Portable pools can be a lot of fun during summer, whether for the kids to play in, or the flatties to cool off in, but regardless of who is using the pool, there are safety factors that must be considered. It may surprise many that portable pools are in fact treated the same way as other residential pools.
Any portable or inflatable pool that can hold 400mm depth of water or more is required to have a physical barrier that will restrict the entry of children when closed. Other portable pools like paddling pools should be under constant supervision and emptied after use.
Pool safety legislation includes the use of portable pools, and these must meet all legislative requirements such as barriers, self-closing gates, the required building consent and landlord consent to name just a few. If these requirements are not met, even for portable pools, this would be a breach of The Building (Pools) Amendment Act 2016 and increases the risk of drowning for young children.
If you are purchasing a portable pool for summer, please do your research and ensure that you understand, and meet the safety requirements.
Another consideration is where you will put the portable pool. If the pool is anything other than a paddling pool that gets emptied and put away after each use, then you will need to consider the potential for damage to the premises, including any grassed areas. It is best to speak to your property manager about what you want to do, explain how you are going to do it, how you will return the premises to a condition that is substantially the same as before, and seek consent from the landlord, in accordance with the provision for minor changes in the Residential Tenancies Act.
If you are renting a home with a swimming pool, then let your property manager know immediately if there are any faulty gates or barriers as this is considered an urgent repair due to safety requirements.
However you, your family or your flatties choose to cool off this summer, we wish you a fun-filled and safe summer.