The
Pool Police
Queensland Pool Fence Inspectors
In
January 2005 I had first hand experience in dealing with a Swimming
Pool Fence Inspector. I had been warned that they were a class of
bureaucrats with a law unto themselves, but I was unprepared for what
was to follow.
Pool Safety is a very sensitive subject and stories of
toddler drownings in back yard swimming pools are always sure to rouse
the emotions in any normal parent.
The bureaucrats who write and enforce the laws governing Pool Fencing
went to extreme measures in February 1992 by introducing strict
guidelines to protect our children.
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Extracts from
Queensland Home Building Code, Division 5 , Swimming Pools (updated
Nov.1994). Showing; min Fence Height, Safety
Quadrant of 900mm, and 12mm min. Mesh Size required to prevent Toddler
gaining access to Pool Area.
STRICT but not too
RIDICULOUS.
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Since
then, each year has seen more and more amendments to these By-laws
as the bureaucrats attribute ever increasing acrobatic skills to the
standard Toddler who, in
their minds eye, seems hell bent in drowning it's self in the family
pond.
Which brings us to the PRESENT
(2005)
It seems the Toddler's Arms have grown a foot (1200mm from 900)
And his Legs are now 1100mm long (Longer than Mine)
And his Fingers and Toes are now capable of clinging to 10mm gauger
Mesh
(not 12).
And he is capable of standing on the top of a 12mm Diameter Hinge Pin
and using it as a STEP to stride over my Gate which is only 1050mm
above this Step.
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This section of
Fence was 1200mm wide and covered with 12mm mesh, but had to be
REPLACED with 6mm Snake Mesh to satisfy our Pool Inspector.
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The Rejected
12mm mesh, actual size. The strands
were 12mm crs which made the holes about 11mm.
How could the Toddler scale THIS??
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This is the 12mm
DIA Hinge Pin which our Pool Inspector
insisted could be used as a STEP by the Toddler because it was only
1050mm from the top of the Gate
(The POOL POLICE said It SHOULD be
1100mm) -
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This
imaginary kids legs are therefore longer than mine (Mine are only
900mm).
And I certainly can't use this
so-called STEP. But why bother, why
doesn't he simply lift the Latch? after all it's only 1500mm high and
this kids arms are 4 foot long remember?
I was told I had to purchase a new
Conforming Hinge, or a 60 degree
Shield from any Pool Shop. But the pool shops have never heard of such
things. They showed me their supply of hinges and they were all like
mine. Some even BIGGER - 20mm DIA.
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And WHY
would this Super Toddler go
to the trouble of performing all these extraordinary feats to gain
entry when he can simple use the approved
conforming gate.
It's the WEAKEST LINK
(Click HERE
to OPEN this Gate)
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So
now I have to PAY them an EXTRA $150 to RE-INSPECT my Fence.
What a bloody RIP_OFF!!!
These people see themselves as Knights in Shining Armour - Here to
protect the little Children, but instead they're here for their own EGO
Trip and with a little bit of authority to bully the us
Pool Owners who are trying to do the right thing.
They treat us all as Criminals who are
trying to "Put one over on them".
They rightly DESERVE their BAD REPUTATION - They've EARNED IT.
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ONE LAW FOR THEM - AND ANOTHER FOR US - UNFAIR is now OFFICIAL
Click HERE to Read this FRONT PAGE HEADLINE Confirming their DOUBLE STANDARDS
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