If you want to learn more about caring for a strata building pool, keep reading. This guide will discuss pool health and safety regulations and the best tips for adhering to these regulations.
Why Is Pool Health And Safety Important?
If you do not care for a pool properly, you can put your strata building occupants at risk. Poor pool health and safety can lead to:
- Skin irritation - in very severe cases, skin irritation can lead to sores and burns on the skin, which could cause scarring.
- Illness - a dirty pool can cause building occupants to become seriously ill due to contamination.
- Pool staining - poor pool care can lead to stains in the pool that will make the pool appear dirty and unhygienic.
Adhering to pool health and safety regulations can help you to avoid these complications - and the complaints and legal ramifications that could follow.
Pool Health And Safety Considerations
Caring for a pool is not a one-size-fits-all methodology. Instead, there are some considerations you need to make to determine the level of care required for the strata building pool facilities.
Certain pools require a higher level of care due to falling into the high-risk category. High-risk pool facilities include:
- Pools with a high bather load.
- Pools with a water turnover time of over 6 hours.
- Hot tubs, spas, and wading pools.
- Pools with shared circulation and filtration.
- Pools used by children.
If any of the above applies to your strata pool facilities, you’ll need to take a more rigorous approach to your pool management.
Health And Safety Regulations For Strata Pools
Here are some health and safety regulations you need to know before managing a strata building pool.
Building Regulations
Before building a strata pool, you’ll need to ensure you’re meeting compliance regulations laid out by the Australian government. This may differ between states, but likely will include:
- Registering your pool with the council.
- Having an inspection performed on your pool barrier.
- Rectifying issues identified in your pool inspection.
- Submitting a certificate of compliance to the council.
Pool Cleaning Regulations
To keep your pool safe for building users, you’ll need to comply with the minimum standards for:
- Pool hygiene.
- Chemical water balance.
- Pool operation.
- Pool maintenance.
You can ensure you’re adhering to pool safety regulations by hiring a pool cleaning service, reducing your responsibility in caring for the strata building pool.
Pool Safety Regulations
To ensure your pool is safe for users and avoid liability for accidents, you must comply with the following:
- Providing adequate signage - there should be signage for pool depth, no diving signage, CPR signage, and more.
- Providing lifesaving equipment - flotation devices, first aid kits, and other lifesaving equipment should be readily accessible.
- No barriers to exit - there should be no non-climbable objects at the pool's edge, as this would prevent a pool user from reaching safety in an emergency.
Summary
If you’re considering installing a pool in your strata building, you need to ensure your pool meets building regulations and that you meet pool safety regulations. Your pool must also meet cleaning regulations, which becomes more straightforward if you hire a professional pool maintenance service. For high-risk pools, meeting these requirements becomes even more essential. Get in touch with Inside Outside Facility Services today to find out more.
