Hi, Please see below:
www.afnor.fr
Pool Security Laws as I see it.
The Pool Security law, was bought in force to try and protect young children up to the age of 6 from drowning in private swimming pools, it applies to all in ground or partially in ground swimming pools and has been implemented in 3 stages.
Stage 1: May 2004, all swimming pools used in conjunction with a rental property must have pool security.
Stage 2: January 2005, all new swimming pools must be fitted with a security device from the moment they are filled with water.
Stage 3: January 2006, all swimming pools must have a security device fitted.
Sanctions for not complying with the law can include up to a 40,000€ fine, but in the event of a fatality in a non complying pool the owner is potentially guilty of manslaughter regardless of circumstances. It is solely the pool owners responsibility to ensure that not only is a security device fitted, but also that it is functioning properly at all times.
Four types of security advice are included in the law.
1. Security cover, like a roller blind that rolls across the pool manually or electrically and when closed forms a solid barrier to prevent anyone falling in the water.
Pros: When closed, these devices render your pool completely safe. They also double as a thermal cover so will keep the pool warmer and you have no worries about winterisation.
Cons: Once you open the cover the clock is ticking and your pool is unprotected, from that point until you close it, anytime the pool is left unattended, even for a moment, technically you are breaching the law and in the result of an accident might be in the same situation as an unprotected pool. Also expensive to install and impossible for odd shaped pools.
2. Conservatory type pool house; comes in various forms, allows the pool to be used with the cover in place or opened during better weather.
Pros: All the pros of a roller cover but allows you to swim and still keep your pool security in place.
Cons: Like a roller cover once open your pool is unprotected and technically should not be left unattended. Will probably cost you more than the swimming pool.
3. Pool Alarm; comes in two different forms, either;
a: In pool Alarm, these have a sensor that registers when anything larger than a small ball enters the water and sounds an alarm either poolside or remotely at the house.
Pros: Relatively cheap. Quick and easy to install without spoiling the pool environment. Gives a positive indication of a potential accident in progress.
Cons: Can be difficult to set up and have proved technically unreliable, batteries can go flat with no warning. Regular false alarms given. You will also need a complying winter cover to remain legal all year round. Requires two alarms for larger pools(10x5m plus) and will not work in pools with a beach or vanishing edge
b: Perimeter Alarm, these are a number of posts that you place around your pool. A laser and a system of mirrors creates an invisible fence, that sound an alarm if the beam is broken.
Pros: Quick and easy to install without spoiling the pool environment. Gives a positive indication of a potential accident in progress.
Cons: Still quite expensive, pet owners will really needs a normal fence as well otherwise animals will constantly set off the alarm.
4. Fence/wall and child proof Gate(self closing for rental property). Various types available, either metal, UPVC or nylon mesh, the latter is getting quite cheap now (although dubious quality means it will need replacing quite quickly).
Pros: Offers a permanent solid barrier all year round for your pool. A wall, with a complying gate, is the one legal DIY option open to you.
cons: Expensive and can be unsightly, spoils the view etc. It has also been said, but not proved or substantiated, that physical barriers breed complacency and consequent lack of parental vigilance, ultimately resulting in more accidents. Natural materials such as wood are not allowed and you may not grow anything on or near a pool fence.
Whichever, security device you choose it must carry the relevant certificate of conformity to prove it complies; the only exception to this is in relation to walls which may form some or all of the pool enclosure, as long as they are flat, vertical and a minimum 1.1m high.
A hedge, however mature is not acceptable and wood is effectively ruled out as it is required to be completely free of knots.
Existing winter pool covers do not comply and do not work correctly in conjunction with an alarm.
Openings directly from a house including windows, if forming part of a complying pool enclosure must also comply and have childproof latches or bars.
A pool enclosure must be a minimum of 1m from the pool and must be reasonably close to the pool, consider that every part of the pool should be visible from every position inside the enclosure. It is not acceptable to have the entire boundary of a property used as the enclosure, although a part of it could be used, assuming it complies.
Well that’s about it, expert opinion is divided on the best option, but they all agree that several layers/combinations of security is best and that nothing is a substitute for parental vigilance.
The standards are NF P 90-306 for fences. 307 for Alarms 308 for covers 309 for Abris.
, we fired up the pool alarm (new last year) and after a day of trying everything, finally concluded that it wasn't going to play ball. In the short term I think we're going to have to pay out for yet another one to get us through the next few weeks if nothing else. But longterm I feel we'd be better off with a fence encircling the pool deck.
, I have bought her spare pool alarm and it's working fine. 
