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Winter is now behind us. The warmer weather is approaching, and children are increasingly keen to spend longer outdoors. It's time to tidy up the garden and take care of pond safety. Yes, because every homeowner is legally obliged to secure their pool. So how do you secure your pool? What devices are available to comply with the law? And what role can lighting play in safety? Here's the lowdown.
What does the law say?
Under the law that came into force on January 1, 2004, all owners of private in-ground or semi-in-ground swimming pools are required to secure their pools to prevent children from drowning. If you have a swimming pool (unless it's on the ground, inflatable or demountable), you must install a protection system approved by the legislator, i.e. a barrier, a cover, a pool shelter or an alarm. The protection system you choose must be standardized (French standard NF P90-306 to 309). Please note that pool builders are obliged to provide advice on the means available to the buyer to secure the pool.
The different ways of securing pool surrounds
Equipment that must be installed
If you're the proud owner of an in-ground or semi-in-ground swimming pool, you're in luck. You must install one of these 4 pieces of equipment:
- a protective barrier: there are all kinds available today, in steel, PVC or glass, which won't detract from the beauty of your pond;
- an audible alarm that will inform you if a child falls into the water, or a perimeter alarm that will go off if a child approaches the pool;
- a safety cover or tarpaulin to prevent children from falling, while improving the water's thermal performance;
- a veranda-type enclosure that completely covers the pool. Aesthetic but costly, it ensures optimum comfort.
The importance of lighting
Your choice of one of the above-mentioned devices is compulsory, but there are other ways of making pool surrounds safer. Lighting is one of them. Pool lighting has a number of serious advantages. Not only does it enhance the beauty of your pool, it also makes access safer. On long summer evenings, it can be tempting to enjoy the outdoors even after dark. Distinguishing the perimeter of the pool can then become difficult, and the risk of falling can be dangerous. To ensure the safety of children and adults alike, it's essential to define the pool's perimeter.
How can I light up the edges of the pool to ensure safe access?
Recessed spotlights for illuminated signage
There are several solutions for securing the perimeter of your pool. You can opt for pool spotlights that you position at regular intervals around your pool. This way, once night has fallen, the entire perimeter of your pool will be delineated by spotlights, which will also add charm to your garden. For this purpose, Lumihome offers you 12V recessed LED spotlights. Quick to install, they are specially designed to illuminate wet environments. What's more, they give off very little heat, for an ideal level of waterproofing. "Illuminating the edge of a pool requires perfect technical mastery in terms of safetyexplains Christophe Coelho. That's why we use 12V technology and high-quality electronic components, for perfect compatibility with wet environments."
The other advantage of recessed spotlights is that they provide discreet illumination. Don't forget that the purpose of your lighting is to ensure the safety of your guests. Over-aggressive lighting can dazzle and disorientate them, and send them plunging straight into the water. Lighting with recessed spotlights is therefore an excellent choice for illuminating the edges of your pool.
12V LED bollards for pool surrounds
To secure the edges of your pond, you can also opt for a Lumihome 12V LED bollard. As powerful as a conventional bollard, it diffuses a high-quality light to secure your access and protect your children from accidents. And as pool lighting is not always easy to install, Lumihome has created bollards that can be fixed directly to the surface using a simple screwing system. "Supplied with all necessary accessories, Lumihome's 12V bollards will enable you to secure the area around your pool or the paths leading to it with ease, adds Christophe Coelho. Thanks to their Easy-Plug connector, the bollards can be installed quickly, while ensuring perfect watertightness."
Poolside lighting: a reminder of safety standards
The main function of your pool lighting is to define the contours of your pool and keep your guests safe. It would be a shame not to go all the way. After all, poolside lighting isn't a matter of chance! There are safety rules to be observed here too.
You'll need to take into account the zoning and choose the type of luminaire according to the chosen location. Remember that volume 0 corresponds to all the areas inside the pool. Volume 1, on the other hand, corresponds to the area around the edge of the pool and the foot bath. It's this volume that we're interested in for safety purposes. For safety reasons, we advise you to choose fixtures with a protection rating of 65 or higher, which means protection against splashing water. IPX5 is therefore recommended, as is the use of a very low voltage current.
Securing pool surrounds is an obligation. Some devices are compulsory, while others are strongly recommended. This is the case with poolside lighting, which will ensure the safety of your family and friends, while adding an aesthetic touch to your pool. Finally, remember that vigilance is the best way to avoid accidents.
