Swimming Pool Rules & Regulations Vrije Universiteit Brussel. d. Bathers who behave in an improper manner or ignore instructions by the authorised

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1 Swimming Pool Rules & Regulations Vrije Universiteit Brussel These rules and regulations have been established to guarantee safety, peace, order and hygiene in the swimming pool and apply to all visitors to the swimming pool, during both public access hours and periods reserved for schools and clubs. All swimming pool users and visitors, be it for single access during public access hours or for access with a swim pass or user agreement, agree to comply with all regulations as well as any instructions issued by authorised staff (e.g., lifeguards, reception staff) of the Exercise and Sport department of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. 1. Management a. The Exercise and Sport department of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel is responsible for the management of the swimming pool. b. The Exercise and Sport department is at all times entitled to immediately shut down the swimming pool in the event of force majeure without anyone being able to claim compensation. c. Exercise and Sport department staff are entitled to refuse or deny access to anyone for reasons of disorderly behaviour or non-payment or untimely payment of the rental or entrance fees due. d. Bathers who behave in an improper manner or ignore instructions by the authorised staff of the Exercise and Sport department, and by the lifeguards, reception staff and/or head of department in particular, will be removed from the building. The relevant individuals, school or club may subsequently also be banned from the pool for a specific period of time. e. The Board of Governors of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel determines opening times and days and applicable rates. On days that the pool is closed, no activities whatsoever shall take place, except those scheduled by clubs having signed a user agreement for this purpose. f. Sale of drinks or food in the VUB sports complex is explicitly reserved for the concessionaire of the Complex" cafeteria. g. The manager of the swimming pool shall not be held liable for any personal injury or property damage arising from the rental of halls or equipment or for loss or theft of personal belongings. h. Rented facilities may not be sublet to or used by third parties. 2. General rules a. Authorised staff of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel are entitled to supervise the use of the facility at all times. b. Bicycles, motorbikes, inline skates, skateboards, steps and animals are not allowed. c. Any recording by the news media is subject to prior written approval by the authorised body within the VUB. d. Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the building. e. All exits (including emergency exits) and passageways must be kept clear at all times to allow for free access or passage by emergency services. f. Fire-fighting equipment must be accessible at all times and shall not be obstructed from view. g. The swimming pool and associated facilities may only be used for the allowed activities and purposes. h. Individuals not involved in the various activities within the swimming facility are under no circumstances allowed to enter the facility. Those involved in the activities shall strictly comply with established opening or rental times. Under no

2 circumstances shall entrance be allowed outside established opening times for clubs and outside public access hours for individual swimmers. i. Equipment rented at the risk of the bather/user and with the permission of the authorised staff shall, after each session, training or contest, be removed and stored away so as not to inconvenience subsequent users. Non-compliance with this rule will entitle the manager to remove said equipment at the expense of the relevant bather/user. j. Access to the swimming pool: The swimming pool is accessible during public access hours through the revolving door and upon payment of a session fee either with exact change or with a VUB club card loaded with swim sessions. A swim session will under no circumstances be refunded. Outside public access hours, schools, associations and clubs can use the swimming pool under the terms of a previously drafted user agreement. A club card loaded with swim sessions is strictly personal and linked to a name and address. All club card holders are responsible for their own card. Passing on a club card to third parties shall result in the card being revoked, possibly including forfeiture of any remaining sessions on the card, without the holder being entitled to a refund for the card or any remaining sessions. A club card is valid for 5 years from date of purchase. Sessions loaded onto the card must be used before the card's expiry date. Expired swim sessions will not be refunded. The expiry date, including remaining sessions, is shown on the access system display each time the user inserts the card to gain access to the pool during public access hours. Loss of the card is to be reported immediately to the swimming pool reception. In this way, the card will instantly be blocked and you may still be able to recover it. Minors (under the age of 18) may only enter the swimming pool if supervised by an adult (over the age of 18). This rule applies to both individual and group use (schools and clubs). Adults are fully responsible for the safety and conduct of the minors under their supervision. Any person with a skin disease must, upon entering the facility, be able to produce a doctor's certificate clearly stating that it does not pose a threat, neither to that person nor to third parties. Any person having open wounds will be denied access to the swimming pool for health reasons. Bathers, visitors, schools, clubs, etc., have access to the corridors, locker rooms, showers, toilets and swimming pool including the decks Service and storage rooms are only accessible with permission and/or under supervision of an authorised staff member of the Exercise and Sport department. Any bather who is demonstrably under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be denied access to the pool. If a person who is found to be under the influence has already entered the pool, that person will be escorted to the exit. Bathers must use the "obligatory" shower and foot bath before entering the pool to ensure disinfection prior to entering the pool. Swimmers are also advised to thoroughly rinse off after each swim session with tepid/warm water in the shower area provided for this purpose. During public access hours, bathers have access to the locker rooms from the opening time posted at the entrance (e.g., Mon-Fri 12pm and Mon-Thu 5pm) and must vacate the pool at least 5 minutes before the posted closing time, allowing for enough time for showering and changing. The purpose is for

3 everyone to reach the swimming pool's front door by closing time (e.g., Mon- Fri 2pm and Mon-Fri 9pm). Admission during public access hours is granted until 20 minutes before closing time. Schools, associations and clubs renting the swimming pool or part thereof outside public access hours will have access to the locker rooms from 15 minutes before the start of the time specified in the user agreement to 15 minutes after the time specified. k. Locker rooms: Changing must take place in the designated areas, i.e., the locker rooms. The locker rooms serve as the divider between the area "with shoes" and the area "without shoes". Please make sure to remove your shoes in the corridor, before entering the locker rooms. Spend as little time as possible in the locker rooms, make space for others. There are separate locker rooms for men and women, and these should be used accordingly. Anyone who fails to observe this rule will be denied further access to the pool. Leave your clothes in one of the lockers provided for this purpose. Carefully keep the key to your locker; in case of loss or theft, you may be charged the cost of the key and/or lock ( 5-39). l. Swimwear and equipment During public access hours make sure to wear appropriate swimwear (closefitting swimming trunks for men, bikini or bathing suit for women). Schools, associations and clubs using the pool outside public access hours are responsible for ensuring that their students or members wear appropriate swimwear. Swimwear should be made of a material suitable for swimming. Other (sports)wear such as cycling, gym, or running wear or underwear is not permitted. Babies and toddlers must wear a swim nappy under their swimsuit. Any type of headwear other than a bathing cap is prohibited in the swimming pool. It is not compulsory to wear bathing caps. Diving tanks, weight belts, fins, etc., are only allowed during hours reserved for use by dive clubs and must at all times be provided with plastic protection to avoid damage to the pool tiles. Flippers, inflatable balls, etc., are only allowed if prior permission has been secured from the lifeguard on duty and depending on the level of occupancy of the swimming pool. Hard balls are only allowed during hours reserved for use by water polo clubs. Participants in water polo training sessions shall wear a bathing cap with ear protectors. m. Hygiene: Wear clean swimwear. Remove shoes before entering the locker room at the start of your pool visit and do not wear them until after the swim session when you are back in the corridor heading towards the exit. Take a shower before and after swimming and after each visit to the toilet. Discard any waste in the containers provided. Shampoo and soap should only be used in the shower area provided for this purpose. When you leave the locker room you will be barefoot in the corridors, showers, sanitary facilities, poolside and pool. Staff, instructors, coaches, etc., shall wear appropriate footwear.

4 Eating and drinking in or around the pool is prohibited. n. Sports and Games: The VUB swimming pool is first and foremost, a pool for swimming. In other words, we encourage swimming as a sport, i.e., swimming laps. Deviations from this rule are only allowed with permission of the supervising lifeguard. The springboard shall only be used when occupancy is low and after permission of the supervising lifeguard. Walking and running around the pool or in the corridors is discouraged for safety reasons. Outside public access hours, sports and games are possible subject to prior notification, when drafting the user agreement, and approval by the manager. o. Improper conduct may lead to immediate removal from the swimming pool and forfeiture of the right to enter the swimming pool. Improper conduct includes: Disturbing, deliberately hindering or jeopardising the safety of other people. Running around the pool or in the corridors. Playing dangerous games above and under water Swimming under water, under other swimmers. Pushing each other from the poolside into the water. Pulling or holding someone under water. Indecent behaviour. Impolite behaviour. Using swimming equipment or toys without permission of the lifeguard on duty. Touching or moving life-saving devices for no apparent reason. Bringing electrical appliances into the swimming pool. Spitting, urinating, etc., in the water. Bringing sharp objects into the building. Lack of tolerance for anyone else, regardless of gender, skin colour, political or religious beliefs. Non-compliance with instructions of authorised personnel. Hindering staff in their supervisory duties. p. General supervision: All staff of the Exercise and Sport department are authorised to check compliance with rules and regulations. Instructions by these individuals must be followed immediately. Groups must designate at least one person per 8 group members responsible for monitoring the safety of the swimmers from the poolside. Children under the age of 8 must also be accompanied in the water by one qualified adult. The person responsible for the group will inform the group members of the safety instructions and ensure that they are complied with. Persons suffering from a disease or handicap (heart disease, diabetes, etc.) must inform the lifeguard on duty before entering the water. q. Swimming lessons: Only schools, clubs and swimming pool staff are authorised to give swimming lessons in the allocated lanes. Any person giving swimming lessons without having secured prior permission from the swimming pool manager may be fined 35. No one can claim the swimming pool or part thereof for private use, except outside public access hours and subject to prior permission of the manager by means of a user agreement.

5 School sessions (lanes) are assigned annually by the manager. This takes place in May-June for the following school year based on the application forms submitted by the schools. Existing users are given priority, those requesting the same hour as the previous year are given priority, new applications (new customer or new hour for an existing customer) are processed from mid-june. Schools must observe the lanes, hours and days allocated to them by means of a user agreement. The managers shall be informed in advance of any changes. Schools shall provide the required number of supervisory teaching staff (1 for max. of 15 students). Swimming lesson equipment will be provided by the lifeguard and shall be used only for the purposes for which it is designed. Additional stipulations regarding the use of the swimming pool by schools, associations or clubs are incorporated into the user agreement to be signed each year between the relevant organisation and the Exercise and Sport department of the VUB. 3. Special rules a. Liability: All individuals using the swimming pool do so at their own risk. Neither the Exercise and Sport department nor the Vrije Universiteit Brussel shall accept liability for accidents, theft or damage to personal property, in the pool or in the locker rooms, in the cafeteria, in the parking area, etc., caused by third parties. Any loss or theft shall be reported to reception. It is, however, the responsibility of the owner to have an official report drawn up by the police. Lost and found objects can be dropped off at reception or with the lifeguards. They will be available at reception for a period of 2 weeks and then stored for another period of 10 weeks until they are reclaimed by the owner. All objects not collected after 12 weeks will be sent to Spullenhulp or another organisation looking after the needs of the less fortunate. Passports and similar official documents will be handed over to the police. Any person causing damage to the infrastructure and/or facilities shall be held liable and required to pay compensation. The presence of a lifeguard in the swimming pool does not relieve any visitors from their civil duties. Everyone is responsible for both their own safety and for that of third parties in and around the pool. The staff of the Exercise and Sport department are jointly responsible for ensuring standard levels of safety and decency and compliance with regulations. Any complaint or irregularity must be reported to the manager (head of Exercise and Sport department). b. Prohibition of access and/or removal from the pool: Any person guilty of improper conduct or failing to comply with these regulations will be removed from the pool. Standard procedure a. All incidents are recorded in the logbook by the staff member on duty. b. Individuals involved shall be prohibited from entering the swimming pool in accordance with the provisions of these regulations. c. In the event of a criminal offence, the police will be called to draw up an official report.

6 d. If a person who is prohibited access to the pool attempts to enter the pool, this will be considered as unlawful entry and the police will be called. e. Upon expiry of the ban, the person involved can be regranted permission to enter the pool, after they have spoken to the manager. Measures a. Insulting of staff members or lack of respect for other users supervisory staff decide whether police are called or not access denied for 3 months b. Repeated non-observance of staff instructions supervisory staff decide whether police are called or not access denied for 6 months c. Threatening of staff or other visitors police are called to draw up official report access denied for 12 months d. Indecent acts police are called to draw up official report access denied for 12 months e. Theft police are called to draw up official report access denied for 12 months In case of a repeated offence, the sanction will be more severe and the offender may be denied further access to the pool, and legal action may also be taken. c. The manager has the right to amend these rules and regulations. Amendments will take effect 14 days after the posting of the amended regulations at the entrance to the swimming pool. d. Renting: outside public access hours, it is possible for schools, associations and clubs to rent one to five lanes of the swimming pool. To this end, an application form must be completed and subsequently a user agreement based on availability of the swimming pool drawn up. i. Permanent use during September-August season is based on an application to be submitted before May 15. ii. Occasional use is subject to payment at the time of reservation, at least 14 days before the date of use. iii. The user is responsible for manning the lifeguard station (certified lifeguard). e. Sporting events i. For a sporting event organised by a user, adequate space must be provided for representatives from the VUB, in consultation with the manager. The request for use of the swimming pool for an event must be submitted in writing to the manager in due course. The request must specify the nature of the planned activity and whether the user s own electrical installations and/or music will be used. ii. For competitions and/or events with an audience, the user is fully liable for both spectators and visitors. The user shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that all those present comply with the rules and regulations. f. Rights and obligations i. Non-use of the infrastructure does not preclude payment of the fee, except in the event of force majeure after consultation with the manager. ii. Users shall not make any changes to the day or lane allocation without prior permission of the manager. iii. Any proposal to change the schedule must be submitted in writing at least one month before the date of use and is possible only if agreed by all parties involved. iv. The allocated time must be strictly observed. The time includes setting up and storing away of equipment. v. The renting of the swimming pool implies the use of the actual swimming area in whole or in part, the allocated locker rooms and showers.

7 vi. Schools, associations and clubs having received permission to use the swimming facilities are responsible for any damage caused by their own members or invited visitors. Any damage must be reported immediately and will be repaired at the expense of the person involved. vii. Users are to take all appropriate measures to ensure the decent behaviour of their members during their presence in the swimming facility. viii. The user shall take out third-party liability insurance, including property damage for which they are liable during the rental period of the swimming facility, damage to third parties and damage caused by the public. These regulations entered into force on 01/12/1990 and were last amended on 27/03/2003. Approved by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Sports Infrastructure Management Committee.