Extracts from Standard NF P90 306
NF P90-306 (octobre 2007) Elments de protection pour piscines enterres non closes privatives usage
individuel ou collectif - Barrires de protection et moyens d'accs au bassin - Exigences de scurit et mthodes
d'essai
These extracts are for your general information; they are not a definitive interpretation of the law and
should not be regarded as such.
The standard decided by the French Government and regulated by AFNOR is defined as NF P90 306 .
This requires a standard means of security for every pool that is constructed in 2004 and covers all
pools by 1st January 2006.
It is essential that all property owners understand that if their property is available for rent then ALL
pools must have a security device in place by 1st January 2004 (This deadline has been extended to
1st May 2004)
The law is enforced by a fine of up to 45,000.
To read the law (in French) click here.
The CSC (Centre de scurit des consommateurs) recommends the installation of a pool safety fence
or barrier as it is the only passive security device. All the other approved means of security; alarms,
rigid safety covers, shelters(abris) need to be actively turned on or physically closed every time the
pool is vacated (even for a few minutes) and as such should be seen as supplementary to a physical
barrier.
The standard NF P90 306 defines the requirements for the installation of pool safety fencing and the
means of access to pools (partially or completely buried in the ground or above ground) which is
intended to limit the access to swimming pools to children of less than five years old.
Remember that no barrier is ever foolproof and nothing can replace the vigilance of a parent.
DEFINITIONS
Protection Barrier and means of access
A material device conceived to be established around a swimming pool in order to prevent the access
of children of less than five years to this swimming pool.
The protection barrier can be combined with one (or more) wall(s) of buildings, or dwellings, bordering
the zone in which the swimming pool is located insofar as these walls do not allow an access to the
swimming pool by their height or their own openings.
NOTE: a hedge alone is cannot be regarded as a protection barrier.
Family private swimming pool
Swimming pools reserved for the personal use of a family
Swimming pool of collective use - including Rental properties
Any swimming pool which is not for private family use is considered to be of public or collective use
NF P90 306 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
The protection barrier must be built in order to prevent the passage of children of less than five years
old by striding over, climbing or accidental opening of the means of access. The protection barrier
should not harm a child attempting to cross it; the risk of cuts and puncture wounds, or the means of
access jamming, must be avoided. To allow older users to cross the barrier without risk, the protection
barrier must comprise a means of access which cannot be opened by children of less than five years
of age and must be without danger to all users, whether they are adults or children.
The minimal height of the barrier must be at least 1.1m
The minimal height between two fixing points must always be equal to or higher than 1,10 m.
Means of Access
The protection barriers must have a means of access to the pool area which is childproof
Pools for private family use
The access to the pool must be closed with locking latches (which require two simultaneous actions to
open them or an automatic locking system
Pools for collective use including rental properties
The access to pool area must be by the use of a self-closing self locking gate.
The gate must open outwards from the swimming pool.
To prevent the accidental opening of the gate by a child of less than five years the unlocking system
should necessitate a minimum force of 20N
The unlocking system must be simple for an adult to operate.
Fixing to the ground
The method of fixing to the ground should ensure that the barrier is unable to move more than 10mm
from the fixing post.
The barriers should be installed a minimum of 1m from the water's edge and not so far from the edge
of the pool to render them ineffective.
The above is for your general information. It should not be used as a definitive interpretation of the law
in any way. You should ensure that any security product you purchase for your swimming pool
conforms to NF P90-306 or any of the other three standards ratified in May 2004
Depuis le 1er janvier 2006, toutes les piscines usage collectif et priv doivent faire lobjet dune protection
normalise afin de prvenir les risques de noyade des jeunes enfants. En tant que systme de protection, les
barrires de piscine et portillons doivent satisfaire aux dispositions de la norme NFP EN 90-306.
La barrire
La barrire de piscine peut tre combine un (ou des) mur(s) de btiments, d'habitation ou de clture
dlimitant la zone dans laquelle est situe la piscine dans la mesure o ces murs ne permettent pas un accs la
piscine par leur hauteur ou leurs propres ouvertures.
Limplantation de la barrire doit tre installe le plus prs possible du bassin tout en conservant une distance
minimale de scurit de 1 mtre. Linstallation peut se faire au del de 1 mtre dans la mesure o la barrire
remplit toujours son rle initial.
La hauteur fixe par la norme est de 1,10 m, prise d'un point d'appui du pied au sommet de la barrire. Elle
empche ainsi le passage d'enfants de moins de cinq ans par enjambement/escalade.
La barrire de protection et son moyen d'accs ne doivent pas blesser les enfants qui chercheraient les
franchir. Les risques de coincement doivent tre vits. La garde au sol de la barrire de protection (et du moyen
d'accs) doit tre infrieure 25 mm ou comprise entre 45 mm et 102 mm. La distance entre les barreaux doit
tre infrieure 102 mm.
La fixation de la barrire doit garantir la tenue larrachement. Elle seffectue au moyen de platines visser ou
bien par scellement (obligatoire pour les piscines usage collectif).
le portillon
Le moyen d'accs peut tre pivotant ou coulissant verticalement ou latralement, ou tournant, ou enroulement.
Lorsqu'il est pivotant, l'ouverture doit se faire vers l'extrieur de la piscine.
Le moyen d'accs doit tre fermeture et verrouillage manuels ou automatiques. Dans le cas d'une fermeture
automatique, le verrouillage doit tre automatique (obligatoire pour les piscines usage collectif).
Pour prvenir le risque de dverrouillage par les enfants de moins de cinq ans ou un dverrouillage non
intentionnel, le systme de dverrouillage doit ncessiter au moins une action manuelle d'une force de 20 N
minimum pour tre libr. Le systme douverture propos par AFP ncessite deux actions conscutives pour
tre dverrouill, la seconde tape tant indpendante de la premire qui est ralise et maintenue.
Le non-respect des dispositions relatives la scurit des piscines est puni de 45 000 d'amende.
