Pool Decorum Ltd

🎉 BIG WIN FOR THE NZ POOL INDUSTRY! 💦

A recent MBIE Determination has delivered some great news for pool owners, builders and designers!

Where a 1.2m high frameless glass pool barrier abuts an 1.8m boundary fence, there is no longer an automatic need for expensive, higher custom glass panels or other extensions simply to maintain the traditional 900mm non-climbable zone.

MBIE has confirmed this configuration can comply with Building Code Clause F9 as an Alternative Solution, provided the overall barrier design meets the required performance standards.

💰 Big savings on custom glass
✨ Much better aesthetics
📐 Simpler pool barrier designs

A fantastic result for the industry — and a massive win for common sense and simplicity! 🙌

Ref. MBIE Determination 2026/013

Send a message to learn more

🏆 NEW ZEALAND'S GOLD WINNER – 7 YEARS RUNNING! 🏆

What an incredible honour to be recognised by our industry and peers at the 2026 SPASA Awards of Excellence held at the Grand Millennium Auckland on Saturday night.

To be named New Zealand's Gold Winner for the Pool & Spa Barrier Inspector Award for the seventh consecutive year is something I'm extremely proud of.

A huge thank you to my clients, colleagues, and industry partners for your continued trust and support.

Seven years as New Zealand's Gold Winner – now that's how you know you're getting advice you can trust.

💙💛

🏊‍♂️✨ Infinity Edge Pools – The Ultimate Statement Piece ✨🏊‍♀️

We're seeing more and more homeowners choosing infinity edge pools where the pool wall itself forms part of the safety barrier. The result? Stunning, uninterrupted views and a truly premium pool design.

While these projects look effortless when complete, achieving compliance can be anything but simple. Designs like these often need to carefully balance the requirements of New Zealand Building Code Clauses F4 (Safety from Falling) and F9 (Restricting Access to Residential Pools), which can sometimes appear to pull in different directions.

At Pool Decorum, we've successfully navigated several consent applications for infinity edge and elevated pool designs, helping clients, designers, and builders find practical compliance pathways without compromising the vision of the project.

If you're dreaming of an infinity edge pool, a raised pool, or a unique pool design and you're not sure where to start with the compliance process, we'd love to help.

📞 Get in touch with Pool Decorum and let's turn your dream project into a compliant reality.

Pool builder disappeared and suddenly you’re the project manager, planner… and part-time fence expert? 😅

Welcome to the club. We see it all the time.

That’s where Pool Decorum Ltd steps in.

We take the stress off your shoulders and handle the curly stuff:
✔️ Pre-planning site checks
✔️ Consent guidance (what Council actually wants)
✔️ Drawings + documentation
✔️ Council submissions + RFIs
✔️ Managing inspections (yes, even the tricky ones)
✔️ Getting you right through to Code of Compliance

No guesswork. No back-and-forth headaches. Just clear direction and results.

Led by Rainbow Devlin, an Independently Qualified Pool Inspector (MBIE PI0111) and multiple-time SPASA Gold Award winner, Pool Decorum has helped hundreds of pool owners get compliant — leaving you to enjoy the pool, not wrestle the paperwork.

So if you’re stuck, confused, or just over it…
we’ve got you.

👉 Flick us a message and let’s get your pool signed off properly ✔️

It was a pleasure to present alongside Resident Builder Peter Wolfkamp at the Pool Spa Life Expo last weekend on the topic of Pool and Spa fencing compliance! Thanks to all who braved the weather to come along to seminar and show, it was a great turnout and learning opportunity.

🌟 NZ’s Best – Six Years Running! 🌟

We’re proud to announce that at this year’s SPASA NZ Awards of Excellence, Rainbow Devlin of Pool Decorum was awarded the Gold Winner for the Pool & Spa Barrier Inspector Award – for the sixth consecutive year! 🥇✨

When you choose Pool Decorum for your inspection, consent, or compliance needs, you’re choosing New Zealand’s best – trusted, recognised, and proven year after year.

✔️ Professional
✔️ Reliable
✔️ Award-Winning

A huge congratulations to Rainbow for this outstanding achievement, and thank you to all our clients for your continued trust and support. 💙

Regional councils are next level when it comes to planning restrictions especially in special zones like rural or heritage areas. As we've dealt with more than our fair share of complicated consents, Pool Decorum Ltd is now adding Resource Consent applications to our list of specialized services on offer. Hit us up to help with your complex planning projects - you're welcome!

Across greater Auckland there has been a huge surge in the complexity of planning matters arising during the consent process. It takes a lot to navigate the Unitary Plan rules - which can seem like a lot of work to just put in a simple swimming pool - especially one under 35kL! Need any practical advice or help to work through the process? Feel free to reach out!

Did you know that the Building (Earthquake-prone Building Deadlines and Other Matters) Amendment Act came into effect on 26 November 2024? It included a minor change to clarify which small heated pools (such as spa pools) are exempt from the requirement for periodic inspection – that is, small heated pools that have a safety cover that complied at installation, or currently complies, with the New Zealand Building Code.

All other residential pools, including small heated pools without a Building Code-compliant safety cover, are required to be inspected at least once every three years to determine whether the pool barriers comply. Inspections can be carried out by territorial authorities or independently qualified pool inspectors.

This means all swim spas and pools over 5m2 are affected. Get in touch if you require further clarity about how this could impact your pool or spa.

Christmas Rush
The summer sun begins to gleam,
And pools sparkle like a dream.
But Christmas looms, and there’s a race—
To get that fencing in its place.

The rules are clear, no time to stall,
For safety first must guide us all.
Calls and plans, the rush is on,
Before the festive days are gone.

“Will it be done?” they fret and say,
“We need our pool for Christmas Day!”
Laughter, swims, and family cheer—
But only if compliance is here.

So hurry now, don’t leave it late,
A fenced-off pool will be just great.
Enjoy the season, safe and sound,
With splashes and joy all around!