NZS AS 1838:2025
Swimming pools – Premoulded fibre-reinforced plastics – Design and fabrication
AS/NZS 1838:1994 Swimming pools – Premoulded fibre-reinforced plastics – Design and fabrication was revised as an Australian-only standard and published in 2021. Because the design and fabrication of fibreglass swimming pools and spas have increased in Aotearoa New Zealand, and many changes have taken place since 1994, the Swimming Pool and Spa Association (SPASA) of Australia and New Zealand commissioned the work required to identify relevant national variations and adopt AS 1838:2021 as a New Zealand standard.
Manufacturers and consumers will benefit from access to this updated standard, which references up-to-date technologies and design considerations. The objective of this document is to set out procedures for the design and fabrication of premoulded fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) swimming pools.
This document is a modified adoption of AS 1838:2021. The text of AS 1838:2021 was approved as a New Zealand standard with the agreed national variations.
NZS AS 1838 2025
Committee representation
Acknowledgement
Copyright
LATEST REVISIONS
REVIEW OF STANDARDS
FOREWORD
APPENDIX ZZ – VARIATIONS TO AS 1838:2021 FOR NEW ZEALAND
AS 1838:2021 Swimming pools - Premoulded fibre-reinforced plastics - Design and fabrication
Preface
Section 1 Scope and general
1.1 Scope
1.2 Normative references
1.3 Terms and definitions
1.4 New design and innovation
Section 2 Materials
2.1 Resin
2.2 Gelcoat
2.3 Reinforcement
2.4 Additives
Section 3 Design
3.1 General
3.1.1 Shape
3.1.2 Deflection and variations
3.1.3 Entry and exit from pool
3.1.4 Textured surfaces
3.1.5 Lifting points
3.1.6 Ties
3.1.7 Water recirculation
3.1.8 Emptying the pool
3.2 Pools for installation in the ground
3.2.1 Soil loadings
3.2.2 Other loadings
3.3 Pools for installation above ground and partially exposed above ground
3.3.1 Water loading
3.3.2 Other loadings
3.3.3 Deflection under dynamic loading
3.4 Subpool drainage
3.5 Design of bond beam
3.5.1 Concrete
3.5.2 Other materials
3.6 Fibreglass coping
Section 4 Construction requirements
4.1 General composite
4.2 Cosmetic layers
4.3 Corrosion barrier layer(s)
4.4 Syntactic core
4.5 Structural laminate
4.6 Outer surface layer
4.7 Cure
4.8 Freedom from defects
4.9 Design details
Section 5 Performance requirements
5.1 Material properties
5.2 Chemical-resistance rating
5.3 Water-resistance rating
5.4 Dynamic load test for pools installed above the ground
5.5 Acetone test
5.6 Barcol hardness
5.7 In-service performance
5.7.1 Chemical-fade resistance
5.7.2 Water-resistance
5.7.3 External factors
Section 6 Records and markings
6.1 Records
6.2 Markings
Appendix A (informative) Determination of resin and glass content of corrosion barrier and structural layers
Appendix B (informative) Design guidance
Appendix C (normative) Dynamic load test
Appendix D (normative) Preparation and conditioning of test panels
Appendix E (normative) Chemical-resistance test
Appendix F (normative) Water-resistance test
Appendix G (informative) External factors affecting in-service performance
Bibliography
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References
Swimming pools - Premoulded fibre-reinforced plastics - Design and fabrication
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NZS AS 1838 2025
Committee representation
Acknowledgement
Copyright
LATEST REVISIONS
REVIEW OF STANDARDS
FOREWORD
APPENDIX ZZ – VARIATIONS TO AS 1838:2021 FOR NEW ZEALAND
AS 1838:2021 Swimming pools - Premoulded fibre-reinforced plastics - Design and fabrication
Preface
Section 1 Scope and general
1.1 Scope
1.2 Normative references
1.3 Terms and definitions
1.4 New design and innovation
Section 2 Materials
2.1 Resin
2.2 Gelcoat
2.3 Reinforcement
2.4 Additives
Section 3 Design
3.1 General
3.1.1 Shape
3.1.2 Deflection and variations
3.1.3 Entry and exit from pool
3.1.4 Textured surfaces
3.1.5 Lifting points
3.1.6 Ties
3.1.7 Water recirculation
3.1.8 Emptying the pool
3.2 Pools for installation in the ground
3.2.1 Soil loadings
3.2.2 Other loadings
3.3 Pools for installation above ground and partially exposed above ground
3.3.1 Water loading
3.3.2 Other loadings
3.3.3 Deflection under dynamic loading
3.4 Subpool drainage
3.5 Design of bond beam
3.5.1 Concrete
3.5.2 Other materials
3.6 Fibreglass coping
Section 4 Construction requirements
4.1 General composite
4.2 Cosmetic layers
4.3 Corrosion barrier layer(s)
4.4 Syntactic core
4.5 Structural laminate
4.6 Outer surface layer
4.7 Cure
4.8 Freedom from defects
4.9 Design details
Section 5 Performance requirements
5.1 Material properties
5.2 Chemical-resistance rating
5.3 Water-resistance rating
5.4 Dynamic load test for pools installed above the ground
5.5 Acetone test
5.6 Barcol hardness
5.7 In-service performance
5.7.1 Chemical-fade resistance
5.7.2 Water-resistance
5.7.3 External factors
Section 6 Records and markings
6.1 Records
6.2 Markings
Appendix A (informative) Determination of resin and glass content of corrosion barrier and structural layers
Appendix B (informative) Design guidance
Appendix C (normative) Dynamic load test
Appendix D (normative) Preparation and conditioning of test panels
Appendix E (normative) Chemical-resistance test
Appendix F (normative) Water-resistance test
Appendix G (informative) External factors affecting in-service performance
Bibliography