more about pool safety

[Krill]

I have just received this as a forward and thought it may be of interest
FROM STEPHEN BALLHAM, LETTING PROPERTY OWNER
>
> This message is of concern to all owners of letting properties. It deals
with information concerning swimming pools, however if you do not have a
pool we urge you read about and understand the issues which are outlined
here. The French holiday industry is going through difficult times this
season at the hands of the French government, and things are only getting
worse.
>
> Swimming pool owners have a deadline of May 1 to conform to the law's
requirements with regard to swimming pool safety. Unfortunately the agreed
standards by which pool safety products were to be tested are now under
review. The implications of this are as follows:
>
> 1 AFNOR has determined that there were areas lacking in testing
procedurers and therefore tests additional to the ones already performed
will need to be carried out.
> 2 No person can purchase a safety device conforming to current norms
prior to the final issue of the AFNOR norms with confidence. This includes
swimming pool alarms.
> 3 All safety devices purchased to date will have to comply with the
revised standards, when these are published. In the event that those
devices, if any, do not conform with the revised norms they will be
inappropriate within the law. A device which conforms to current standards
but which is then subject to a revised standard will not comply.
> 4 This information was obtained by telephone from the AFNOR help desk in
the French language and has been tape recorded.
> 5. A transcript of the conversation is posted within the France
Interactive Forum.
>
> Properties in joint ownership whatever the date of publication of the
revised norms will not be able to comply, in some cases until the end of the
season, because their terms of association dictate competitive tenders are
provided prior to any purchase being made. This means that many
holidaymakers will arrive this year to a pool which it is forbidden to use.
>
> There is no guarantee when the revised norms will be published, however it
is certain that no person will be able to comply with the law by 1st May.
>
> This government, which proposes to impose Draconian fines, or even
imprisonment, on those who do not comply, cannot deliver its own programme
on time. Very simply this means:
>
> 1. A lot of worry, additional cost and inconvenience on our part.
>
> 2. Certain damage to our private businesses.
>
> 3. Certain damage to the French tourist industry in general, and not just
for this season.
>
> This shambles is neither of our wishing or our making. We now invite
everyone to vote for a postponement of the May 1st date to 30th September
2004. We are also going to the press.
>
> To vote for a deferment click here http://www.over2france.com/vote.htm.
Your decision will be conveyed to the French government. It is in your
personal interest to vote and to pass on this message to people you know.
Failure to act now will only see a deterioration in this situation.
>
> Should you wish to make a personal representation to the government for a
postponement of the May 1 deadline until September 30th, please write to
M.Le Premier Ministre, Htel de Matignon, 57 rue de Varenne, 75700 Paris or
send an electronic mail to
http://www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr/fr/p.cfm?ref=6959 You can write in
English should you wish.
>

[Existential2]

Dear Krill

Thanks for passing on the information.

Just to make matters even more confusing (were that possible ...) the April 2004 edition of French News carries a piece in its Citizens' Advice column (page 11) that includes :

"AFNOR informs me it is extremely unlikely that any product which currently conforms will not conform in the revision. Until the revision is official, any device installed now must conform to the current standards. YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO CHANGE DEVICES ONCE THE REVISION IS FINALISED"

So now that's all clear isn't it ???

If both accounts are accurate AFNOR seem to have the left hand/right hand problem !!

Any one have any other info on the revisions ?

Best wishes

Jean-Paul

[Chauffour]

>> Should you wish to make a personal representation to the government for a
>postponement of the May 1 deadline
>until September 30th, please write
>to
>M.Le Premier Ministre, Htel de Matignon,
>57 rue de Varenne, 75700
>Paris or
>send an electronic mail to
>http://www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr/fr/p.cfm?ref=6959 You can write
>in
>English should you wish.
>>

a suggestion: why don't you prepare a sample of the letter, so that we can all copy it and send it to the minister?

Massimo

Chauffour gites
http://www.chauffour.com

[giles]

Aaaaaaghhhhhhh! Just when I thought things were settled and had got used to the idea of parting with over 2500 Euros for an approved fence....now the goal-posts are to be moved??????

A tongue in cheek solution occurs to me. If your pool does not comply, why not just put up a No Swimming notice (as you now have to do with a garden pond, stream etc,) then ignore people who take no notice of the instruction. Would this be a legal cover? I bet not!

Giles