What Type of Gate Latch Do I Need for Pool Compliance?

Choosing the right gate latch is one of the most important parts of achieving pool barrier compliance in Victoria. A compliant latch not only keeps children safe — it’s also one of the first things inspectors check during a pool fence safety inspection.

Below is a simple guide explaining the types of latches allowed, height requirements, and what to avoid.

✅ 1. The Gate Must Be Self-Closing & Self-Latching

Victorian pool safety standards require that your pool gate:

Closes automatically from any open position
Latches automatically without needing manual locking
Cannot be propped open (no hooks, wedges, or magnets holding it open, doesn't catch on the ground or plants when fully extended, a weight on the gate doesn't cause it to unlatch)

Most people fail compliance because the gate doesn’t latch reliably — often due to worn hinges or a misaligned strike plate.

✅ 2. Gate Latch Height Requirements (Very Important)

The legal requirements for latch height depend on the style of latch.

🔹 Standard Latch (Mounted on the gate)

Your latch must be:

At least 1500mm above ground level
At least 1400mm above the highest lower horizontal rail (so children can’t reach over)
The release mechanism must be on the inside of the barrier or shielded so a child can’t reach through.

🔹 “Top Pull” Magnetic Latch

(Examples: MagnaLatch Top Pull)

These are the most common and easiest to make compliant. They must be:

Mounted at 1500mm minimum height
Release knob facing the pool side, not the outside
Installed so the gate swings outward, away from the pool

Top-pull latches are recommended because they’re reliable, hard for kids to access, and designed specifically to meet Australian Standards.

🔹 Glass Pool Gate Latches (Frameless or Semi-Frameless Gates)

Glass gates usually use a side-mounted magnetic latch or a bottom-corner magnetic latch specifically designed for frameless systems.

To be compliant:

If the latch is side-mounted or top-mounted, it must still be 1500mm above ground level.
If the latch is mounted lower, it can still be compliant ONLY if:
- The release mechanism is on the pool side, and a minimum of 150mm below the top of the fence
- And cannot be reached or operated through any gap (max 10mm),
- And the gate meets all non-climbable zone requirements.

This is because some frameless glass systems use a “drop-down” magnetic striker which sits lower, but it is fully shielded by the glass — meaning a child can’t reach through or over.

✅ 3. Types of Latches Commonly Used for Pool Compliance

Magnetic Latches (Most Recommended)

Extremely reliable
Self-latching
Weather-resistant
Harder for children to operate

Brands: MagnaLatch by D&D Technologies is the most widely accepted.

Mechanical Latches

Can be compliant if installed correctly
Must still meet the height and reach-restriction rules

Keyed Lock Latches

Can be used only as a secondary lock
Not acceptable as the main self-latching mechanism

Slide Bolts, Hook Latches, or Drop Bolts

❌ Not compliant — even if you add a padlock. They do not self-close or self-latch.

✅ 4. The Gate Must Swing Outward (Away From the Pool)

Many gates fail inspection because:

They swing inward
They don’t close under their own weight
Hinges are worn or too tight

If your gate doesn’t close and latch every single time, it will fail.

✅ 5. Keep the Latch Area Clear

Even if the latch itself is compliant, the gate will fail if:

Plants, toys, boxes, or furniture create a climbable zone (see our blog here for further detail)
There are gaps larger than 100mm
There are horizontal rails that allow a child to climb to the latch

Keep the 900mm “non-climbable zone” free of objects at all times.