Fifteen minutes of preparation is regularly the difference between a certificate on the day and a $190 reinspection later. Work through this list before the inspector arrives.

1. Test every gate

Open each pool gate to three positions, wide open, halfway, and resting gently against the latch, and let go. It must swing fully closed and latch by itself from all three. If it fails from the resting position, adjust the hinge tension or self-closer before the inspection, because that exact test will be done on the day.

2. Walk the fence line

Do a slow lap of the barrier and look for:

  • Anything a child could climb within 900mm of the fence on the outside: pots, furniture, BBQs, pumps, ladders, low branches
  • Gaps under the fence bigger than about 100mm, watch for spots where soil has settled
  • Loose, broken or missing panels and palings
  • Garden beds, rocks or retaining walls that reduce the effective fence height

3. Check the latch

Latch releases need to be high enough that a small child cannot reach them, and shielded where the rules require it. If your gate has sagged, the latch has probably dropped with it.

4. Look at doors and windows

If the house wall forms part of the barrier, doors opening into the pool area and low windows have their own requirements, self-closing devices, locks or fixed screens depending on your state and pool age.

5. Replace the CPR sign if it is faded

Signs cost about twenty dollars. If yours is sun-bleached to a ghost, swap it before the inspection rather than failing on the cheapest item on the list.

6. Sort access and paperwork

  • Unlock side gates so the inspector can reach the pool area
  • Restrain dogs for everyone's benefit
  • Have your previous certificate or register details handy for renewals

What you cannot easily self-check

Precise gap measurements, glass panel fixings, and which barrier standard applies to your pool's construction date are inspector territory. That is what the inspection is for. Do the list above, then book your inspection knowing the easy failures are already handled.

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