National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 15288‑1:2018+A1:2024. It supersedes BS EN 15288‑1:2018, which is withdrawn.

The start and finish of text introduced or altered by amendment is indicated in the text by tags. Tags indicating changes to CEN text carry the number of the CEN amendment. For example, text altered by CEN amendment A1 is indicated by .

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee SW/136/8, Swimming pools and aquatic equipment.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 December 2018.

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 10 September 2018 and includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 14 July 2024.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom.

European foreword

This document (EN 15288‑1:2018+A1:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 136 “Sports, playground and other recreational facilities and equipment”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2025, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by February 2025.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes EN 15288‑1:2018.

This document includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 14 July 2024.

The start and finish of text introduced or altered by amendment is indicated in the text by tags .

In relation to EN 15288‑1:2008+A1:2010 the following main amendments have been made:

introduction has been revised;
scope has been revised by excluding EN 16582 by noting, that National and/or local legislation and instructions may apply;
normative references have been updated;
definition “indoor swimming pools” has been revised;
definition of private use has been deleted;
definition “ramp” has been added;
definition “therapeutic pool” has been revised;
definition “Finnish overflow” has been deleted;
definition “rest ledge” has been revised;
definition “bather” has been revised;
definition “bund” has been added;
definition “reverberation time” has been added;
definition “sound pressure level” has been added;
definition “freeboard” has been added;
classification Type 3 pools has been revised by excluding private use pools;
new clause “Occupancy” has been added;
water depth for the Depth indications where the pool floor profile changes abruptly has been changed;
new clause “safety of barefoot” area has been added by adding requirements for the finish of the wet area and the slip resistance;
requirements for steps and ramps have been revised;
requirements for lighting, illumination and glare prevention have been revised;
acoustic requirements have been revised;
recommendation for a certain number of means of access around the pool basin has been added;
additional requirements for wave pools have been added;
clause “Plant rooms and related equipment” has been revised;
new clause “Pool water distribution effectiveness” has been added to this standard and it has been revised;
Annex A “Dye test” has been moved from EN 15288‑2 to EN 15288‑1 and it has also been revised;
wording aligned with EN 15288‑2;
Bibliography has been updated.

This standard series EN 15288 “Swimming pools for public use” consists of the following parts:

Part 1: Safety requirements for design
Part 2: Safety requirements for operation

Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.

According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

Introduction

Design is a key factor for a safe swimming pool. All of those involved in designing new pools or upgrading existing ones will need to give the highest priority to ensuring that they provide users and staff with a safe facility. Four steps need to be developed in order to achieve this:

the layout of the pool hall (if any) and the pool basin (including its dimensions, profile and any water features) should be designed to make the safe use and supervision of the pool achievable without complex or costly management arrangements;
the layout of the ancillary areas, including changing areas, clothes storage, shower and toilet areas, the plant room and chemical stores should be similarly designed for safe use;
the structural elements, materials, finishes and details, including the pool hall enclosure (if any), pool basin and equipment and the way they are assembled should be the most appropriate to achieving a safe-to-use physical environment;
relevant planning criteria for safe and functionally correct maintenance.

There are specific sources of information from which the technical design and planning standards recommended in the design of swimming pools can be obtained. Those involved in the process of specifying, designing and constructing pools should be familiar with these design and planning standards and should ensure that they are given careful consideration in all pool projects.

It is also important to draw the attention of those involved in the design process to the implications of their work for the pool operator. What might be thought of as a small change in the layout of the pool or in the finishes specified could have a significant impact on the ability of the pool to be used safely. If that change is ill-considered and creates a serious design flaw, the result might be an increase in accidents. More likely, it will be an increase in the cost of operating the pool (perhaps through the employment of additional staff) to compensate for the resulting problems.

One way of anticipating the management consequences of design decisions is to include a qualified/competent pool operational person on the design team. This person should give advice and guidance during the various development stages of the project.

This standard includes requirements, recommendations and notes. While compliance with requirements is mandatory to fulfil this standard, recommendations indicate best practices and notes give additional information and/or explanations.

1 Scope

This document specifies safety requirements relevant to certain aspects of the design and construction of classified pools according to Clause 4. It is intended for those concerned with the design, construction, planning and operation of classified swimming pools. It provides guidance about the risks associated by identifying the design characteristics required for a safe environment.

The requirements of this document are applicable to all new classified pools and, as appropriate, to specific refurbishments of classified existing pools.

This document has limited application to classified pools which consist of segregated areas of rivers, lakes or the sea but this document should be followed where relevant.

National and/or local legislation may apply.

This document is not applicable to domestic swimming pools according to EN 16582 (all parts). Further definitions of domestic swimming pools and/or use are given in EN 16582.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Classification

4.1 Swimming pool type 1

4.2 Swimming pool type 2

4.3 Swimming pool type 3

5 Safety related design factors and requirements

5.1 General

5.2 Occupancy

5.3 Layout

5.4 Public-safety information systems

5.5 Materials

5.6 Safety of barefoot areas

5.7 General areas for bathers

5.8 Specific areas

5.9 Additional requirements for wave pools

5.10 Pool covers

5.11 First aid rooms

5.12 Control points

5.13 Storage rooms/areas for water treatment chemicals

5.14 Plant rooms and related equipment

6 Pool water distribution effectiveness

Bibliography

BS EN 15288-1:2018+A1:2024

Swimming pools for public use - Safety requirements for design

Current

Published:

31 Aug 2024