SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Transcription

1 ISBN Any reference to SABS 0134 is deemed to be a reference to this standard (Government Notice No of 8 November 2002) SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD The safeness of private swimming pools Published by Standards South Africa 1 dr lategan road groenkloof private bag x191 pretoria 0001 tel: fax: international code Standards South Africa

2 Table of changes Change No. Date Scope Amdt Amended to delete a portion of the text that is duplicated in a standard specification (SABS 1390:1983, Steel fencing for private swimming pools). Amdt Amended to change the designation of SABS standards to SANS standards, to update the definition of "acceptable" and to correct a cross reference. Foreword This South African standard was approved by National Committee StanSA TC , Construction standards, in accordance with procedures of Standards South Africa, in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement. This document was published in January This document supersedes SABS 0134:1977 (edition 1). A vertical line in the margin shows where the text has been technically modified by amendment Nos 1 and 2. Preface In 1972 the United Municipal Executive of South Africa decided, in the interests of national safety, to request the South African Bureau of Standards to prepare a code of practice for the safeness of swimming pools on private premises. The past decade has seen a considerable increase in the number of swimming pools provided for private families and, consequently, it is increasingly difficult to prevent children from using these pools in the absence of adult supervision. Inevitably the number of accidental drownings among children is increasing and the need for high standards of protection in respect of private swimming pools is therefore clearly indicated. However, all protective measures are in themselves insufficient and may indeed be a potential danger rather than a safety measure if those responsible for protection are poorly informed. Protection, in the broadest sense, embraces responsibility for the use and maintenance of equipment and also for the exercising of certain essential precautions. A section relating to these responsibilities is therefore included in the code of practice and it is recommended that local authorities or manufacturers inform prospective pool owners of the provisions of this section by attaching a copy of this code to plans when these are returned to the owners.

3 Contents Page Foreword Preface 1 Scope Definitions Responsibilities for the provision of protection Principles and methods of protection Planning the protection Recommendations for enclosures Recommendations for additional protection Installation of protective devices... 8 Appendix A Applicable standards Amdt 1 1

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5 The safeness of private swimming pools 1 Scope 1.1 This code of practice lays down responsibilities, principles, methods, and planning techniques for the protection of children from the hazards of swimming pools situated on private premises, and makes recommendations for the design and installation of typical protective devices that are intended to prevent a child from gaining unauthorized access to a swimming pool. 1.2 Safety measures such as life-jackets for keeping children afloat are not covered by this code. NOTE In cases where a swimming pool is in an area controlled by a local authority that has issued regulations governing the safeness of swimming pools, this code must be read in conjunction with those regulations and where any conflict arises between such regulations and this code, the provisions of the regulations shall prevail. 2 Definitions 2.1 For the purposes of this code of practice the following definitions shall apply: acceptable acceptable to the authority administering this standard, or to the parties concluding the purchase contract, as relevant Amdt 2 boundary a wall or a fence that defines the extent of the premises on which a swimming pool is situated child a child under the age of five years enclosure a protective device, in the form of a wall or a fence, that completely surrounds a swimming pool ground level the level of the ground or other surface immediately adjacent to a fencing post or the base of a wall local authority a city council or a town council that is responsible for the administration of by-laws relating to the safeness of private swimming pools manufacturer a company or person that manufactures, builds, or installs a device or devices to prevent children from gaining unauthorized access to a swimming pool area 3