Ice baths are becoming more and more popular to keep at home. It is important to realise that some States may require a building approval for ice baths, as well as the installation of a compliant pool fence. Other States may only require a lockable lid, however that is not the case for Queensland.

In Queensland, the requirements for ice baths are no different to a portable wading pool. That is, it does not require a building approval or pool barrier if it is capable of being filled with water to a depth of no more than 300mm, and has a volume of not more than 2,000L, and has no filtration system.

However most ice baths will have a depth greater than 300mm which means it doesn’t meet the definition of a portable wading pool regardless of its volume or whether it has a filter. Therefore if exceeding 300mm in depth, the ice bath would be considered to be a swimming pool which requires a building approval and a pool barrier.

The Queensland legislation does not allow a lockable lid to be provided instead of a compliant pool barrier.