BOC No. 236. Thursday December 1 from 2005 - 1636
I.
GENERAL PROVISIONS - Ministry of Health
1636 - Decree 212/2005, of November 15, approved by
the health regulations for collective use pools of the
Canary Islands.
SUMMARY
The legislation included in Decree 212/2005 may be
summarised as:-
Ø
Local Administration has increased powers to monitor and
inspect the sanitary & hygiene conditions and the
security of swimming pools.
Ø
Management of the regulations requires that the
liability to comply is with the owner(s) of the swimming
pool.
Ø
The regulations will also be used as a framework for
those pools which are currently exempt from it’s scope
and will provide a guideline for the requirements that
are considered to be desirable.
Ø
Communal pools must be included in the Register for
Collective Use Swimming Pools in the Canary Islands.
Ø
The legislation will enable the Ministry responsible for
Health to develop & implement this decree as it sees fit
on the basis of advances as and when they occur, with
the purpose of ensuring water quality & improving
sanitary conditions and security.
There are 45 Articles included in the legislation. The
articles pertaining to pool safety and security have
been summarized as follows:-
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Article 34 – Lifeguards and
Safety Fence Legal Requirements.
·
Communal pool should have a lifeguard present during the
pool’s opening hours.
·
If the pool has different levels, there should be enough
lifeguards to allow all areas of the pool to be visible.
·
Communal pools are exempt from this requirement if they
are:-
1.
located in a non-tourist residential area
2.
located in a complex with less than 40 dwelling units
·
Tourist establishments and complexes are not exempt from
this obligation and tour operators must comply and take
responsibility for any breach under article 44.
*** In all cases where the pool is exempt from the
obligation to have a lifeguard, the pool must be
protected by a lockable fence to ensure that it is
not accessible by unaccompanied minors.
The legal
minimum height requirement for safety fencing around
Communal Swimming Pools is 1.2m
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Article 3 - Scope
The regulations apply to all communal pools except the
following:-
-
Pools for single family use only
-
Hot spring pools
-
Natural pools
-
Hydro rehabilitation pools
Pool areas with more than one type of pool must comply
with the specific regulations applicable to each of
them.
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Article 6 – Showers
·
Around the pool there should be the equivalent of 1
shower for every 30 users and there should be no less
than 2 showers.
·
The water in the showers should be fit for human
consumption.
·
The design of the showers should prevent the formation
of puddles and the passage of water into the swimming
pool.
·
The showers should be clean & in a good state of repair
and should be treated at least once a year with a full
cleaning, descaling and disinfection operation.
·
The showers must drain directly into the sewerage
system.
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Article 7 – Floats & Lifesavers
·
There should be at least one lifeguard float next to
each pool area (except for those classified as
children’s or ‘splash’).
·
They should be visible & accessible and must be equipped
with a cord long enough to allow the float to reach any
point within the pool.
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Article 9 – Changing Rooms &
Toilets
·
Every pool should have separate changing rooms & toilet
facilities for each sex.
·
They should have good ventilation and always be clean
and in a good state of repair.
·
They should have hot & cold water fit for human
consumption and should also have toilet paper, soap
dispensers and towels or hand dryers.
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Article 15 – Classification of
Pools
·
Children’s pools or ‘splash’ pools are intended for
users under the age of six years.
·
They must be independent other pools in terms of both
structure and the system of treatment & disinfection.
·
Their location will be such that children cannot
inadvertently access other pools. They should be no
deeper than 0.4m
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Article 19 – Surrounding Area
·
The area surrounding the pool is considered a ‘bare
feet’ zone and as such, the surface should be continuous
and of a slip resistant & waterproof material to allow
proper cleaning & maintenance.
·
It’s design should prevent the formation of puddles and
the flow of water back into the pool.
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Article 32 – Responsibility
·
The owner of the pool is responsible for the operation,
maintenance & monitoring of the health & safety of the
pool and also for the compliance with the provisions of
these regulations.
·
Their name will be entered in the Register for
Collective Use Pools of the Canary Islands.
·
The existence of external support services does not
relieve the owner of the pool facility from it’s
responsibilities.
B
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Article 36 –
Terms of Use (Pool Rules) and
Required Signage
All communal pools should have signs displaying the Pool
Rules. They should include the following as a minimum:-
-
Children under the age of 6 years must be
accompanied by an adult.
-
Users must shower before swimming.
-
Users must not enter the bathing area wearing
‘street’ clothes or shoes.
-
Users must not drop litter – they should use the
waste bins provided.
-
Pets, other than guide dogs, are prohibited from
being in the pool area.
-
The capacity & operating hours of the pool.
-
The use of glass drinking vessels around the pool is
prohibited.
Other signs which should be displayed in prominent
positions include:-
-
Water depth signs at both ends of the pool and
intermittently, depending on the length of the pool.
-
A warning that suction from the pool filters can be
dangerous.
-
First aid and directions to it.
-
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
-
Toilets and directions to them.
-
The Spanish Emergency Services number.
-
For those pools which are not required to have a
lifeguard, there should be a sign warning users of
this fact.
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Article 45 – Enforcement of
Legislation
·
Swimming pools which do not conform with the regulations
may have operation suspended until such time as the
required repairs/alterations are made.
·
The preventative temporary closure agreement will be
adopted by the authority of the Canary Islands Health
Service and reported to the person concerned and the
relevant municipal authority.
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Further Information
This is a very brief rundown of the laws regarding
Community or Communal pools in the Canary Islands. These
laws are continuously changing and updating. For further
information contact your local authority.
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