Standards for municipal swimming pools

All establishments that welcome the public are faced with problems that can have more or less serious consequences. Indeed, welcoming the public in complete safety is a responsibility that they take on every day. Keeping passers-by safe and comfortable is therefore a major challenge.

NeoSol, your expert in floor coverings for ERP, explains why municipal swimming pools must comply with the nomes relating to floor humidity.

Municipal swimming pools: an ERP at risk

As part of the category of establishments open to the public, municipal swimming pools are high-risk facilities. In fact, public swimming pools are required to comply with hygiene and safety protocols and standards. In this humid environment, it's essential to ensure the continuous cleanliness of changing rooms, showers, pools and floors, in order to protect the health of visitors. That's why knowing the different standards associated with public swimming pools will enable you to put in place collective measures to guarantee the safety of the elderly, adults, children, people with reduced mobility and staff.

Standards to be respected

Municipal swimming pools are category X establishments in the ERP classification, i.e. they are classified as wet environments such as saunas or nautical centers. Swimming pools are high-risk establishments, as they can lead to serious accidents due to slippery floors and to the proliferation of bacteria, which can lead to microbiological risks. That's why it's imperative to comply with the standards applicable to community pools.

First and foremost, public pools are required to post documents that can be consulted by passers-by at any time. These official documents provide information on health and safety at the facility, as well as the rules to be observed. You can consult the following documents:

- internal regulations ,

- an evacuation plan,

- a surveillance and rescue organization plan: the POSS governed by articles D322-16, A322-12 to A322-17, appendix III-10 of the French Sports Code, decree of Sept. 14, 2004.

- instructions to be followed in pools, showers and changing rooms,

- type of clothing authorized for swimming,

- authorized and non-authorized objects,

- instructions for keeping common areas clean.

There's also a French standard established in 2005 that deals with slippery floors. Thisis standard XP P 05-011, which defines the adherence of floors in swimming pools. Swimmers walk from the changing rooms to the pool barefoot, in constant contact with damp or stagnant water. The installation of collective protection measures such as flooring is designed to prevent slips and falls.

What solutions need to be put in place?

In accordance with the XP P 05-011 standard, it is essential to provide suitable solutions for slippery floors. Professional floor mats are available to reduce the risk of falls and prevent the formation of bacteria. These mats have been specially designed for wet areas such as pool exits, toilets and changing rooms, and for soapy areas such as showers. This professional floor covering complies perfectly with the standard regulations, as it is slip-resistant and has an antibacterial treatment.

Here are the different mats you can install in your municipal pools:

- Anti-slip, anti-bacterial grating.

- Anti-slip matting in a transverse wave pattern that drains water more easily.

- Hygienic matting for wet environments. Ideal for corridors linking one area to another.

- Floor tilefor showers or changing rooms.

Anti-slip adhesive is another effective solution for securing floors. This protective equipment comes in the form of wide strips that can be placed over high-risk areas. Easy to apply and remove, these adhesive strips are highly resistant to water, reducing the risk of falls by passers-by.

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