GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR COMMUNITY POOL JOHN COX | SPARKLING POOL SERVICES


Community swimming pools oer residents and owners a value-added amenity. With proper planning, the programming or use of the swimming pool can be customized to the needs of the residents or owners and create a unique experience for each community. Proper planning with regards to budgeng, sta, governmental requirements, and insurance requirements is key to any successful swimming pool season. Let’s take a look at some popular types of programs or uses that may be benecial for your facility.


Water Aerobics/ Swimming Lessons Water aerobics and swim lesson programs are popular in community swimming pools. These programs can be arranged for parcipants to pay the instructor directly or for the community associaon to pay for the cost of the program and oer classes to community members. From an operaonal standpoint, it is best to either dedicate an area of the pool only for use by parcipants or to conduct the lessons at mes where the pool is not in general use. Companies or community based organizaons may provide these lessons. In either case, there are important insurance consideraons such as levels of insurance requirements, securing the appropriate Cercates of Insurance, securing addional insured status for the community associaon, liability assignment, and hold harmless/ indemnicaon. The community associaon must also verify that there is


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no exclusionary language, such as an applicable Athlec or Sports Parcipants Exclusion, on any policy providing commercial general liability insurance protecon to the community associaon. This is also important if this program is being taught by associaon employees. Once you have developed a plan for such an acvity, contact your insurance provider with the details of the use. Your provider will be able to guide you through the insurance requirements for your community. Addionally, local health codes may require addional supervision or requirements. Consult with the local health ocial or a professional familiar with all applicable codes to ensure the program is compliant with all governmental regulaons.


Renng the Pool for Pares Pool party rentals for non-members can be problemac. First, renng to non- members may have implicaons with regard to the community’s responsibility for the facility to comply with all current Americans With Disabilies Act requirements. Furthermore, your insurance carrier may preclude you from such a pracce. Prior to exploring this opon, consult with your insurance provider and an aorney familiar with the requirements of the Americans With Disabilies Act.


Pool party rentals for members and their guests are more common. These can be full facility rentals or paral pool rentals


ROBERT TRAVIS, CIC, CIRMS | COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION UNDERWRITERS


(typically when the number of guests exceeds the normal guest policies). There are important operaonal consideraons for pool party rental. If the pool will be used outside of normal operang hours, who will be responsible for opening and securing the facility? Who will be responsible for ensuring chemical levels are within code required parameters? For facilies with lifeguards, it may be prudent to require renters to purchase addional lifeguard coverage to accommodate increased usage. When developing a plan for a policy, meengs should be held and aended by management, board members, and any companies or persons involved with operang the swimming pool to idenfy and address any operaonal concerns. It is also very important to contact your insurance provider to determine member to guest raos, required rental documentaon, and consideraons specic to your facility.


Lifeguards The queson of whether or not to hire lifeguards for a community swimming pool can be very dicult. There are many consideraons in this decision. First, many state, county, or local health codes set clear requirements on which type of facilies require lifeguards. Before making a decision that your community will not be using lifeguards, consult with an aorney to conrm lifeguards are not required for your pool. Addionally, there are many


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