Swimming pool safety
Legal basis
- One law
- Two decrees
- Four standards
Law n°2003-9 O. J. of 03/01/2003
Building and Housing Code:
Section II, Volume 1, Ch. VIII: Pool safety
Main provisions.
As of 01/01/2004:
- Inground or semi-inground open-air pools, for private or public use, must be fitted with a standardised safety device designed to prevent the risk of drowning.
- The builder or installer of such a pool must provide the owner with a technical specification note, the form of which is defined by the regulations and which must indicate the standardised safety device which has been selected.
- Pools prior to 01/01/2004 must comply as of 01/01/2006. In the case of rented properties, pools must be made safe as of 01/05/2004.
Two implementation decrees
Decree n° 2003-1389, of 31/12/2003, O.J. n° 11 of 01/01/2003, page 89. Ref: NOR EQUU 03017520.
Decree n° 2004-499, of 07/06/2004, O.J. n° 131 of 08/06/2004,
Page 10127. Ref: NOR SOCU 0410833D.
Four standards were published in January 2003 by Afnor, which were revised in May 2004.
- Standard NF P 90-306: Protection by means of fences.
- Standard NF P 90-307: Protection by means of alarms.
- Standard NF P 90-308: Protection by means of covers.
- Standard NF P 90-309: Protection by means of shelters.
These standards only apply to inground or semi-inground swimming pools, located outdoors, belonging to private individuals, for private or public use (family home, apartment building, leisure or holiday club, hotel, campsite, etc.)
They do not apply to above-ground, inflatable and removable pools, pools inside buildings and public swimming baths.