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04/02/2008, 23:53 cookehouse Joined on 23/01/2005 Posts 21 Winter cover - a rip off? Having spent the last umpteen months resisting Mrs Captain Webb I have now finally been broken down and must say am now looking forward to taking the plunge ! (sorry) Having got loads of quotes and listened to the various arguments for example, between salt and chlorine and filtration systems etc etc  we have now come to some conclusions and are now left with the endless list of "extras".  Can anyone tell me what is the difference between a winter cover and a tarpaulin - except of course the price. Whilst it makes little diffence in the overall cost of the project I am reluctant to pay for a name.        Report

05/02/2008, 0:57 Eos Joined on 10/09/2007 Leinster / Herault Posts 160 Re: Winter cover - a rip off? Our winter cover is fixed in place very securely against winter winds. There are metal reinforced eyelets at close intervals through which "bungy" ties go. These in turn are hooked into the circular ends of metal spikes, drilled about 6-8 inches into the terracing. The cover has a rain drain so that the water drips into the pool rather than gather awkwardly on a tarpaulin.  Best of all though is that my son can run onto the cover to get any stray footballs that find their way onto it! Not to be recommended for trampolining but, for us , a priceless feature. An apology is a good way to have the last word.    Report

05/02/2008, 6:23 Clair Joined on 23/08/2004 ------- Forum Moderator ------- Lot Posts 6,243 Re: Winter cover - a rip off?  cookehouse wrote: Can anyone tell me what is the difference between a winter cover and a tarpaulin - except of course the price. Covers used on private pools must conform to norm NF P 90-308. Whilst undoubtedly cheaper, would a tarpaulin would meet the required standards, which say: La norme NF P 90-308 définit les exigences minimales de sécurité, les méthodes d'essai et les informations aux consommateurs relatives aux couvertures de sécurité et à leur dispositif d'accrochage afin d'empêcher l'immersion involontaire d'enfants de moins de 5 ans. Sont exclues les couvertures destinées uniquement à la protection de l'eau (bâche à bulles seules, bâches flottantes,…) La couverture de sécurité doit être construite de façon à empêcher l'immersion involontaire d'enfants de moins de 5 ans. Elle ne doit pas blesser les enfants qui chercheraient à la manipuler ou à la franchir : les risques de coupure, piqûre, cisaillement, coincement, suffocation et étranglement doivent être évités. Les bords ne doivent pas être considérés comme coupants et les pointes ne doivent pas être considérées comme acérées. Un jeune enfant ne doit pas pouvoir passer sous la couverture, ni s'enfoncer en marchant dessus. D'ailleurs, les couvertures doivent résister au franchissement d'un adulte de 100 Kg sans que l'on constate ni déchirure, ni désolidarisation des systèmes de fixation. Après avoir subi un choc d'un poids de 50 Kg, le dispositif d'ancrage sur la plage, ne doit pas être détérioré. Les systèmes d'ancrage ne doivent pas être source de blessure pour les enfants. A cette fin pour ne pas faire trébucher et chuter un enfant qui se déplace sur la plage, et blesser un enfant qui tombe de sa hauteur sur le dispositif d'ancrage, le dispositif d'ancrage fixe ne doit pas dépasser plus de 25 mm au-dessus de la plage. D'une manière générale, les matériaux constitutifs de la couverture, les systèmes d'ancrage et les systèmes de fixation doivent être conformes aux normes françaises et européennes en vigueur. Les familles de couvertures couvertes par la norme : les couvertures à barre les volets automatiques ou manuels (immergés, hors sol ou enterrés), aux fonds mobiles rigides et aux couvertures submersibles les couvertures de type cloche les systèmes motorisés les systèmes manuels les autres types de couvertures Clair, a Real Virtual French Person La vérité est si obscurcie en ce temps et le mensonge si établi, qu'à moins d'aimer la vérité, on ne saurait la reconnaître. (Blaise Pascal)    Report

05/02/2008, 7:37 Chas Joined on 23/08/2004 Mortagne sur Gironde, 17 Posts 311 Re: Winter cover - a rip off? Surely a conforming security cover is required only if the pool has neither a conforming alarm nor fence. Chas 17    Report

05/02/2008, 7:44 The P's Joined on 29/12/2007 Languedoc Posts 53 Re: Winter cover - a rip off? Tarpaulin will not meet the legal requirements for safety covers.   They do not allow rain water through and a child could drown in the residual pooling rain water.   You could pierce the tarpaulin but this will weaken the cover.   They will not last as long so it could be false economy.   The winter covers come with removable or recessed fixings which tend to be less unsightly than that which you may have to use with tarpaulin.   Winter covers are much more robust against the elements than tarpaulin.   If it makes little difference to the overall cost then why not go for a winter cover. John John Plowright mandmhottubs    Report

05/02/2008, 8:19 Poolguy Joined on 25/12/2004 Charante Maritime Posts 746 Re: Winter cover - a rip off?  cookehouse wrote: Having spent the last umpteen months resisting Mrs Captain Webb I have now finally been broken down and must say am now looking forward to taking the plunge ! (sorry) Having got loads of quotes and listened to the various arguments for example, between salt and chlorine and filtration systems etc etc  we have now come to some conclusions and are now left with the endless list of "extras".  Can anyone tell me what is the difference between a winter cover and a tarpaulin - except of course the price. Whilst it makes little diffence in the overall cost of the project I am reluctant to pay for a name.     I understand your confusion, to a new pool owner it all sounds a bit too fancy to do a simple job. But to long time pool owners it worth every penny. A conforming security cover I am referring to If you go for a cheap solution you will be buying another next year, provided that the winds have not made trash out of it early in the season, in which case a number of them every year. Personally, I always recommend a floating security cover, even though it is more expensive again than a conforming winter cover. The reason is for ease of use, as the winter covers are impossibly heavy and difficult to manoever on and off, its a good job that they only need moving once a year. In constrast the floating security cover will open an close in about a minute and you lift nothing heavier than a key. And if you combine the cost of the alternatives, sommer/winter covers, plus a security fence then its actually cheaper. If you want to see what I am taking about look at http://www.poolguy.fr/products/product-security.mht But that isn't the end of it, these type of covers can only be used on pools with two parralel sides (or converging) and one perpendicular end. That is to say that free form or kidney shapped pool need a barred cover which are not as easy to use but perform much the same function. PM me if you need any more information on these.   Andrew www.Poolguy.fr    Report

05/02/2008, 12:33 The P's Joined on 29/12/2007 Languedoc Posts 53 Re: Winter cover - a rip off? Shop around.  There are plenty of suppliers who have shops and/or on line sites.   It is not impossibly heavy or difficult to manoeuvre standard winter covers off and on.   Many people do it without a problem.   You may need two people if it is over 8x4 though.   As you are still at the planning stage it may be worth pricing the fence + summer cover (including roller) + winter cover to find out whether it is worth going the whole way.   You don't necessarily need a summer cover, depending on where you are.   Pools are better with them though. John John Plowright mandmhottubs    Report

12/03/2008, 18:08 Graham & Brenda Joined on 23/08/2004 Charente Posts 267 Re: Winter cover - a rip off? Our cover is an all seasons security cover (conforming) with aluminium bars running through it. We use a manual roller to open (easier with 2 people) it and it pulls closed with a "tape" style attachment. Graham (16)    Report

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