A healthy body corporate pool needs regular cleaning, safe chemical handling and attention to the surrounding area. Good routines help your committee, manager and residents identify problems before they become safety or maintenance issues.
Queensland pool safety laws apply to pools at unit complexes and other shared properties. This guide covers practical maintenance, safety responsibilities, inspections and certificates.
How do you maintain a healthy pool in a body corporate?
Start with a regular inspection routine and make sure responsibilities are clear between the body corporate, pool contractor, committee and residents.
A practical pool check can include:
- Removing leaves, grass and other debris from the water and surrounding area.
- Checking that the pool, surrounds, equipment and access areas are clean and in good condition.
- Looking for damage to fencing, gates, latches, signs, paving, lighting and pool equipment.
- Checking that items around the pool are not creating trip hazards or allowing children to climb into the pool area.
- Arranging repairs promptly rather than allowing small defects to become larger problems.
- Keeping supplier and contractor instructions available for the equipment and chemicals in use.
Animals, dead wildlife and debris such as leaves, grass and dust can enter a shared pool. Include these risks in routine inspections and arrange appropriate cleaning when contamination is found.
The body corporate can also use a pool contractor to maintain the equipment and clean the pool. Make sure the committee understands what the contractor is responsible for, what the body corporate must monitor and how urgent problems should be reported.
For more practical guidance, see our articles on common pool safety compliance issues for strata complexes and the requirements for pools, gyms and saunas.
What pool safety responsibilities does a body corporate have?
The body corporate is usually the owner of a shared pool. Pool owners must register the pool, maintain the pool fence so it continues to meet the safety standard and keep the pool area safe. A licensed pool safety inspector can inspect the pool and confirm whether it complies.
The pool safety standard covers the height and strength of fences, non-climbable zones, gates, self-closing and self-latching requirements, access from buildings and mandatory CPR signage.
A committee should arrange regular visual checks between formal inspections. Check that gates close and latch every time, fencing has not been damaged, climbable objects and vegetation are controlled, and doors or windows do not provide unsafe access to the pool.
Residents should keep gates closed, never prop them open and report broken fencing or gates to the body corporate or manager. The pool area should also remain clear of objects that children could use to enter the pool unattended.
A pool safety certificate does not replace ongoing maintenance. The pool owner remains responsible for ensuring the barrier complies with the standard at all times, and local council can take action where it does not.
How should a shared pool be checked and maintained?
Use a written checklist so inspections are consistent, particularly when different committee members or contractors are involved. Record the date, the person completing the check, issues identified and the action taken.
The checklist can cover:
- Water appearance and visible debris.
- The pool surface, surrounds and drainage.
- Filters, pumps and other equipment.
- Fences, gates, latches and signs.
- Lighting, access paths and trip hazards.
- Chemical storage and labels.
- Resident reports, incidents and outstanding repairs.
Filters remove debris and particles from pumped pool water. Operate and maintain the filtration and other treatment equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If equipment is noisy, leaking, damaged or not working as expected, ask the maintenance contractor to investigate.
Do not describe a pool safety certificate as proof that the water is healthy. The certificate confirms that the pool complied with the pool safety standard when it was checked by a pool safety inspector.
How should pool chemicals be stored and handled safely?
Pool chemicals can be dangerous if handled improperly. Store them in a locked, cool and dry place, away from incompatible chemicals and flammable materials.
Anyone handling chemicals should follow the product instructions and use the correct equipment recommended by the supplier. Chemicals should not be combined. Keep containers labelled and check that they are secure, undamaged and suitable for storage.
The committee should confirm who is authorised to access the chemicals and what residents should do if they find a spill, damaged container or strong chemical odour. Ask the pool contractor or chemical supplier for product-specific storage, handling and emergency guidance.
What records and inspections should a body corporate keep?
Keep records that show how the shared pool is being managed. These may include contractor reports, cleaning and maintenance checklists, equipment servicing, chemical supplier instructions, incident reports, complaints and repair invoices.
Records help the committee identify recurring problems and check whether agreed work has been completed. They also give the body corporate a useful history when changing contractors or planning expenditure.
Keep the current pool safety certificate where it can be readily found. Owners of shared pools must display the current certificate near the main entrance to the premises or at a gate or door accessing the pool.
A licensed pool safety inspector can inspect a regulated pool and issue a certificate or a non-conformity notice. If a non-conformity notice is issued, the pool must be re-inspected within 3 months by the same inspector.
When does a shared pool need a safety certificate?
Shared pool certificates are generally the body corporate’s responsibility. A certificate is valid for 1 year for a shared pool, compared with 2 years for a non-shared pool.
When a property connected to a shared pool is sold, the seller must provide the buyer with a copy of the certificate before settlement if one is current. If there is no certificate, a Form 36 must be lodged and the pool owner usually has 90 days after settlement to obtain a certificate and provide it to the buyer.
When leasing a property with a shared pool and a current certificate, give copies to the new occupier and pool owner and display a copy near the entrance or pool access; otherwise lodge Form 36.
Regular cleaning, safe chemical practices, clear records and current pool safety certification all help your body corporate manage a shared pool responsibly. If your committee needs help coordinating pool responsibilities, contact StrataCare at reception@stratacare.com.au.
