The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has announced new pool and spa safety regulations, with the following message to industry:

Drowning is one of the leading causes of preventable death in young children aged 0 to 5 years, and in Victoria, 40 per cent of drowning incidents in this age group occur in home swimming pools.

To improve the safety of pools and spas, the Victorian regulations changed on 1 December 2019. From this date, property owners are required to register their pools or spas with their local council by 1 June 2020. 

In addition, owners are now required to obtain and lodge a compliance certificate for the safety of their pool or spa barrier every four years. They will need to engage a registered building surveyor or building inspector to carry out an inspection and issue the compliance certificate.

The new regulations introduce a new class of registered building inspector: building inspector (pool safety). This new class will be limited to carrying out inspections and associated functions for the purposes of the new regulations only.

The eligibility requirements for registration in this new class are:

• the successful completion of a course in swimming pool and spa safety barrier inspection delivered by a Registered Training Organisation and approved by the Victorian Building Authority, and
• at least six months of practical experience.

The Victorian Building Authority will provide further information once courses become available, which is expected to be early next year.

Find out more about registration requirements on our building practitioner registrations pages.

Click here for more inflormation.