2012 Safety Management Courses
Registration Form
Ask the expert - Pool Lighting
For lifeguards to be able to do their job, they must be able to
see all areas of the pool bottom clearly within their zone. It
seems obvious, doesn't it?
Every indoor swimming pool is required by law to ensure at least
200 lux - a measure of light intensity - at the water's surface.
But even brand new facilities occasionally fail to meet this
standard. The Lifesaving Society believes light-level standards
should be upheld at all times while the pool is in operation, even
though the regulations surrounding public pools in Ontario make no
mention of such policy.
Adequate lighting must be provided by overhead lights. There is
a tendency in newer constructions to shine the lights up to the
ceiling rather than down over the water. This might be for a
variety of reasons such as creating ambience or to show off a new
ceiling design. There is also a misconception that light facing up
creates less glare, when the actual result is lighting levels that
fall below standard.
The easiest step to ensure adequate light levels is to be
vigilant in changing burned out overhead lights. This is everyone's
responsibility, owners/operators as well as lifeguards. Remember
that a lighting fixture's intensity decreases over time so light
intensity levels must be monitored frequently; if it seems dark, it
probably is - test the light levels right away. A light meter will
quickly evaluate the light intensity in the area. If the results
are below standard, take corrective action immediately.
:::
