Aqualie 2009

Sustainable development

With many of the pools built in France under the “1000 swimming pools” programme currently being renovated or rebuilt, the environmental dimension cannot be ignored when considering technical and financial options: What are local authorities’ responsibilities in terms of sustainable development?
Although the concept of green building is now well known and established, it can be taken further than just the structure itself.

With the participation of institutional specialists who will provide practical, pertinent answers to the questions raised by delegates.

Renovating versus building anew

With users increasing in number and becoming more exacting, local authorities are facing a dilemma: should they renovate or build anew?
How can they best meet the users’ needs while controlling spending?
What is the most economical option?
What geographic, demographic and historical constraints must they take into consideration?
To what kind of schedule?
And on what timescale?
And lastly, how should they promote this kind of project among local residents, present or future customers, and the teams of technicians and activity leaders?

Didier CHANAL – CERTU

Managing pool maintenance

Which techniques should be chosen in order to make savings?
Is it possible to produce energy, and how can consumables be limited, given that some of them have uncertain environmental impacts?
How can water consumption be controlled, effluent be better managed and water treatment chemicals and surface cleaning products be used more rationally?
One possible answer is introducing traceability for repairs and maintenance, as defined by the French standard 15288 introduced in October 2008.

Accessibility and circulation

Following publication in France of the decree of 17 May 2006 relating to public building accessibility, the principle of inclusive access has been added to the existing legislation. It aims to enable “everyone, irrespective of handicap (physical, sensory, mental, psychic or cognitive), to carry out everyday activities and contribute to society”. All France’s public buildings will have to be adapted within the next eight years.
What are the existing constraints and how should the compulsory assessment be conducted?
What solutions are institutional bodies and industrial firms proposing?
Should specific activities be proposed?

Which leaders for which activities?

As a direct consequence of the law of 24 May 1951, the creation of the lifeguard’s diploma and qualification and, more recently, of the BEESAN swimming teacher’s qualification have professionalized the role of the lifeguard, and set down the associated employment framework and conditions.
During the transition period, training courses preparing candidates for the BEESAN are still being dispensed and coexist alongside the new training courses for the BP JEPS (vocational degree in youth, popular education and sport). Will supervision, activities, teaching and training continue to be carried out by multi-skilled personnel? What possibilities do employers have for contributing to training course contents?
A successful water sports complex is one that lives only for its activities: once the skills expected of personnel have been defined, what new activities can (or should) public pools offer occasionally or regularly?

Risk prevention

French standard 15288 of October 2008 defines a number of design and safety requirements: assessment of risks for users, strengthened swimming pool supervision and safety plans, etc.
Since 2001 the “Single Document” has also been a valuable tool for preventing risks and occupational diseases.
This twofold approach focusing on both pool users and pool personnel will be the starting point for this discussion of safety and risk prevention: what are the responsibilities and duties of the employer, employee and customer? How should premises be designed to maximise safety?

With the participation of risk prevention specialists, equipment manufacturers, facility managers, etc.