Since 1st January, 2006, all outside swimming pools either partially or totally below ground level and not enclosed and for both private and public use, must be equipped with a standard safety device for the purpose of preventing drowning accidents, particularly of children less than five years' old. (Law no2003-9 dated 3rd January, 2003 and Decree no2003-1389 dated 31st December, 2003, relating to the safety of swimming pools.)
There are four types of safety equipment corresponding to four standards published in the Official Journal (December 2003). These standards conform to very strict criteria and the safety equipment must pass the National Laboratory of Tests and be approved by the norm AFNOR. However, no safety device will ever replace the vigilance of adults and cannot be 100% infallible.
FENCE
Norme AFNOR NF P 90 306.
The fence should be situated at least 1 m. from the basin and
constitutes a physical barrier between the child and the pool,
provided the access gate is always closed. The height must be
1 m22. The transparency of the woven fence means it can be
easily monitored and it merges with the surroundings. There is
no means ct climb over the fence and it requires two
simultaneous operations to open the gate
ALARMS
Norme AFNOR NF P 90 307.
These alarms detect a child falling into the pool. They are
based on detecting this movement of water by an integrated or
off-site siren and are positioned either on the edge of the
pool or built directly into the side wall of the pool. Another
form of alarm is based on peripheral detection by infra-red
beams which sound an alarm before the child actually reaches
the pool. Immersion alarms cannot operate if the level of
water in the pool drops too Law, i.e. in winter.
COVERS
Automatic roller covers, covers with bars, safety covers... They prevent children falling into the pool accidentally. Usable all the year round.
SHELTER
Once the shelter is totally closed, the pool is no longer accessible to children. It becomes an internal swimming pool in an external environment, means the temperature of the water and air is maintained. It is usable all year round and saves on pool products.
