Law and safety for your swimming pool

New rules for pool security came into force in France in January 2006. However many pool owners have yet to comply with them despite potential fines of up to €45,000. Here is an overview of the requirements.

All in-ground swimming pools in France must now have an approved security system whether they are for private or collective use.
A private swimming pool is defined as a pool reserved for the personal use of
a family. A swimming pool of collective use, including rental properties, is any pool which is not solely for private family use.
Security regulations do not apply to above-ground pools nor inflatable or demountable pools or those situated in a building.
They are aimed at preventing access to a pool by children under five without the assistance of an accompanying adult.
Should your pool security be found to be outside the norms, or in the unfortunate circumstances of an accident, a fine of up to €45,000 may be levied.
Security systems must meet the requirements of the Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR), the French standards body.
Pools built before January 1, 2004, require either the installation of a current system or have written confirmation that their protection complies with the new rule.
Any security measures installed before June 8, 2004 must have an attestation from the supplier of the safeguard confirming that the system complies to norms.
Owners of pools built after January 1, 2004 should have had an appropriate system fitted by the pool installer who should also have provided them with a document which both describes the equipment and advises the purchaser of safe pool practice.
For new build pools, security measures must be in place as soon as the pool is filled. There are four types of approved security systems:

1. Security Barriers
AFNOR standard:
NF P 90-306.
Removable or permanent barriers or fencing used to restrict young children’s access to a pool.

2. Pool Alarms
AFNOR standard:
NF P 90-307.
Immersion detector or perimeter alarm.
Remember that the most advanced alarm system is only effective if there is someone there to react to it.

3. Pool Covers
AFNOR standard:
NF P 90-308.
Summer and winter covers are compliant if they are AFNOR approved.
Older covers may not satisfy the recent legislative requirements.

4. Pool Abris
AFNOR standard:
NF P 90-309.
Abris are fixed or telescopic structures which effectively cover a swimming pool
like a greenhouse.
Abris enable a pool to be used year round if heated as it is covered.

Safety product overview

Security barrier
A security barrier can be combined with one (or more) walls of a building or home which borders the area in which the swimming pool is located.
A hedge alone should not be regarded as a suitable protection barrier which must be AFNOR approved so check that your chosen fencing/barrier has this before purchasing.
The protection barrier must prevent children under five years old being able to climb over it, and ensure against the accidental opening of the gate or access point. All barriers must also have a self-closing and self-locking gate as part of their fence which must open outwards. The minimal height of the barrier must be at least 1.1 metres and should be installed a minimum of 1 metre from the water's edge but not so far from the edge of the pool to render it ineffective.
The CSC (Centre de Sécurité des Consommateurs) recommends the installation of a pool safety fence or a barrier as it is the only passive security device as the other approved means of security, alarms, rigid safety covers and shelters (Abris) need to be actively turned on or closed every time that the pool is vacated.

Floating pool alarm
This is a device with remote alarms sounding in the home to alert you to a child falling into the pool. The pool surface, however, must be disturbed enough by the fall so as to set off the alarm. Alarm batteries and the correct functioning need frequent checking to increase the safety margin and effectiveness of this type of device. If this is your choice of protection, be sure the model you purchase has a remote alarm that will sound in the house and a local alarm that will also alert someone near the pool area.

Infrared beam
This alarm is designed to detect motion around the perimeter of the pool. These are designed similar to your burglar alarm systems, if the infer red beam is broken an alarm will be triggered.

Safety fencing
This can be either removable or permanent. Removable pool fencing has the benefit of being able to be removed to enjoy the pool and its surroundings and then put back up afterwards. The bottom border of the fence material should be flush to the deck to prevent a child from passing underneath it.
The basic principle that keeps a pool fence in place is bilateral tension and the fence should be checked periodically.

Self-closing, self-locking gates
Self-closing, self-latching gates are automatic and offer a practical option when there are older children in the home who have unsupervised access to the swimming pool as it does not have to be physically closed or locked by the user. Be sure that a gate is always installed to swing out or away from the pool.

Immersion detector
Immersion detectors are fitted to the edge of the pool with a part of immersed into the swimming pool to detect any movement in the water. This sets off the alarm within the system.

This article is for general information and to provide an overview of swimming pool safety. It is not exhaustive and should not be used as a definitive interpretation of the law. If you have a pool you should ensure that any safety or security product you purchase for your swimming pool conforms to current regulations and has an AFNOR stamp of approval.

Article compiled with Lot Services - www.lot-services.com