Swimming pool owners in France warned over unsafe covers

As temperatures begin to drop, swimming pool owners across France may be preparing to cover their pools for winter. 

But there is more to covering a pool than simply protecting it from the elements. 

French law requires pool covers to adhere to safety standards because of the risk of drowning or injury. 

According to Santé publique France, of the 409 drowning deaths recorded between June 1 and September 30, 2025, 53 took place in private family swimming pools, with 12 of them involving minors.

Four regions – Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes – accounted for 59% of all drownings.

Santé publique France noted that these regions contain a large proportion of France's private family swimming pools. Meanwhile, France in general remains the largest market in Europe for swimming pools.

French law requires privately owned, buried pools that are not enclosed within a building to have at least one approved safety device to help prevent drownings.

The four types of accepted safety devices are: a barrier; an alarm; a pool enclosure; or a safety cover. 

What makes a cover compliant?

For a pool cover to be compliant, it must prevent children under five from going underwater, withstand an adult crossing over it and not cause injury.

This means, for example, that a standard bubble cover does not necessarily meet legal requirements.

This is because bubble covers are designed to help retain heat and reduce evaporation but are not always able to support the weight of a person or prevent a child from falling into the water.

Owners should therefore check that their cover is specifically designed and certified as a pool-safety device. The French standard associated with safety covers is NF P90-308.

The Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF), however, said that safety equipment does not replace constant adult supervision of children around a pool.

Above-ground pools are different

The specific pool safety requirements do not apply to above-ground, inflatable or dismantlable pools.

However, the government still warns of the risks they pose, particularly to young children.

The DGCCRF advises that children using above-ground pools should be constantly supervised by an adult who can intervene quickly in an emergency.

Owners who fail to meet the pool safety requirements can face a fine of up to €45,000. The rules apply throughout the year, not only during the swimming season. 

For more information on planning permission, taxes and other rules for above-ground pools in France, read our article here.