In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
We are just coming to the end of our pool installation and were told at the outset that the maximum depth had to be 1.4m unless there was a full time pool attendant. I had understood this to have been the case for many years and not new legislation. However, this may be just a regional requirement of Abruzzo, as they seem to be pretty strict on many things relating to public safety.
I can put you in touch with our swimming pool specialists, who I'm sure would be happy to guide you on this.
Russ
P.S. Sergio is a fully qualified bagnino and would have been quite happy attending the pool all day, whilst I did all the work. I suggested to him that I didn't think that would be such a great idea!
[url=http://www.lagrandequercia-abruzzo.com]La Grande Quercia Bed & Breakfast[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Can anyone explain the point of having this regulation for such a shallow pool? It cant be to avoid drowning as you can drown in three inches of water.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
AFAIK 1.4m is deeper than 1.2m which, (again AFAIK) was the deepest you used to be able to have a pool (for rentals) without a full time pool attendant. So, it sounds to me that 'they' have relaxed the regs rather than made them tighter!
Since more cretins damage themselves by diving into shallow pools than drown themselves, I cannot but commend this legislation :bigergrin::bigergrin::bigergrin:
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
JC
In part the reason they don't need to be any deeper is quite simple..... there is no need for them to be so.
[CENTER][URL="http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5825/bagninomb3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://gabrieleantonini.blogspot.com/2008/03/il-bagnino.html&usg=__kLkHT2lcUAlHrmq5gz52e_HmVqk=&h=886&w=456&sz=57&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=EjgKgfDxuedQrM:&tbnh=146&tbnw=75&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbagnino%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff"][IMG]http://tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:EjgKgfDxuedQrM:http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5825/bagninomb3.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/CENTER]
No self respecting Italian male would actually need to get in the pool. Let me explain. In my experience (albeit limited) piscine are built solely as a vehicle for presenting oneself to the local female populace by cutting [I]una bella figura[/I] as one parades around the edges of the pool with a tall drink and the latest D&G mirrored shades. It is vastly more important to strut confidently between potential conquests displaying of course the mandatory packet of fags tucked nonchalantly in ones speedos than it is to actually do any swimming.
[CENTER][URL="http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cs.princeton.edu/academics/ugradpgm/spe/summer02/ssubrama-abilling/lifeguard.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.cs.princeton.edu/academics/ugradpgm/spe/summer02/ssubrama-abilling/spe.html&usg=__yZmZylvjWDHDvQ5k9m2DjMBTwGI=&h=120&w=74&sz=15&hl=en&start=22&um=1&tbnid=WVljrWU8qcv3AM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=54&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlifeguard%2Bgif%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN"][IMG]http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:WVljrWU8qcv3AM:http://www.cs.princeton.edu/academics/ugradpgm/spe/summer02/ssubrama-abilling/lifeguard.gif[/IMG][/URL][/CENTER]
To this end the Italian male not only perpetuates the cult of the bella figura but also contributes significantly to the environmental movement by encouraging the saving of water, which in and of itself should also increase his chances of success in the great game.
[CENTER][URL="http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.miss777.com/faccine/Estate/bagnino.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.miss777.com/faccine/Estate_--_artoff37.htm&usg=__gHLsMUNCN8j2mtZ1aYwhpV1cm98=&h=83&w=83&sz=23&hl=en&start=25&um=1&tbnid=k3Np-9Pczm_mOM:&tbnh=75&tbnw=75&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbagnino%2Bgif%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN"][IMG]http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:k3Np-9Pczm_mOM:http://www.miss777.com/faccine/Estate/bagnino.gif[/IMG][/URL][/CENTER]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
These rules are regional. The one in Lombardy came into effect last year. Yes, it's effectively to prevent drownings and accidents (which has to be the most stupid logic ever). It isn't just for rental properties, it is for communal pools (or at least it is here in Lombardy), i.e. shared pools in residences/holiday complex even if all privately owned and privately used. The rules are not just re. pool height, but also sanitation and various health and safety measures - just a few include obligation for a foot bath, duck diving etc prohibited, no swimming within 3 hours of a meal, legal requirement to take a shower before entering water, pool area must have a gate - I have a document somewhere with a list of all the new requirements (I repeat this is regional, so it may differ or not apply wherever you are) and it runs pages and pages.
Some condominiums I know took the decision to fill in the deep end of the pool, especially where the pool needed some maintenance anyway - taking out the liner and pouring concrete into the deep end, then relining, in order to avoid having to hire a bagnino, which would add a good 7 grand on to the condominium expenses. However, other condominium administrators have found a way around the rules: the rules in Lombardy don't state that the bagnino has to be qualified or full time - in other words, anyone could "ACT" as bagnino while people are in the water. So they have changed the condominium regulations to state that while anyone is in the water, there must be someone at the pool side to "act as" lifeguard. All this essentially means is no solo swimming, and if one person is in the water, at least one other person (responsible adult who can swim) remains at the pool side. What happens if the owners/residents ignore this rule? Well, the administrator and condominium are covered because they have clearly stated the rules, which must be observed by law, the responsibility shifts to the transgressors. It's essentially a liability thing if anything happens (seeing as a lifeguard is not required with depths under 1.4m, it's obviously not a life-saving measure).
Oneto, thanks for the first laugh of the day :-D
PS I repeat, the rules vary from region to region so what I say above may not apply elsewhere. Also, the regulations I read seem to be being interpreted differently by everyone (they are quite ambiguous in places)
PPS if you want to stay on the safe side, I'd say the cheapest option is to fill in the deep end as above.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
thank you very much for this important information. I've informed my masters. The depth of our swimming pool will be strictly observed to remain at 1.2m. The pool is fenced and filled with mineral water.
I have been asking the same question and getting contradictory responses. The consensus is that the laws are not yet in place and there's lots of protest about the proposals, especially about the completely unworkable bagnino requirement. Would be interested to hear more from anyone else struggling with this.