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- Media release
BPC issues warning over pool fence safety following inspector ban
A warning comes after the BPC cancelled the registration of Building Inspector (pool safety) Phillip Brett Commandeur of Pool Safety Solutions.
Published 28 August 2026
The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) has written to councils warning of a potential safety risk affecting nearly 1400 pool fences across 45 Victorian municipalities.
The warning comes after the BPC cancelled the registration of Building Inspector (pool safety) Phillip Brett Commandeur of Pool Safety Solutions and banned him for the statutory maximum three years.
The Docklands-based Commandeur has been conducting pool barrier inspections for more than three years and the BPC is concerned about the integrity of those inspections.
Commandeur is also permanently banned as a pool inspector in NSW and cancelled in Queensland, and failed to disclose this when he applied to the then Victorian Building Authority for registration in 2022.
The 38-year-old also provided false or misleading information in his registration application and the BPC believes he is not a fit and proper person to work as an inspector.
Impacted councils are being asked to search their registers to establish which properties Commandeur inspected and determine whether the pool fences are safe and compliant.
The disciplinary action against Commandeur, who runs the company Pool Safety Solutions, also includes a $7000 fine and the following directions:
- to not represent or imply he is a registered building practitioner;
- to delete and remove from any publicly available sources any direct or indirect representations that he is a registered building practitioner;
- to provide details of all swimming pool and spa inspections completed since registration in Victoria
- to not employ or engage swimming pool and spa inspectors or provide training, references or other educational advice on swimming pool and spa inspections and/or swimming pool and spa matters.
The BPC is reminding homeowners of their legal obligation to ensure their pool or spa is registered with their local council and their safety barrier is maintained and remains compliant at all times.
The BPC registers pool inspectors and individual councils are responsible for enforcing the regulations in their jurisdictions.
For more information on the responsibilities of pool owners visit bpc.vic.gov.au/poolsafety
The ramifications of a non-compliant pool fence can be catastrophic and pool inspectors are vital to ensuring homeowners have compliant and safe barriers.
As we begin to move into the warmer months, homeowners are reminded to ensure their pool is registered with their council and their safety barrier is maintained and remains compliant.