Private hire

Pool bather load calculator

Work out how many swimmers your pool can safely take for the way it is used, then download a record of how you set your limit.

A starting point, not legal advice. It comes from how one UK swim school works and may not fit yours. Check it against your insurer's and governing body's requirements, and the law that applies to you, before you use it. ClassBase accepts no liability for how it is used.

Work out your bathing load

Lifeguard present?

Worked example. A pool 10 m long and 5 m wide has a surface area of 50.0 m². The basic starting figure is 50 ÷ 3 = 16 bathers. For free movement PWTAG suggests at least 9 m² each, so 50 ÷ 9 = 5 bathers, and the recommended maximum for that use is 5.

Without a lifeguard, most operators set their limit below the recommended maximum. Record your reasons.

  • No lifeguard is provided
  • Supervision is by the Group Leader and competent adults
  • More space improves visibility and rescue access
  • It reduces collision risk
  • It gives a suitable safety margin for how the pool is used

Figures from PWTAG guidance on bathing loads: 3m² per bather as a starting point, at least 6m² for lane swimming and at least 9m² for free movement.

What's inside

  1. Pool details
  2. Calculation
  3. Operational limit and reasons
  4. Plant capacity evidence (keep with this record)
  5. Conclusion

[Pool name] maximum operational bathing load

This record shows how [Pool name] set its maximum operational bathing load. It supports the PSOP and risk assessment.

Pool details

  • Length: [10] m
  • Width: [5] m
  • Depth: [1.2] m
  • Surface area: [50] m²
  • Lifeguard: [None during private hire]

Calculation

Basic starting figure (HSG179 and PWTAG): [50] m² ÷ 3 m² = [16] bathers (rounded down).

PWTAG guidance for our type of use ([free movement]: [9] m² per bather): [50] ÷ [9] = [5] bathers.

Recommended maximum for this use: [5] bathers.

Operational limit and reasons

We have set an operational limit of [number] swimmers because:

  • [no lifeguard is provided]
  • [supervision is by the Group Leader and competent adults]
  • more space improves visibility and rescue access
  • it reduces collision risk
  • it gives a suitable safety margin for how the pool is used

Plant capacity evidence (keep with this record)

  • Circulation pump flow rate: [m³ per hour]
  • Turnover time: [hours]
  • Evidence that water treatment supports this bathing load: [reference]

Conclusion

Maximum operational bathing load: [number] swimmers in the water at any one time.

Recorded by: [name] · Date: [date] · Review: [with the annual PSOP review]

Download the template

An editable Word copy with the same text. Replace the words in [square brackets] with your own.

Download as Word (.docx)

Printing this page prints just the template.

How to adapt it

  • Choose the type of use that matches how your pool is really used.
  • Keep plant evidence (flow rate, turnover) with the record.
  • Review the limit with your annual PSOP review.

How ClassBase handles this

Set your swimmer limit in ClassBase and every private hire booking is capped at it.

The ClassBase private hire calendar for a week of pool bookings Private pool hire software

Questions

How do I calculate a pool's bather load?

Start with the pool's surface area. PWTAG uses 3m² per bather as a basic starting point, at least 6m² for lane swimming and at least 9m² for free movement such as families.

Does water depth change the bather load?

PWTAG's published figures are set by type of use rather than depth. Depth still matters for supervision and diving rules.

Should my limit be lower without a lifeguard?

Usually, yes. Record your reasons, as the template does.

Further reading

Read the guide on our blog

A starting point, not legal advice. It comes from how one UK swim school works and may not fit yours. Check it against your insurer's and governing body's requirements, and the law that applies to you, before you use it. ClassBase accepts no liability for how it is used.

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