Pool safety trumps fire safety
When does one set of safety guidelines trump another?
While many homeowners have to make changes to properties to comply with Building Act rules for safety around pools, an unintended consequence could be an increased fire risk.
Masterton homeowner Louis Pilois recently had his property inspected by his local council to make sure his pool was safe from wandering young children, but some of the restrictions have him worried about escape from fire.
Among the alterations recommended was the need to install restricting brackets on his bedroom windows, which are just under 120cm high in the inside wall.
Pilois believed this increases fire risk, especially in bedrooms without alternative outside access. ‘‘In case of fire or earthquake, how do you get out when you have to fit that sort of contraption?
‘‘Maybe we need to compare how many kids drown by falling in pools with how many people die if a fire escape is blocked,’’ he said.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand principal adviser fire risk management Peter Gallagher said while they strongly recommended having two ways out of every room, the escape path must be safe. ‘‘If conditions were so bad that the normal exit is unavailable, then breaking the window and climbing out may be the next course of action, regardless of whether the window is locked or unable to open,’’ he said.
The Fire Service is unaware of anybody dying in a house fire because of compliance issues with the Building Act, particularly window opening restrictions.
‘‘While we recommend using all available escape paths including windows we would not condone non-compliance with any other legislation,’’ Gallagher said.
According to Wafer Safety New Zealand there were five preventable drownings in home pools last year. Curiously, the Masterton District Council did not ask for Pilois’ bathroom windows to be restricted, which are about the same height as his bedroom ones and have access to the pool area.
Tania Madden, of Masterton District Council, said they can grant a waiver of the need for certain modifications if the territorial authority is satisfied that it would not significantly increase danger.
Pilois was told by council that he had 30 days to make sure that his pool area was compliant.
‘‘That’s not practical for some people that need to build a fence. Maybe they should give you three months or even six months,’’ he said.