Anyone planning a pool at home also wonders how deep it should be and whether the pool depth is restricted by law. This article is intended to provide some information on selecting the right depth.
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Legal regulations
There is no general law that specifically regulates the depth in the domestic pool. However, depending on the federal state and municipality, there are building regulations that regulate the filling capacity of the pool that does not require approval. The limit is usually around 100 m³. For larger pools, certain restrictions, including depth, may be required.
Another legal aspect is the requirement that every pool owner must pay attention to road safety. Incidentally, this also applies to much smaller “bodies of water”, such as ponds or rain barrels. Wherever there is water, regardless of the depth, it must be secured so that nobody can fall into it. Particular attention is paid to children. They can drown even at shallow water depths.
Suitable pool depths
Babys
It goes without saying that deep pools are unsuitable for babies. In addition, small children should never be left unsupervised in or near the water, the depth doesn’t matter at all. For babies, a paddling pool is generally more suitable than a pool. In this way, the first acquaintance with water can usually be made safely. Babies can of course also be taken to a larger pool, provided they are equipped with a suitable swimming aid or are in the arms of the caregiver.
children
The bigger the children are, the deeper the pool can be. It is good if you can always feel the ground under your feet.
Public swimming pools are equipped with different water zones to accommodate different body sizes. Even non-swimmer pools often have a slightly sloping floor, which ensures that the water depth increases steadily from the entrance to the rear area. Non-swimmer pools have a maximum depth of 135 cm.
At home, different water zones are hardly feasible in a pool of ordinary dimensions. However, if the pool is also to be used by adults, a favorable compromise must be found.
Adults
Choosing the right pool depth is a little different for adults. On the one hand, adults are usually larger and, on the other hand, they can swim. If this is not the case, the water depth of a non-swimmer pool should be used.
Even a swimmer’s pool doesn’t have to be very deep. 150 cm is often completely sufficient and water aerobics with sufficient buoyancy are also possible.
However, it is not possible to jump into the water in such a pool, or only from the edge. Each type of diving tower requires an adjusted pool depth to avoid serious injury.
Appropriate water depths according to pool use
Most pool depths are not achievable at home, mostly because there is simply a lack of the proper tools to build such a large pool .
- Baby pool: no more than 10 cm
- Kneipp pool, step-through pool: 20 to 30 cm
- Paddling pool for children: about 60 cm
- Swimming pool for children: about 80 cm
- Water sports, pool for older children: 100 cm
- normal non-swimmer pool: up to 135 cm
- Water aerobics, shallow jumps from the edge of the pool: up to 150 cm
- Depth for jump from 1 m board: 250 to 300 cm
- Depth from 3 m board: at least 350 cm
