Does your pool meet safety standards? You have until September 30 to make sure!

Anyone owning a pool 24 feet or more in length, whether in-ground, semi-in-ground, above-ground or inflatable, as well as owners of a spa 2000 liters or more, have until September 30 to ensure that their installation complies with current safety standards.

Provincial regulations cover a number of areas. This week, we'll be looking at access control, i.e. the rules surrounding enclosures (fences). Municipalities are responsible for enforcing these regulations. The Ville de Saint-Lambert has included swimming pools in its Zoning By-law 2024-215 (chapter 5, article 5.7). This by-law is in addition to provincial standards, and includes additional details. You must therefore ensure that your installation complies with both sets of regulations.

Main requirements

All fence models are authorized by the municipality, provided they meet the following requirements:

• Be fixed and have no removable sections (see details below);
• Prevent the passage of a spherical object 10 cm in diameter;
• Be at least 1.2 m high;
• Have no fasteners, projections or openwork that could facilitate climbing;
• Include a door equipped with a passive safety device that closes and locks automatically.

Some fence models seem to be particularly popular with families with young children, notably Child-Safe fences, which offer removable or permanent systems.

Last April, the reference magazine Protégez-vous confirmed that removable fences are permitted, provided they comply with ASTM F2286-16 Standard Design and Performance Specification for Removable Mesh Fencing for Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, and Spa.

This is an international certification required by the Quebec government to ensure the safety of children.

To help you assess the compliance of your pool or spa, the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation has created several self-assessment forms. You can click on this link to access the various forms online: self-evaluation form.