Yes. Queensland law sets what a pool CPR sign must look like and where it goes, but it doesn't say how it has to be fixed. Cable ties are fine as long as the sign is held securely, the ties are UV-stabilised outdoor ties, and they don't create a foothold. Where cable ties cause a fail is when cheap ties perish and the sign falls off, hangs loose or ends up facing the wrong way.
Why This Question Keeps Coming Up
There's been plenty of talk in the industry lately about pool owners being failed simply because their CPR sign was held on with zip ties, with the suggestion that signs must be screwed, bolted or pop riveted to the fence. If you're a homeowner, landlord or property manager getting ready for an inspection, here's what the rules actually say.
What the Law Actually Requires
The CPR sign rules aren't in QDC MP3.4 (that's the part of the pool safety standard covering the barrier itself). They're in section 13 of the Building Regulation 2021, made under the Building Act 1975. Every regulated pool in Queensland must have a sign that meets all of these:
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Location | Attached to the pool barrier, or displayed near the pool |
| Visibility | Conspicuous and easily visible to anyone near the pool |
| Size | At least 300 mm × 300 mm |
| Material | Durable and weatherproof, including the printed text and diagrams |
| Emergency statement | A prominent statement on what to do in an emergency, such as phoning 000 for an ambulance, staying with the person, calling for help and starting resuscitation |
| CPR instructions | Shown in line with ANZCOR Guideline 8 (January 2016): 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths |
| Legibility | All text and diagrams clear and legible |
A faded, cracked or out-of-date sign fails on its own, however well it's fixed. If yours is showing its age, it's cheaper to replace it before the inspection than after.
What the Regulation Doesn't Say
Nothing in section 13 mentions screws, bolts, rivets or any other fixing method. The test is the result: the sign has to be attached or displayed near the pool, conspicuous, and durable.
The Queensland Government's Guideline for pool safety inspectors (effective 10 June 2024) goes further. In its section on projections that could be climbed, it says cable ties up to 10 mm wide are acceptable, and it uses a 12 mm cable tie holding a CPR sign to a pool barrier as an example of something a young child generally couldn't use as a toehold. In other words, the guideline inspectors work from expects to see CPR signs held on with cable ties.
When Cable Ties Do Cause a Fail
Cheap indoor ties
Standard nylon ties break down in UV, go brittle and snap in the Queensland sun. Once the sign drops or hangs by one corner, the pool doesn't comply.
Too few ties
A sign held by one or two ties can swing, flip or spin side-on, so it's no longer easily visible from the pool.
Bulky fixings in the wrong spot
Ties wider than 10 mm, or a cluster of ties and brackets, can become a foothold if they sit in a non-climbable zone. Keep ties slim and the fixing tidy.
The sign itself
Perfect ties won't save a sign that's too small, faded, illegible or showing outdated CPR steps.
How to Fix Your Sign With Cable Ties Properly
- Use UV-stabilised outdoor ties, not general-purpose indoor ones. Stainless steel ties are another long-lasting option.
- Use a tie at every corner so the sign can't swing, rotate or flap in the wind.
- Pull them firm, with the sign facing the pool area where it's easy to read.
- Keep ties no wider than 10 mm and trim the tails flush so there are no sharp ends.
- Check it once a year. Replace any ties that look faded, chalky or brittle before they fail.
Not sure where the sign should go? Our guide on where to mount your CPR sign covers placement, and we also have install guides for acrylic and aluminium signs.
Our Approach
We focus on genuine child safety, not on technicalities to fail homeowners over issues that can be sorted on the spot. Pool safety inspectors can carry out minor repairs found during an inspection when the owner agrees. If we find brittle, loose or weathered ties, or a missing or faded sign, we carry compliant CPR signs and UV-rated ties and can fix it then and there, with your approval.
No unnecessary stress, no unnecessary delays. Just sensible, professional pool safety advice.
Remember: the CPR sign is just one part of the picture. Gates, latches, boundary fences, non-climbable zones and gaps under the fence all work together to keep kids safe around water. See our guide to common pool fence problems.
Getting Ready for an Inspection?
$210 flat, QBCC levy included, from the 2024 SPASA National Gold Winner. Minor fixes like CPR signs sorted on the spot, with your approval.
Book an Inspection Call 0457 520 953More reading: our Queensland Pool Safety Compliance Guide, QLD Technical Reference and FAQ.
This article is general guidance based on section 13 of the Building Regulation 2021 (Qld) and the Guideline for pool safety inspectors (June 2024), current as at October 2026. Your inspector assesses your pool barrier as a whole on the day. For official information, see the QBCC's CPR sign page.