If you have a pool, you must have a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) sign prominently displayed.

If you are building a new pool, it must have a CPR sign when completed and a warning sign during construction.

CPR signs

CPR signs being replaced must:

• be attached to the safety barrier of the pool, or displayed near the pool, so that the sign is easily visible to a person near the pool
• be at least 300mm by 300mm in size
• be made of durable and weatherproof material
• include a prominent statement explaining how to act in an emergency (e.g. call Triple Zero, stay with the injured person, provide first aid).

CPR signs purchased and displayed after 1 January 2017

From 1 January 2017 any new CPR signs or existing CPR signs being replaced must show how to perform CPR in line with the technique published in ‘ANZCOR Guideline 8 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation’ (PDF, 297KB) published by the Australian Resuscitation Council in January 2016.

CPR signs purchased and displayed before 1 January 2017

If you have an existing CPR sign that:

• was purchased and displayed prior to 1 January 2017; and
• complies with ‘Guideline 7 – cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ published by the Australian Resuscitation Council in February 2006, you can continue to use the sign until it becomes illegible. However, once the sign is replaced after 1 January 2017 it must comply with the requirements mentioned above.

Warning signs

If you are building a swimming pool, before construction starts you must display a sign stating that it is under construction.

The warning sign must:

• warn people that a swimming pool is under construction, and that there is a danger to young children accessing the land (e.g. ‘Danger. Swimming pool under construction. Keep children out.’)
• be placed within 1.5m of the road frontage for the land
• be mounted so that the bottom of the sign is at least 300mm above ground level
• be positioned so that it is visible from the road
• be made of weatherproof material
• have the warning written in bold text at least 50mm high.

If the land has more than 1 road frontage, a warning sign is only required on 1.

This requirement does not apply to portable pools.

More information

For detailed information, see the pool safety guidelines or Chapter 8 of the Building Act 1975 (PDF, 1.79MB).