Paragraph 5: Technical and safety guarantees

Technical and safety guarantees for equipment in the establishments mentioned in article D. 322-12, where aquatic, bathing or swimming activities are practised, are governed by this paragraph. They are without prejudice to the provisions relating to public safety and accessibility for disabled people in establishments open to the public.

Any equipment or material requiring special use will have a sign that everyone can understand, specifying the correct way to use it, as well as prohibited uses and areas or precautions for use. This sign should be placed sufficiently far upstream of the circulation circuit to prevent bathers from using it carelessly. Every measure is taken to enable users to appreciate the risks to which they are exposed in relation…

All floors that are accessible barefoot and those of pool floors less than 1.50 metres deep are non-slip but not abrasive. To avoid water stagnation, the slopes of the decking should be between 3% and 5%; floor drains should be sufficient in number and positioned accordingly. Protruding elements such as benches, planters and ducts located at a height of less than 2.50 metres must be designed and protected so that…

The design of the equipment and materials used for aquatic, bathing or swimming activities, and in particular that of their fixings and anchorages, is adapted to the foreseeable use of this equipment.

Each piece of equipment, activity or event has its own protected area. This protective area includes the practice area and, if necessary, a reception area, as well as the traffic areas required by users. The protective areas of two different activities, with the exception of the circulation areas, may not overlap. When the risk of falling is inherent to an activity or when the fall is an integral part of…

The walls and bottom of the pools are light-coloured to enable the supervision and emergency services referred to in article D. 322-16 to be organised. When the turbidity of the water in a pool is such that the bottom is no longer visible, the pool is immediately evacuated.

The minimum and maximum water depths of each pool are indicated in such a way that they are visible from the beaches and pools. Starting blocks may not be installed when the water depth in the diving area is less than 1.80 metres. A paddling pool is a children’s pool with a maximum water depth of 0.40 metres. This maximum water depth is reduced to 0.20 metres at the edge…

In parts of the pool where the depth does not exceed 1.50 metres, the slope of the pool floor does not exceed 0.10 metres per metre. In these areas, the pool does not present a sudden change in depth. The slope of the invert of paddling pools does not exceed 0.05 metres per metre.

The water inlets located in the floor and walls of the pools are designed to prevent bathers from completely blocking them or getting trapped in them. They are fitted with grilles with a locking system that prevents bathers from opening them. This locking system is checked periodically. All openings accessible to bathers are designed to prevent bathers from injuring themselves.

The pools can be exited by means of ladders, stairs or gently sloping inclined surfaces. Stairs leading down to the water can be found at: – or in the beach area. In this case, they are fitted with handrails. The sides of the steps are fitted with a protective barrier; – or inside the pool area. If the staircase is not between two vertical walls, the side ends and nosings…