Millions of private swimming pools exist across France, used to help owners cool off in the summer heat.
There are, however, safety rules that apply to these pool installations, which have been in place since 2003.
Property owners that do not adhere to them could face serious fines - but also be responsible for a serious accident.
These safety rules apply to all private or collectively-owned permanent swimming pools (that is, in-ground pools).
They do not apply to inflatable, deconstructible, or ground-mounted (posées sur le sol) pools, and community pools not owned by a private individual or a group of individuals have their own specific public safety requirements.
What are safety features required?
Pools need to have at least one of the following four safety features installed:
These installations can be installed by yourself or by a tradesperson.
It may be beneficial to hire someone to carry out the work, as there are a set of specific rules each type of feature must adhere to, which will be known to professionals.
They must also provide you with information on operating and maintaining the feature you choose, as well as tips on how to reduce the general risk of drowning in your pool.
However, products you can purchase to install yourself will also inform you on their packaging if they comply with the specific safety guidelines required.
Read more: Small swimming pools make a splash in France
Protective barrier
The barrier must be able to prevent a child aged five or under from accessing the pool without assistance from an adult.
It must also be able to resist attempts to damage it from a child of this age, and have a lock somewhere.
Technically, this barrier could be something such as a garden fence or wall, however it has to be within one metre of the swimming pool itself – and surround the pool entirely – so usually requires a separate installation.
The cost depends on the size of your swimming pool, but barriers can be purchased from DIY shops as well as specialist stores, and can start from around €130.
It must adhere to Afnor (Association française de normalisation) safety guidelines NF P90-306 to count as an acceptable device.
Alarm system
Alarms must include a sensor, and are usually placed inside the pool.
It must not be able to be activated or deactivated by a child under the age of five.
In addition, it must be able to detect the presence of a child under the age of five by or in the pool using its sensor, and go off if this occurs.
It must not go off unexpectedly, as the warnings are only meant for emergency situations.
These are less invasive of space than pool barriers, but are more expensive, starting at around €200.
An alarm must adhere to Afnor safety guidelines NF P90-307.
Pool cover
A pool cover must be able to prevent a child under the age of five from entering the pool by accident (‘unintentional immersion’).
It must also be able to withstand the pressure of an adult stepping on it without causing injury to the person.
It must adhere to Afnor guidelines NF P90-308.
Cheaper covers exist, starting from around €30, but these may not fully adhere to the safety guidelines required, and are not to be confused with simple covers used for pools over the winter period.
Shelter
The shelter must be able to prevent access to the pool to a child under the age of five, and must also avoid the risk of injury to those who interact with it when it is up
It must conform to Afnor guidelines NF P90-309.
Shelters are the most expensive of the safety features, as they require a full-blown installation, but provide a series of other benefits.
Costs starts from around €2,000, however cheaper versions that ‘roll’ over the pool when not in use (as opposed to permanent structures) exist and may be slightly cheaper.
Read more: Do I need permission to install a shelter for my outdoor French pool?
What happens if I do not install a safety device?
Those who do not install any of the safety devices – or install a device that does not conform to the required guidelines – risk a fine of €45,000.
Pool owners are liable to this fine if a person ‘drowns’ in their pool – however note that in France drowning does not necessarily result in death, but to a serious accident in the water.
Out of more than 1,300 cases of ‘drowning’ in the summer of 2023, 39 drowning deaths were recorded in private pools in France.
Some people are concerned that the use of AI by local government and tax authorities to catch undeclared swimming pools will also be used to check for safety features.
However, this is not the case.
Read more: Above-ground swimming pools in France: rules, prices, installation
