Safety Regulations for Swimming Pools
Category Property News
Safety Regulations for Swimming Pools
Swimming pools are deemed to be a safety risk and therefore there are strict regulations that swimming pool owners need to be aware of and adhere to.
According to South African National Standard Part D, the owners of any site which contains a swimming pool shall ensure that access to such swimming pool is controlled, and failure to comply is deemed an offence.
Requirements that must be met according to SANS 10400-D:
- A wall or fence shall be provided by the owner of a site which contains a swimming pool or a swimming bath to ensure that no person can have access to such pool or bath from any street or public place or any adjoining site other than through.
- a self-closing and self-latching gate with provision for locking in such wall or fence, or
- a building where such building forms part of such wall or fence.
- A wall or fence shall be provided in any interconnected complex which contains a swimming pool or swimming bath to ensure that no person can have access to such pool or bath from and street or public place or anywhere within the complex other than through a self-closing and self-latching gate with provision for locking in such wall or fence.
- Such wall or fence and any such gate therein shall be not less than 1,2 m high measured from the ground level and shall not contain any opening that will permit the passage of a 100 mm diameter ball.
- The constructional requirements of any steel fence or gate shall comply with the requirements in SANS 1390.
Additional safety measures such as pool nets and covers as well as warning devices are provided in SANS 10134. The Standards Bureau is in the final stages of updating these regulations. It will become a requirement that every pool which holds more that 30cm of water, must have a child proof safety net or cover, that is professionally installed, and will hold the weight of an adult safely.
Author: Helen Ward