Yes, you do need a safety barrier around your ice bath, cold plunge pool, inflatable pool or portable pool under Victorian Building Regulations if it is capable of holding more than 30cm (approximately 12 inches) of water, unless an exemption applies.

A safety barrier is essential for your ice bath. cold plunge pool, inflatable pool or portable pool to prevent accidental access by young children under 5 years of age.

How does a ice bath, cold plunge pool, inflatable pool or portable pool differ from say a bathtub? The requirement for a safety barrier around a water feature like a bathtub versus a swimming pool hinges primarily on the depth of water and its intended use. Most standard bathtubs do not hold water to a depth of 30cm or more, especially when in use and are used for bathing. Therefore, they typically do not require a safety barrier under normal circumstances.

Ice baths, cold plunge pools, inflatable pools and portable pools by their nature, are generally designed to hold water to depths exceeding 30cm and are intended for recreational use. Thus, they require a compliant safety barrier measuring a minimum 1200mm effective vertical height (amongst other requirements) to prevent unauthorised access, particularly by young children.

Please contact us today on (03) 4158 0000 or hello@drpoolsafe.com.au if you would like further information.