How do you make an overflow pool safe?
Installing an overflow pool in your home means choosing to benefit from a high-end and particularly attractive swimming pool. This model of pool creates the impression of swimming between the land and sky. To fully enjoy your overflow pool and prevent accidents, you must nevertheless do everything necessary to ensure optimum safety for users. Here is everything you need to know to properly secure this type of pool.
What is an overflow pool?
The particularity of overflow pools is that they are designed so that the water flows over the edges of one or more sides of the pool. Thus, there is no coping or skimmer on these sides. A trough or buffer tank is installed below to collect the water. The pool water is then sent back to the pool via an overflow pump and an optimised filtration system, passing via the bottom drain and return nozzles.
There are several different types of overflow pools:
- The partial overflow pool: the water overflows on one or two sides of the pool, giving the impression that it flows over the horizon when you look from the opposite side. It is the most common and most popular version.
- The total overflow or mirror pool: the pool is entirely surrounded by troughs or buffer tanks for a smooth and striking visual effect. The pool can be surrounded by a deck on the four sides or only on one or two to vary the effects.
How do you choose your safety system?
There are several systems to secure an overflow pool. You can install a single system or choose several complementary systems to ensure optimum safety.
To choose the most suitable system(s) for your needs and your pool, you should pay attention to several criteria:
- The environment: the system must be suited to the constraints imposed by the terrain, as for the overflow pool itself;
- Aesthetics: some overflow pool safety systems are more discreet than others, and some of these can be customised to match you aesthetic criteria;
- The budget: prices vary according to the type of pool safety system chosen;
- The legislation: you must make sure that your safety system is properly compliant in order to respect the laws and regulations concerning dug and in-ground pools.
The different safety systems for overflow pools
The installation of vertical blinds or a glazed wall
The blinds and fabric of a bioclimatic pergola protect you from the wind and/or protect your privacy. Today, there are many different models with various dimensions and colours. Glazed walls enable you to prolong the use of your pergola, like a veranda. Glazing may concern a single side of the pergola or several.
Other accessories for comfort
With integrated Bluetooth speakers, embedded electrical or USB sockets, etc., a bioclimatic pergola offers numerous additional accessories for increased comfort. All of these will necessarily increase the price of the bioclimatic pergola by tens or hundreds of euros.
Pool covers or shutters
The advantage of pool covers or shutters is that they secure the pool while protecting the bathing water from debris, such as dust and dead leaves. Consisting of PVC slats and a roller shaft located at one of the extremities of the pool, the shutter unrolls when you need to cover the water. However, there are very few models certified for the safety of overflow pools.
Pool enclosures
In general, a pool enclosure is the most effective solution to secure a swimming pool. However, it is rarely possible to be able to install a closed pool enclosure over a cascade overflow pool because it stands on the deck or terrace all around the pool. A pool enclosure may nonetheless be installed on a certain type of mirror overflow pool if it is entirely surrounded by a deck.
