Pool gates and balustrades Pool gates and balustrades

Glass and hardware

Pool fencing glass must meet strict safety requirements. The standard specification is:

• Toughened safety glass: 12mm toughened glass is the industry standard for frameless pool fencing in New Zealand. It provides Grade A safety classification and high impact resistance.

• Gate hardware: self-closing, self-latching hinges and latches that comply with NZS 8500. The gate must close and latch from any open position — the hardware is purpose-designed for this and must be regularly maintained.

• Spigots and posts: stainless steel spigots (core-drilled or surface-mounted) or posts, depending on the fixing substrate and design preference. Marine-grade stainless steel is standard for pool environments due to chemical exposure.

NZS 8500 compliance

Pool barriers in New Zealand are governed by NZS 8500, which sets requirements for barrier height, gate operation, climbability, and gaps. Key points to be aware of:

• Height: pool barriers must be a minimum of 1200mm high from the finished ground level on the outside of the fence.

• Gates: must open outward (away from the pool), self-close from any position, and have a self-latching mechanism that a young child cannot easily operate.

• Gaps: no gap under the fence or between panels greater than 100mm. The space between the ground and the bottom of the glass is a common point of failure at inspection.

• Non-climbable zone: no footholds within the non-climbable zone on the outside of the barrier. Glass panels themselves are considered non-climbable, which is one reason glass fencing is popular — it avoids the climbability issues of bar or mesh fencing.

Channel fixing systems

Our frameless glass pool fences use aluminium channel systems from Opus that hold the glass securely at the base without visible clamps or standoffs.

• SmartLock Channel System — single-sided adjustment, ideal where access behind the channel is restricted (pool coping edges, retaining walls).

• Tilt-Lock Channel System — rotating pressure plate clamp, no holes required in the glass. A clean solution for residential pool fencing.

Both systems accept 12mm toughened glass and provide the structural capacity required for pool barriers under NZS 8500.

Related systems

Glass pool fencing shares engineering and hardware with our broader balustrade work. We coordinate specification and installation across all systems:

• Glass balustrades — deck, balcony, and stairway balustrades on the same property

• Frameless glass doors and shopfronts — glass entries and enclosures for pool houses and pavilions

• Glazed shower enclosures — frameless glass in changing rooms and outdoor showers adjacent to pool areas