Swimming Pools in Apartment Buildings

Just doing some research on pools in apartment buildings. What hours is your pool open? Does it close for an hour for lunch/cleaning? Do you have a lifeguard on Duty?

thanks - ours just opened - new building so its the first day and the hours don't work for anyone - apparently there have been lots of complaints so hopefully it will change. Of 80 apartments I haven't seen one kid so really don't think a lifeguard is necessary and closing at 7pm when everyone works is hopeless.

I think if the pool is over a certain size or serves a certain amount of people it has to have a life guard on duty by law. If its small, say shared between 12 houses for example it doesn't need a lifeguard.

Saw the lifeguard today - don't think he'll be saving my life anytime soon. Also a totally boring job - I bet not a single person swims today and as I'm the only person pretty much to use the gym I can't see him being run off his feet.

If you want a really stimulating Saturday night read about swimming pool regulation, you can trawl through this at http://www.legislation.gov.hk

CAP 132BR PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS REGULATION

Just moved into a large building with a beautiful pool - that's never open! Seems the culprit is cheap owners due to this mandatory lifeguard business.


Found something below at that government site. So a pool needs not one but two lifeguards at all times?!


About that waiver bit at the end, anyone know of any large buildings that have managed to get a waiver dispensing with the need for a lifeguard at all?


And an even more ambitious question, if one wanted to try get this legislation changed, what would be the most efficient way of going about it?


This seems like madness to me. Grew up in apartment buildings that never had lifeguards, just signs advising people that they swam at their own risk. And we were kids and we didn't drown. How about a little personal responsbility!


Chapter:

132CA Title: SWIMMING POOLS REGULATION Gazette Number: L.N. 39 of 2005

Section: 12 Heading: Life saving and first aid attendants Version Date: 01/04/2006



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Every licensee of a swimming pool shall cause to be in attendance at the pool, at all times during which such pool is open to bathers, not less than 2 life saving attendants possessing valid certificates of competency in life saving and first aid issued by an association approved by the Director for that purpose and certifying a standard of competency not less than that of a holder of the pool lifeguard award of the Hong Kong Life Saving Society: (L.N. 39 of 2005)

Provided that the Director may upon application modify or waive all or any of the requirements of this section in any particular case. (G.N.A. 119 of 1961)


(78 of 1999 s. 7; 59 of 2000 s. 3)


http://www.legislation.gov.hk/blis_ind.nsf/E1BF50C09A33D3DC482564840019D2F4/5F74BFCF29AC3E1188256489000A1E11?OpenDocument