Entitled XP X50-831-1, this voluntary standard defines essential criteria to be met to be a thalasotherapy center (marine climate, sea water and marine mud.) and proposes service delivery requirements to improve and harmonize hygiene, care and equipment practices. It aims to limit the multiplication of establishments claiming abusively thalassotherapy activities.
The national thalassotherapy union, France Thalasso, asked AFNOR at the end of 2013 in reaction to the multiplication of wellness establishments claiming thalassotherapy activities without even using sea water. One year of collegial work has made it possible today to publish the XP X50-844 standard which defines, for the first time within the framework of a standardization process, the concept of thalassotherapy. It involves"the combined use of the benefits of the marine environment, which includes marine climate, sea water, marine mud, algae, sand and other substances extracted from the sea.
Care to offer, hygiene, safety and staff skills
Beyond defining the concept, the voluntary standard lists a series of criteria to be met. For example, a thalasso centre must offer at least individual care (wraps or applications of marine derivatives, in suitable programmable baths equipped with jets - requiring the intervention of personnel - or remote and/or elongated showers) as well as collective care in pools and/or swimming pools.
Among the many aspects relating to hygiene, the standard proposes, for example, that bathtubs should be drained, cleaned and disinfected after each customer. Procedures for cleaning premises and equipment should be defined. Concerning the safety of technical installations and premises, the …
