Pool entry requirements

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Lullapie

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#320439 14-Aug-2025 14:14

Now I know this is an old chestnut, but would we would love some advice from anyone who can help please?

We are in the middle of a new build and are putting in a pool area.

We have an aluminum exterior door that leads onto the pool area. We have fitted a self-locking latch at 1550mm high and were then going to go with an alarm that goes off as soon as the door is opened.

The council have said that although that was within the Act, they wouldn't approve it, so they want to door to be self closing too.

We've hunted everywhere for 'advertised' sprung hinges, but to no avail.

The last alternative is to have an external door closer, the same as they have on fire doors.

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#3402576 14-Aug-2025 14:23

Having lived in places with pools my entire life, my advice is to forget about all aspects of technical compliance by other means and just install a compliant fence.

It may not look great, but our experience has been the Council (Auckland in our case) will continue to ask you to make changes even if the site is perfectly safe and they have inspected and signed it off in the past.

Lullapie

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#3402580 14-Aug-2025 14:30

Many thanks Sir Humphrey,

The fence option isn't really on, as the plans that were approved has a wall around the pool area with tight access from the door leading onto it - but I agree with what you say about councils.

dimsim

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#3402581 14-Aug-2025 14:35

are these what you are looking for?

https://interioreffects.co.nz/product/justor-sa120-self-closing-spring-hinges/?srsltid=AfmBOort0H_wCb5chv6JX6ALpv2gR-e6Wvmj3-k0F7fYdu76hcyHgBZa

I also looked into not doing a pool fence like this and compliance was just going to be too finicky.. ended up with a standard pool fence around three sides and a full glass front. I'm growing a hedge through the standard pool fence to hide it (checked this was ok with the inspector) and I'm pretty happy with the result.

Lullapie

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#3402585 14-Aug-2025 15:07

dimsim:

are these what you are looking for?

https://interioreffects.co.nz/product/justor-sa120-self-closing-spring-hinges/?srsltid=AfmBOort0H_wCb5chv6JX6ALpv2gR-e6Wvmj3-k0F7fYdu76hcyHgBZa

I also looked into not doing a pool fence like this and compliance was just going to be too finicky.. ended up with a standard pool fence around three sides and a full glass front. I'm growing a hedge through the standard pool fence to hide it (checked this was ok with the inspector) and I'm pretty happy with the result.

Looks very good - we've contacted them and just awaiting a reply :).

It's odd how strict the councils are, but they allow a hedge growing through the fence. When we had our last house on the market, there were a few properties we looked at that had done that and we didn't think that the fence was compliant, but it was.

wellygary

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#3402589 14-Aug-2025 15:23

Lullapie:

It's odd how strict the councils are, but they allow a hedge growing through the fence. When we had our last house on the market, there were a few properties we looked at that had done that and we didn't think that the fence was compliant, but it was.

I bet you they didn't give him that in writing thou...

The danger is in two years' time when they hedge is half grown and the pool inspector has changed, they decide that the top of the hedge is stable enough to allow access over the fence- and they tell you to cut it down...

Most novel pool barrier I've seen approved was this moat, with lilies or something floating in it...

Disrespective

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#3402608 14-Aug-2025 15:54

You should see that 'moat' now. Those aren't lillies in there but small bushes which could easily be rolled over by a small child i'd say... It was on an episode of Designing Dreams season two if i recall rightly and I was quite surprised.

Several other properties in the TV show had removed their compliant barriers for the videoing (or more long term).

Sadly OP is in a minefield of differing councils enforcing the code in different ways. If they can find a determination (https://codehub.building.govt.nz/) which approves a similar situation then this might be able to be used to help convince the council to change their mind.

Either way get some sprung butt hinges like those posted earlier and see how that goes. It would be a small price to pay if you already have the lock and alarm set up and the council is happy to approve based on this.

EDIT: I'm an Architect in Auckland and both complying with pool safety requirements and the council can be the bane of my existence at times.

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richms

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#3402609 14-Aug-2025 16:02

Just fit the closer and disable it if it annoys you once the little gestapo have moved along.

Richard rich.ms

Lullapie

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#3402610 14-Aug-2025 16:02

Disrespective:

You should see that 'moat' now. Those aren't lillies in there but small bushes which could easily be rolled over by a small child i'd say... It was on an episode of Designing Dreams season two if i recall rightly and I was quite surprised.

Several other properties in the TV show had removed their compliant barriers for the videoing (or more long term).

Sadly OP is in a minefield of differing councils enforcing the code in different ways. If they can find a determination (https://codehub.building.govt.nz/) which approves a similar situation then this might be able to be used to help convince the council to change their mind.

Either way get some sprung butt hinges like those posted earlier and see how that goes. It would be a small price to pay if you already have the lock and alarm set up and the council is happy to approve based on this.

EDIT: I'm an Architect in Auckland and both complying with pool safety requirements and the council can be the bane of my existence at times.

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

wellygary

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#3402615 14-Aug-2025 16:22

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

Earbanean

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#3402616 14-Aug-2025 16:23

Unfortunately, it's not just differences between councils. There can be big diffs between individual inspectors. We have a pool that was signed off at build and signed off at every inspection for 10 years. Then one inspector failed it. As far as I could tell he was worried a spiderman child contortionist could get into the pool.

Had to laugh at one earlier inspector. He saw a wasp, immediately signed off the pool and left. Had some allergy or fear of wasps or something.

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#3402626 14-Aug-2025 17:51

Earbanean:

Unfortunately, it's not just differences between councils. There can be big diffs between individual inspectors. We have a pool that was signed off at build and signed off at every inspection for 10 years. Then one inspector failed it. As far as I could tell he was worried a spiderman child contortionist could get into the pool.

We had a pool inspector claiming the Council would prosecute us for not complying with his demands, which included replacing the newly installed fence the Council had already approved because it was too short and fencing off a roller door into the back of the garage. The fence was atop a retaining wall, and it's perfectly acceptable to include the walls in the fence height so long as there is a minimum gap between rails, which there was. The garage door was there when the house was built prior to the 1987 regulations and because it was deemed to comply under the old regulations was also deemed to comply under the new rules.

Obviously, we didn't comply and made a formal complaint, the result of which was a very long and cordial meeting with his boss, who gave us a pass. We've since had another inspection without incident (another inspector - a competent one).

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MikeFly

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#3402717 15-Aug-2025 06:07

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

I assume those owners are teetotal and don't stagger around pissed on the back lawn?

Also those trees will be non compliant, either now or very soon, from memory they have a 1.2m arc from the top of the fence and kiddy climbing things can't be within the arc.

Our last council inspection they didn't notice the large concrete block near the pool gate that holds it open all summer.

cddt

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#3402718 15-Aug-2025 06:30

wellygary:

If there really were kids near that pool they would eventually try jumping across the gap. It's too tempting not to. That goes double for teenage boys...

Heck I think it's a tempting long jump opportunity, with an added risk of smashing up your shin if you make a miscalculation.

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concordnz

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#3402734 15-Aug-2025 08:45

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

Bung

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#3402752 15-Aug-2025 09:36

wellygary:

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,

"A Ha-Ha typically only has a horizontal wall and a gentle incline include to the base of the wall but given space limitations at Woodford Grace the Ha-Ha includes two vertical walls. " The gentle incline was to stop the ha-ha filling up with trapped sheep. The old designers knew a thing or two.

How this got approved is a mystery, there are numerous examples of garden retaining walls higher than 1m being made to have barriers.

It should be in the Hall of Shame alongside cantilevered stairs with no railings.

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