji stakes in it?? :) )

https://www.woodfordgrace.com/outside

Cheers - I know, the ambiguity of how things are 'policed' is incredible.

Attached is a link to a case where the pool was within in code, then the rules changed and it wasn't. The owners explained that all around their property were unfenced 'ponds' which posed a greater risk to safety. Council weren't interested. The Council had deep pockets and no conscience.

https://www.building.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/resolving-problems/determinations/2019/2019-026.pdf

Lullapie

15 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#3402774 15-Aug-2025 11:19

concordnz:

Could you use simply one of these, - like most office doors?

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/search/products?page=1&q=door+closer&sort=BoostOrder

That will probably be what we go with.

Disrespective

1934 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 146

#3402776 15-Aug-2025 11:22

That Woodford Grace house got me thinking. Sorry OP, I know this doesn’t answer your issue any more and I’m off topic.

It looks on google maps like the width of the trench varies from ~1.6m to ~2.4m and I think you could make that work in the current code, or at least close enough.

The important parts are

The pool wall is actually set above the grass line (in the photos it looks like about 120mm but if it was more then the trench gap can shrink more).
The fall from the grass into the trench is 1m or less, for a distance of 1.2m or more from the grass side wall. This is to satisfy a determination 2008/81 and subsequent ministry advice.
Then there is a step down in the trench (80mm high by 450mm wide) that allows the pool wall to rise 1.2m up to the top of the decking edge. This is to satisfy F9 in the NZBC.
And most critically that all the planting inside the trench is either growing outside of the 1.2m arc from the top of the pool edge, or able to be considered non ‘climbable’ to satisfy Figure 2 in F9. How one defines this is possibly up for argument.

Interestingly there may also be another way to achieve compliance with a similar look and narrower trench through another previous determination 2010/014 and a minor revision to the pool edge. Bottom pic.

YMMV on whether your council would approve either of the above. Anyway, sorry for the diversion.

Lullapie

15 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#3402777 15-Aug-2025 11:24

Disrespective:

That Woodford Grace house got me thinking. Sorry OP, I know this doesn’t answer your issue any more and I’m off topic.

It looks on google maps like the width of the trench varies from ~1.6m to ~2.4m and I think you could make that work in the current code, or at least close enough.

The important parts are

The pool wall is actually set above the grass line (in the photos it looks like about 120mm but if it was more then the trench gap can shrink more).
The fall from the grass into the trench is 1m or less, for a distance of 1.2m or more from the grass side wall. This is to satisfy a determination 2008/81 and subsequent ministry advice.
Then there is a step down in the trench (80mm high by 450mm wide) that allows the pool wall to rise 1.2m up to the top of the decking edge. This is to satisfy F9 in the NZBC.
And most critically that all the planting inside the trench is either growing outside of the 1.2m arc from the top of the pool edge, or able to be considered non ‘climbable’ to satisfy Figure 2 in F9. How one defines this is possibly up for argument.
Interestingly there may also be another way to achieve compliance with a similar look and narrower trench through another previous determination 2010/014 and a minor revision to the pool edge. Bottom pic.

YMMV on whether your council would approve either of the above. Anyway, sorry for the diversion.

Many thanks Disrespective. That's a brilliant post.

t0ny

414 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 84

Lifetime subscriber

#3402778 15-Aug-2025 11:33

I navigated through this with the council recently where we are using the building as a form of fencing to restrict access to the pool area. My solution was to the hardware from here: https://ahs.co.nz/pool-security-solutions/. Since i have a sliding door, i used the autoslide elite which restricts opening to 1M and auto closes/locks the door.

DM me if you need more info

Lullapie

15 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#3402779 15-Aug-2025 11:36

t0ny:

I navigated through this with the council recently where we are using the building as a form of fencing to restrict access to the pool area. My solution was to the hardware from here: https://ahs.co.nz/pool-security-solutions/. Since i have a sliding door, i used the autoslide elite which restricts opening to 1M and auto closes/locks the door.

DM me if you need more info

Cheers T0ny. I've been in touch with Brett, who has been really helpful.

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Malpaso

56 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 21

#3403851 15-Aug-2025 16:11

Doesn't solve your problem, however if you had a wooden door, i would recommend these:

https://www.fruugo.co.nz/satin-chrome-concealed-door-closer-for-interior-doors-soft-close-soft-close-automatic-internal-door-closer/p-180432521-385460622?language=en

Have used one on a pool access door for years and satisfies the inspectors, they are strong enough to engage the latch when shutting. The door is closed all the time unless you chock it open. On the plus side, they are great for toilet doors!

Pool inspectors change like the wind and they all have their *ways*. A while back we had to take down a rope we strung up to hang towels on because our backs might be facing the pool when we were hanging the towels and that act could result in a drowning. Seriously inane stuff and guess what happened straight after he left. Good luck, it's a turkey shoot.

cddt

1965 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1904

#3403994 16-Aug-2025 10:07

Malpaso:

Pool inspectors change like the wind and they all have their *ways*. A while back we had to take down a rope we strung up to hang towels on because our backs might be facing the pool when we were hanging the towels and that act could result in a drowning. Seriously inane stuff and guess what happened straight after he left. Good luck, it's a turkey shoot.

My uncle had a small garden inside the pool boundary. Apparently decorative shrubs were ok but when he put in veges the inspector told him to pull them out.

My referral links: BigPipe | Mercury

SirHumphreyAppleby

2939 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1860

#3403995 16-Aug-2025 10:11

cddt:

My uncle had a small garden inside the pool boundary. Apparently decorative shrubs were ok but when he put in veges the inspector told him to pull them out.

That's correct, because growing veges is an activity unrelated to use of the pool.

Where you run into inconsistencies is with things like BBQs and outdoor furniture, both of which are permitted, but some inspectors seem to believe otherwise.

insane

3324 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1006

ID Verified

Trusted

2degrees

Subscriber

#3404044 16-Aug-2025 13:59

Our pool company helped us navigate the major points. But even one of their preferred landscapers and installers said he fails 4 out of 5 initial inspections for sometimes the most daft reasons, and has installed hundreds of pools and had them signed off.

It really is the luck of the draw on who you get. We were well prepared, read all the requirements and designed for them. We were very friendly to the inspector and overwhelmed them with documents on ever material used. They at first suggested a 5 year old might scale a neighbour's 1.8m fence, jump across onto our pool shed, then down into our pool area, but soon changed his mind when we all laughed that an able adult would struggle to do that. So passed first time.

Our 2nd inspection is going to be interesting if they are a Spiderman fan.

Malpaso

56 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 21

#3405316 18-Aug-2025 12:49

insane:

It really is the luck of the draw on who you get. We were well prepared, read all the requirements and designed for them. We were very friendly to the inspector and overwhelmed them with documents on ever material used. They at first suggested a 5 year old might scale a neighbour's 1.8m fence, jump across onto our pool shed, then down into our pool area, but soon changed his mind when we all laughed that an able adult would struggle to do that. So passed first time.

Our 2nd inspection is going to be interesting if they are a Spiderman fan.

Yes I've had that one as well - if the kid is big enough to do that, they are big enough to stand in the pool, hold onto the sides or swim. I'm still failing pool inspections 60 years after it was built; the lesson for today is don't ever get lulled into thinking you've got the bases covered, they will/must always find something.

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

cddt

1965 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1904

#3405387 18-Aug-2025 14:57

SirHumphreyAppleby:

That's correct, because growing veges is an activity unrelated to use of the pool.

So growing yuccas is ok but broccoli is not?

My referral links: BigPipe | Mercury

cddt

1965 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1904

#3405388 18-Aug-2025 14:59

Malpaso:

if the kid is big enough to do that, they are big enough to stand in the pool, hold onto the sides or swim.

Unfortunately not a given any more, with the high proportion of children who are recent immigrants. Many young people new to NZ cannot swim at all, including teenagers.

My referral links: BigPipe | Mercury

Earbanean

1110 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 377

#3405392 18-Aug-2025 15:10

cddt:

Malpaso:

if the kid is big enough to do that, they are big enough to stand in the pool, hold onto the sides or swim.

Unfortunately not a given any more, with the high proportion of children who are recent immigrants. Many young people new to NZ cannot swim at all, including teenagers.

But if they're that big and strong, then they could just drag a chair over to the (compliant) fence and climb over into the pool area anyway. Or they could just open the compliant latch on the compliant gate. i.e. at a certain size/strength none of the required safety features will stop them, so they become irrelevant.

insane

3324 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1006

ID Verified

Trusted

2degrees

Subscriber

#3406101 21-Aug-2025 12:30

cddt:

SirHumphreyAppleby:

That's correct, because growing veges is an activity unrelated to use of the pool.

So growing yuccas is ok but broccoli is not?

This I understand is because a child is more likely to be enticed to enter to tend to their vegies they are growing in the pool area than set and forget Yuccas.

That said, given how Yuccas roots grow, they could heave paving scones out of place, or worse, damage the pool integrity itself, so that's one species I'll pass on.

I've got small Buxus hedging on one side, and Broadway mint on the other. Both in/on raised retaining, with fencing 1.8m high from ground level inside the retaining. And probably 2.5 from pool deck level. Was deemed to be okay.

One other gotcha can be the auto closing gate latches. It has to auto close in 15 or 20seconds? - even in a breeze!

1 | 2