Spasa Victoria Consumer Guide

FACT SHEET 2 • MANDATORY BARRIER INSPECTIONS AND POOL SAFETY Pools & spas are great fun and very tempting for curious children. Every pool & spa must have a barrier and every child must be supervised NEW LAWS TO IMPROVE SWIMMING POOL AND SPA SAFETY On 1 December 2019, laws to improve swimming pool and spa safety came into effect in Victoria. It is now mandatory for owners of land where a swimming pool or spa is located, to register their pool or spa with their relevant council. Owners are now also required to have their safety barriers inspected every 4 years and to lodge a certificate of barrier compliance with their council. REGISTRATION OF POOLS AND SPAS Victorian backyard pool and spa owners had until 1 November 2020 to register their pool or spa with their local council for a one-off fee of up to $79. For pools and spas constructed prior to 1 November 2020 that have an unknown construction date, an information search fee may be charged when registering. Pool owners have 60 days to bring their pools into compliance, if an inspector identifies any non-compliant safety concerns. POOL AND SPA BARRIER INSPECTIONS SPASAVIC Pool Barrier Inspector Members have been trained by SPASAVIC’s preferred Registered Training Organisation, Masters in Building Training (MIBT), who are endorsed by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) to deliver the new Victorian Swimming Pool and Spa Barrier Inspection training course VBAISP2020 Building Inspector (Pool Safety). SPASAVIC Pool Barrier Inspector Members are also registered in the class of Building Inspector (Pool safety) and can carry out all the functions of a swimming pool and spa inspector under the Building Act 1993 and Part 9A of the Building Regulations 2018, including: • undertaking inspections of swimming pool and spa barriers to determine compliance with the applicable barrier standard • issuing certificates of pool and spa barrier compliance • issuing certificates of pool and spa barrier non-compliance • lodging certificates of pool and spa barrier non-compliance with the relevant council Look for the SPASAVIC Pool Barrier Inspector Member logo when you need to have your swimming pool or spa barrier inspected and certified. INSPECTION AND LODGEMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF BARRIER COMPLIANCE FOR POOLS AND SPAS • For pools and spas constructed on or before 30 June 1994, a certificate of barrier compliance must be lodged by 1 November 2021 • For pools and spas constructed between 1 July 1994 and 30 April 2010, a certificate of barrier compliance must be lodged by 1 November 2022 • For pools and spas constructed between 1 May 2010 and 31 October 2020, a certificate of barrier compliance must be lodged by 1 November 2023 For pools and spas constructed on or after 1 November 2020, a certificate of barrier compliance is due within 30 days of occupancy permit or certificate of final inspection. This certificate must accompany an application for registration. The next certificate of compliance is due 4 years after registration. Hefty fines apply for pool and spa owners who do not register their pool or spa. The fee for lodging a certificate of pool and spa barrier compliance is up to a maximum of $20.50, with certificates of compliance being required to be lodged once every four years. 6 • SPASAVIC CONSUMER GUIDE