Safety Features of Glass Fences and Glass Gates

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For parents and families, the kids' safety is the top priority. This safety concern becomes more prominent when kids start loving the poolside area and make it their favourite playing spot. The poolside area is always risky due to the presence of depth, water, slippery surfaces and lack of swimming skills. Swimming pool fences accompanied by glass gates can be very effective, not just in terms of safety but also in adding elegance and overall aesthetics to your property. This glass pool fencing and glass gates are helpful from the safety point of view in several ways, and we have discussed some here in this write-up.

THESE GLASS FENCES ARE DURABLE

Swimming pool fencing made from glass and glass gates is highly durable compared to those made from other materials like wood, metal or even mesh. Wood wears down with time, and mesh can be used to climb up the fence. However, the glass fence for the pool will be completely immune from these two issues and add a layer of safety around your swimming pool. The high-quality toughened glass installed in these glass gates is completely resistant to problems like rusting, rotting, etc., and hence, considered more durable and valuable from a safety point of view.

CLIMB RESISTANT

Another safety feature of these glass fences is that they don't allow anyone to climb over and cross the safety barrier. This way, they become more valuable for safety, unlike mesh or wooden fences that are extremely easy to climb. The glass used in these glass gates is slippery and has no traction.

SEE-THROUGH

Another awe-inspiring safety feature of glass gates and the glass fence for pools is that they are completely transparent and allow a complete view of the surrounding areas. In other words, you can constantly monitor the activities around the swimming pool area and respond to any emergency in no time. Again, this incredible safety feature can never go ignored when choosing the best swimming pool fencing.

VERSATILITY

The glass gates and glass fences are available in various designs, and the option of customisation is always open. This means regardless of the shape of your swimming pool, experts will install the glass fence and gates to make it completely secure.

LOW MAINTENANCE

Compared to wooden or metal fencing options, glass fences for pools and glass gates are much better, as they don't require any maintenance. Simply wiping down or rinsing using a garden hose will bring the new fence in front of you. This way, these swimming pool fences benefit property owners looking for low-maintenance fencing options.

Frameless Glass Fencing: A Modern Solution to Make a Safer Poolside

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No installation can be as enchanting and beautiful as the frameless glass fencing in Sydney-based residential and commercial properties. They are now mandatory as per Australian laws, as they guarantee complete safety and security of the poolside area. Experts recommend frameless glass fencing in Sydney above other materials used in pool fencing installations. They improve safety and elevate the overall aesthetics and appearance of the poolside area. The vendors manufacture different pool fencing installations, and we look at some top products and their features.

WHAT ARE FRAMELESS GLASS POOL FENCES?

Frameless glass pool fences are an unobtrusive barrier to offer complete safety around pools and spas. These fences are manufactured using 12m wide, high-quality, toughened glass for absolute robustness and security. These installations are more durable, safer and stylish than other pool fencing materials such as timber, mesh or wire. The best part is that these pool fences are custom-made, and depending on your pool fence ideas and shape, the manufacturers can customise the installations very economically.

WHAT ARE SEMI-FRAMELESS GLASS POOL FENCES?

Semi-frameless glass fencing Sydney is just one step below frameless glass fencing in terms of looks and overall aesthetics. They come with additional hardware that complements the overall structure and enhances the looks and durability multiple times. Rails and clips are used between the panels on the top and bottom of the pool fences to improve the overall architecture and make these installations more durable. Just like the frameless glass pool fences, the team can customise the hardware and the glass and match the shape and size of the swimming pool based on your pool fence ideas. You must choose between the standard chrome look or a powder-coated colour finish that matches your property's overall aesthetics.

WHAT ARE GLASS RAILING SYSTEMS?

Manufacturers of frameless glass fencing in Sydney also offer glass railing systems for contemporary designed museums, corporate offices and even residential properties. These railing systems open up the outdoor environment and give the look of a multi-level beach house. They are used the most in rooftops, patios and public viewing decks. They also work around staircases, balconies, terraces, etc., where they allow maximum views without compromising on safety or visibility.

Australian Pool Fencing Regulations to Follow In Sydney

Every homeowner is confused for at least a few minutes when deciding on the right swimming pool fencing option. There are several, but mostly swimming pool installation companies recommend glass fencing. There are several reasons why one should get glass fence panels Sydney installed. The only stipulation here is that they have to be installed keeping pool fencing regulations set by the Australian government in mind. Laws say that these rules and regulations must be adhered to by anyone with a private pool.

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ARE THE RULES SAME FOR EVERYONE?

The answer to this question is ‘no’, the rules are not the same for everyone, and the requirements will mainly depend on when your pool was built and its location.

SWIMMING POOLS BUILT BEFORE 1ST AUGUST 1990

The regulations say these pools that access from the house have to be restricted at all times. All windows and doors that form part of the barrier have to be compliant.

POOLS CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 1ST AUGUST 1990 AND 1ST JULY 2010

Pools built between this duration should have a fence surrounding them from all sides, separating the pool from the house. You can use any fencing, including glass-made frameless pool fencing Sydney, but it has to be strong enough to withstand traffic and nature.

POOLS BUILT AFTER 2010

If you have constructed your pool after 2010 and it is still unfenced, make sure that you get it fenced as soon as possible using high-quality glass fence panels Sydney. Laws say that pulls built after 1st July 2010 have to be surrounded by a fence from all sides that separate the pool from the house.

CURRENT REGULATIONS FOR SWIMMING POOL FENCING ACROSS NEW SOUTH WALES

There are vital measurements that all pool fences must meet, including:

• Minimum height – 1.2m from ground level

• No gap more significant than 10cm at the bottom or between any vertical bars

• The boundary fence barrier must stand at 1.8m in height

• Holes in perforated/mesh barriers cannot be greater than 13mm

• The functionality of the pool fence must be regularly checked

• All maintenance should be carried out in a timely fashion

The surrounding areas of the swimming pool should be maintained as a non-climbable zone to stop children from climbing over the fence. It is expected to maintain this zone as per the following regulations.

There is no object, such as flower pots, chairs, tables etc., within 90 cm of the non-climbable zone.

This also includes the space extending 30 cm inside the poolside area.

Horizontal bars on the pool fans must be 90 cm apart.

Tools and Equipment Required For Installing Frameless Glass Fences Sydney

In the beginning, the installation process of glass pool fencing will appear to be very simple, but in just 5 to 10 minutes of the beginning of the process, you would understand that it is not a DIY task at all. It will require specialized services and installing frameless glass fences Sydney is an intricate process, where only experts will be handy. The reason is that they will come with the experience, skills, knowledge and tools for installing these semi-frameless and frameless glass fences Sydney.

In this post here, we have covered the details of the handy tools and in fact, all other tools required for installing these fences.

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SPIRIT LEVEL

This tool is used for plumbing and levelling the glass barrier.

ALLEN KEYS

Allen keys or hex pieces are used in mostly pool fencing and balustrade installation where fixing is required.

CHALK LINE

The team engaged in installing glass fencing Sydney uses it to mark the center line of the glass barrier.

MASKING TAPE

They use this type to place on the center line of the fence.

Then, they will also use a carpenter's pencil and sharpie for marking set out.

CORE DRILLING

During the installation process of frameless glass fences Sydney, some drilling will have to be done and for this, they use 240 volt diamond core drill with a water attachment.

Alongside this, they will also require a garden hose to attach to the cold drill and an extension lead. Mixing bucket will be required to mix the grout and a cold chisel to break out core pieces. Removing core pieces can be done easily with the help of BBQ tonks and levelling shims are used to sit under the glass to level the panel. Timber braces are further required to hold the glass upright in its place and timber blocks help enjoining the fence together to keep a straight line.

Glass fencing Sydney installation professionals will also require friction clamps at the corner to hold the glass and a string line that is used on the glass to achieve a perfectly straight line.

Some Cleaning Tips for Your Glass Pool Fencing

Different options are present in the markets as far as pool fencing is concerned, but the most versatile option used by the users is the glass fences. They are really versatile and can give a totally transformed appearance to the poolside area apart from making it more secure and spacious. 

However, the only stipulation is that this kind of pool fencing is that it requires more look after and maintenance as compared to others and some steps related to cleaning are discussed here in this blog post.

Tips To Keep Your Glass Pool Fencing Clean And Clear-

According to those offering pool fence ideas, the best solution as far as cleaning the pool fencing is concerned is a soapy mix of warm water or using a dishwashing liquid. The reason is that this mixture or solution dissolves very easily in the water and can be very effective in terms of cleaning pool fencing. When used carefully, this solution can be very helpful in keeping the pool fencing clean and looking like new for a long time.

People may know also: Useful Specifications Related To Using Glass in Swimming Pool Fencing

Do’s And Don’ts When Cleaning Your Glass Pool Fencing-

It is recommended not to use any harsh material in cleaning the pool fencing such as textured cloth or scouring pads. The reason is that the glass can get scratched by these materials.

One more thing recommended by the experts is that you should avoid soft sponge and microfiber cloth. The reason is that washing with a soft sponge and drying with a microfiber cloth gets the best results.

Experts give a strict "no" to the answer as an answer to the question of using commercial grade glass cleaners because often they have harsh chemicals that damage the shine of the glass. These products work on mirrors and windows, but leave a visible residue on glass pool fencing.

Understanding the Effectiveness and Importance of Pool Fencing

Irrespective of which part of the country you are in, if you have a swimming pool in your property, you will have to get it fenced using high quality pool fencing. This is mandatory to make sure that the kids and pets and in fact, everyone accessing that poolside area stays protected. 

To this installation done in the best possible manner, it is important that you choose a company of installation agency holding expertise in the same. 

The will not just recommend you the right products based on the type of pool and budget, but at the same time, deliver the highest quality installation services. 

Know the Purpose of Pool Fencing:

Before mulling upon different pool fence ideas, it is very important that you assess the real purpose of getting pool fencing installation done. This is very important and a mandatory purpose is to make the area totally safe for kids, pets and also adults. 

Apart from this, other purposes could also be there like enhancing the aesthetic appearance, the value of the property and so on. If you have these goals in focus, frameless and semi-frameless pool fences would be your ideal friend.

Is It Really Worth?

The fact regarding pool fencing installation is that it can be very effective in keeping kids and pets out of the risk zone or the accident prone area. Researches to have showed that there has been a huge decline in the number of deaths occurring due to drowning in the swimming pool after these installations were made mandatory. 

So overall it can be said that these installations have proved to be very effective in preventing injuries and deaths occurring around the swimming pool area. However, to bring this result, it has to be ensured that the fencing you are choosing is of the highest grade material and installed only by experienced and professional installers. 

Pool Fencing Related Rules That NSW Citizens Have To Abide By

Swimming pools are there almost in every property and this is why the federal government has to step in to regulate their usage. One rule of the laws related to swimming pools in Australia says that it is mandatory for owners to get it fenced for safety. 

Different regulations are there related to these pool fencing in every state and the federal government has allowed different states to create or amend rules and regulations based on their preferences and situation. 

Some important rules that the citizens of NSW have to follow have been discussed here in this post.

Checklist Item 1-

Pool Fencing-

• The rules say that the swimming pool inside any property has to be surrounded by a sturdy and fully compliant pool barrier.

Checklist Item 2-

Pool Gates-

• The pool fencing will surely come with pool gates and there are some regulations related to pool gates too.

• In this regards, experts say that your pool gate should be self-closing from any position.

• At the same time, the gate should also be installed with a child-resistant latching device.

• This device should be at least 1500mm above the ground level to make sure that any child could not access it.

Read Also - Crucial Safety Elements of Swimming Pool Fencing

Checklist Item 3-

Windows and Doors-

• Just in case, your pool has windows overlooking, you need to make sure that it does not open more than 100mm.

Checklist Item 4-

Non-Climbable Zone (NCZ)-

• According to standard AS1926.1-2012 Standard, the area around the pool fencing should be a Non-Climbable Zone.

• This is done to make sure that children could not climb over the pool fencing near me to get access to the pool.

• The laws say that the pool should have a 900mm Non-Climbable Zone around the outside of the pool fencing.

• Experts say that there should be no footholds like gate hinges, chairs, shrubs, trees, ladders, pot plants and other objects.

• The absence of these footholds will guarantee that kids will get no support whatsoever to climb over the pool fencing.

• E1 Accredited certifiers are authorised to inspect and check whether your swimming pool meets all the compliance standards proficiently.

Important Specification To Understand Regarding Swimming Pool Fencing

When we talk about swimming pool fencing, the first name to emerge in the mind is of glass fences, but then, the problem is that numerous things are to be taken care of here. 

The most important component here in any glass based swimming pool fencing is the glass itself and this is why they keep their entire focus on the same. 

The buyers as well as the installation team ensure that the glass is of the highest quality and chosen while keeping the following points in mind.

Thickness of Glass -

• According to those engaged in swimming pool fencing installation near me, it is important that the glass of the maximum thickness from all those offered by the vendor. 

• In the majority of cases, you will find these vendors offers glass panes of the maximum width of 12 mm and that is ideally the best, as they can withstand all kinds of blows.

• But if you want to secure it further, you can even go with the glass panes of 18 mm of width and some major recommendations made in this regards by the experts are – 

1. Semi Frameless Glass – 10mm Thick
2. Frameless Glass – 12mm Thick
3. For Commercial Swimming Pool Fencing – 18mm Thick

Australian Standards -

• Other than determining the thickness, it is important to ensure that the glasses offered to you are approved by federal agencies because they are as per the Australian standards. 

• This means that the panels used in swimming pool fencing should pass the Australian Standard for Safety Glass in Buildings (ASNZ2208). 

• There is nothing better if those panels come with the stamp of an International Certification Company (CSi), which signifies that they met strict quality standards and criteria.

Height And Width Of The Glass Pool Fence Panels

• Standard glass pool fence panels are usually 1200mm high

• Generally a semi-frameless pool fence panel will be between 1600-1800mm wide

• A frameless pool fence panel will be 1800-1900mm wide