Outdoor spa installs

[SircatmaN]

Hi guys, I picked up an 8 person spa shell and I'm looking at how I'm going to do the install. So far its just a big fibreglass shell with the jets and everything in it.
Do any of you have any experience putting one in at your house or anything? So far I basically want to dig it down about half a meter and then have a wall come up and pave around the top of it so when you are sitting in the spa you are around the same height as people sitting in the backyard chairs.
I'm planning on building a spot for the Pumps/chemical dosing equipment and filter to sit ground level at the back so it can be hidden with a door over the top.
Now the next part is where I'm having problems in the design. 50% of people tell me you fill it in with sand, but I do alot of piping work and know that if there ever is a leak I dont want to be digging up paving and stuff to do any repairs but I'm not sure if the fibreglass shell requires the sand around it or if I can mount it some how.
Any advice? Also if you find any good pictures of installs or if you have any of your own then post them up!

[4R33L]

I installed my own spa last year,was pretty much same as what u want to do. I dug mine down about half way, paved a support for the base then built a wall around it. Yes u will need sand around the outside edge to support the weight of the water. Once u have filled in around the dges with sand fill your spa with water, not before!!!
I used high preasure pipe, which u buy from retic shops (make sure u ask for high preasure) and 45 deg bends and straites just from bunnings. You can also buy high preasure blue glue from bunnings to suit. I ran my pipes above ground behind my shed and mounted the pump behind there also (better for sound deadening). I placed the controller inside the shed, so no sun and close to power source.
Pretty straite forward really, be prepared to shovell a f*ck load of dirt though!

[SircatmaN]

Ah ok no worries, I do alot of piping with my day job so I'm lucky to have a good understanding of pipe thickness and glues/primers etc.
Was yours one that had a wooden surround already or just a bare shell with jets?
Also did you get council approval and install fencing etc or do you not really need approval for it? If so what sort of process and costs were involved?

[Satan]

you will need approval and fencing, even with a lockable lid - it sucks, the council can have a 4 foot deep lake across the road in public space but your spa locked on your private property needs a fence

[j3rk]

As said; Sand - Yes definitely requires support it.
Council approval is required, along with all the pool reg's to be met such as self locking gate of size >1.5m etc (google it)
...or just don't tell them.

[ossie cossie]

I have a pool with apool fence, if i were to put a spa in the confinds of the pool area inside the pool fence would i need a separate fence around the spa?

[4R33L]

Mine was just the shell, (sucken type), not the above ground type with the wooden sides.
I havnt told the council about mine so i havnt fenced or anything yet but my costs so far probly would be around 1k running. I had a gas hook up to connect the heater, otherwise u would looking around another $600 for that

[j3rk]

Ossie Cossie - As I understand the rules no. For the same reason you can fence your backyard at the start (with a suitable gate etc) and have the pool not even remotely close to the fence. As long as there is a barrier between the pool/spa and your entry (cannot be a house door).

Remembering that without fencing you are liable if someone was to happen.
Accident or not.

[SircatmaN]

What are the consequences for installing one and telling them after it's done?

[cplagz]

What are the consequences for installing one and telling them after it's done?

I'm not sure if you need to technically lodge for building approval (as you do with a pool). But yes, pool fencing is a requirement by law, and the laws are retarded. ie, I have a self closing gate that swings the wrong way (towards pool) but if I put a U-bolt through the slide lock its "pool safe" as it requires a tool to undo it. Can't use a padlock though, as a child could use a key to open it.

[d1mitch]

the laws are definitley retarded, ther is a house down the road from my olds that has a pool out the front
it has a fence on the house side but you could easliy walk up the verge and climb up to the ground level that the pool is sunken into (about 1.2metres) from out the front.
dont know how this is legal yet your yard fence easliy over head high isnt suitable???

[j3rk]

^ Fence only has to be 1.2m. Sorted.

Approval is meant to be given 'before it is filled' as I was told.
That said technically they can tell you to dig it out I think, they never do though. End of the story, put it in... put a fence up and call council saying all done.
Or, don't put a fence in... council calls up saying they know you have a spa, empty it: "Sorry council man, no fence required until I fill it up". End of discussion.

[d1mitch]

^^ but my point was, how is a a head high fence surrounding your garden in which your pool is not as safe as a 1.2 metre step up to the pool???