Few residential in-ground pools in Quebec are deep enough to permit diving from a diving board. As a result, there have been many serious related injuries. In May 2009, safety standards were introduced to address this issue.
In order to reduce the risk of injury related to diving accidents, any new swimming pool equipped with a diving board must comply with the BNQ 9461-100 standard. Available free of charge on the Bureau de normalization du Québec website, it specifies the minimum characteristics necessary to provide a safe environment for diving in a residential swimming pool.
It also requires that site and construction plans be prepared for any residential swimming pool with a diving board.
This new standard only applies to swimming pools and diving boards acquired and installed as of July 1st, 2021. Note that it does not apply to swimming pools and diving boards acquired before this date and installed between July 1st and September 1st 2021.
Here are the documents (in French only) on the safety of residential swimming pools from the ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation.
Your pool meets the required standards if:
- At 0.84 metres (2 feet 9 inches) in front of the end of the diving board, it is deeper than 3.05 metres (10 feet).
- It measures more than 8 metres (26 feet 3 inches) long from the end of the diving board.
- It is more than 5 metres (16 feet 5 inches) wide and the diving board is installed in the center, so that the walls of the pool are at least 2.5 m away from the diving board.
- The upward slope begins at least at 4.6 metres (15 feet 1 inch) from the end of the diving board.
- The degree of slope’s inclination is less than 18 degrees.
If the end of the diving board is more than 0.5 metres from the surface of the water or if your diving board measures more than 2.45 metres (8 feet) in length, you must consult the FINA FR5 requirements for competitive diving boards.