NEW RULES FOR SWIMMING POOL SAFETY

A new French law has been announced that calls for increased security to swimming pools on French property and requires the swimming pool owners to install special security systems. The law, which was announced on 3 January 2003 and will come into effect on 1 January 2004, has been introduced following the alarming increase of drowning cases, in particular of young children.

The law will only apply to those swimming pools that are buried in the ground and are not enclosed within a building. They will affect both pools used for a collective and a private individual use. Any swimming pool failing within these criteria will need to have a specific security system installed, in accordance with norms to be decided in the coming months.

Owners of an existing pool that is kept for their private use will have until 1 January 2006 to have an approved system installed. However, in cases where the pool is with a property let on seasonal short-term lettings, the deadline is shortened to 1 January 2004.

For all new swimming pools built after 1 January 2004 the constructor must give the owner a technical note indicating the method of security adopted. Owners face a fine of up to €45,000 if they fail to comply with the new rules. Although the precise details of the kind of security measures the law will enforce have yet to be decided, it appears that the systems will probably be varied and will comprise notably security fences, a secure access gate or a rolling type of shutter over the pool.

Dawn Alderson is a Partner in Russell-Cooke's french department.

This article first appeared in Living France magazine.