Flat Top Tubular Pool Fencing
The cheapest compliant pool fence — powder-coated aluminium, flat top rail, tubular pickets. Genuinely DIY; the calculator gets the panel, post and gate count right so it passes first time.
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AS1926 Pool Fence Compliant
- 1200mm minimum barrier height
- Maximum 100mm gaps at the bottom
- Self-closing, self-latching gates
The cheapest fence that passes
Flat top tubular is the classic aluminium pool fence — horizontal top and bottom rails with vertical tube pickets, in a clean flat-topped profile. It's the budget end of the range and the most common pool fence in the country, and unlike glass it's a fence most people are happy to put in themselves.
The catch isn't the install, it's the planning. People order by counting panels off the run length, then find the corners, gate posts and a slope throw the whole layout out — and a gap over 100mm or a fence under 1200mm fails inspection. The calculator does that maths: give it your runs, corners, gate and ground and it returns the exact panel, post and gate count — including raked panels where the ground falls — so you order once and it goes together compliant.
How it goes together
- The panels. Pre-made aluminium — horizontal rails with vertical pickets at compliant spacing, flat-top profile. They fix between posts; no welding, no cutting glass.
- The posts. Aluminium, either set into concrete (core-in) or surface-mounted to a slab. The calculator works out post positions and count from your layout.
- Slopes. Where the ground falls, raked panels step the fence down while keeping the top line right — the calculator works out where you need them.
- The gate. A kit with self-closing hinges and a self-latching latch — a hard rule for pool gates. Included, sized to your opening.
- The finish. Powder-coated aluminium, black and white most popular. Doesn't rust or rot; takes coastal weather.
The compliance bit, straight
Pool fencing answers to AS 1926.1. What touches a tubular fence:
- Height. At least 1200mm, ground to top.
- Picket spacing. Nothing that passes a 100mm sphere — between pickets or under the bottom rail. This is the one people get wrong, especially around corners and gates.
- Non-climbable zone. A 900mm clear zone with nothing climbable — rail spacing is set to keep the fence non-climbable.
- Gate. Self-closing, self-latching, opening away from the pool.
The calculator's built to these, so the layout sits inside them by design. Final sign-off is your council or a pool-safety inspector — rules vary by state, covered in Pool Fencing Regulations, State by State.
Frequently asked
Is a flat top fence OK for a pool?+
Yes — flat top tubular is a fully compliant pool fence when it's built to AS 1926.1: at least 1200mm high, no gap that passes a 100mm sphere, the non-climbable zone kept clear, and a self-closing, self-latching gate. The calculator builds your layout to those rules.
Is this the cheapest pool fence option?+
Yes — flat top tubular is the most affordable compliant pool fence we range. If you don't need the glass look, it's the budget way to a fence that passes. We're supply-only, so there's no install labour in the price; the calculator gives an exact materials total for your job.
Can I install a tubular pool fence myself?+
Yes — this is the most DIY-friendly fence in the range. Panels fix between posts, and posts are set in concrete or surface-mounted. The trick is getting the layout and spacing right so it passes, which is exactly what the calculator works out.
How many panels do I need?+
More than just your run length divided by panel width — corners, gate posts and any slope all change the count, and getting it wrong means gaps that fail. Tell the calculator your runs, corners and gate and it returns the exact panel, post and gate count.
What about sloping ground?+
Tubular handles slopes with raked panels that step the fence down while keeping the top line right. The calculator works out where you need them, and the fence still has to be at least 1200mm at the high point relative to the pool.
What colours can I get?+
A range of powder-coat colours, with black and white the most popular. The finish is baked on, so it holds its colour and won't rust.
Does it still need to be certified?+
Yes — like any pool fence, the finished job is signed off by your council or a pool-safety inspector. The calculator builds the layout to AS 1926.1 so there are no surprises, but the sign-off itself is theirs, and the rules vary by state.
Build your parts list
Your exact panel, post and gate count, built to the rules, in a few minutes. Or ask Joe first.
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