Deutsche Gesellschaft für das Badewesen

What Deutsche Gesellschaft für das Badewesen does

Deutsche Gesellschaft für das Badewesen (DGfdB) is a registered industry association (eingetragener Verein, e.V.) founded in 1948 and headquartered in Essen, Germany. It serves as the central professional body for Germany's public swimming pool and bathing facility industry, representing and serving public pool operators, bathhouse managers, architects, planners, and private-sector suppliers in the bathing market. The organization is governed by a Vorstand (board) chaired by Prof. Dr. Christian Kuhn, with Christian Mankel serving as Geschäftsführer (Managing Director) of both the association and its wholly-owned publishing subsidiary, Deutsche Gesellschaft für das Badewesen GmbH.

DGfdB's core offerings span four product categories. First, publications: AB Archiv des Badewesens, described as Europe's leading bath trade journal, published monthly since 1948 and available by annual subscription at €95 (free for members), backed by an article database stretching back to 1906. Second, events: the interbad trade fair and congress, held biennially at Messe Stuttgart (next edition October 6-8, 2026) with approximately 450 exhibitors and visitors from 64 countries. Third, standards and guidelines: the KOK-Richtlinien für den Bäderbau (2022 edition), coordinated by the Koordinierungskreis Bäder (KOK), and proprietary directives such as DGfdB R 94.05, which serve as a contractual basis for pool construction projects in Germany. Fourth, services: consulting (Bäderberatung), professional seminars and training, surveys and benchmarks, a job market, a cleaning products database, and policy advocacy through the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition.

The business model is a hybrid of membership dues, publication sales (journal subscriptions and trade publications), event revenue (interbad booth fees and congress tickets), and ancillary services. DGfdB coordinates the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition of 11 German associations (including BDS, DLRG, Deutscher Sauna-Bund, DSV, DOSB, IAKS, and DGSP), and re-assumed management of the alliance in October 2024. The association operates nine thematic Fachbereiche (specialist divisions) covering operations organization, climate and sustainability, personnel, business economics, technical building services, water treatment, electrical engineering, digital technologies, and pool construction.

Name

Deutsche Gesellschaft für das Badewesen

Legal name

Deutsche Gesellschaft für das Badewesen e. V.

Website

https://dgfdb.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Deutsche Gesellschaft für das Badewesen (DGfdB) is Germany's leading professional association for public swimming pool and bathing facility operators, founded in 1948 and headquartered in Essen. It publishes the AB Archiv des Badewesens journal, runs the biennial interbad trade fair, and develops the KOK-Richtlinien standards used as contractual basis for pool construction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Essen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DGfdB is a professional membership association that develops technical guidelines and standards for public swimming pool and bath operations in Germany, publishes the monthly AB Archiv des Badewesens trade journal, operates the biennial interbad trade fair, and delivers consulting, training, and survey-based benchmarking services to its members. The association coordinates the KOK guidelines used as contractual basis for bath construction and maintenance projects, and provides expert advisory services to municipal and commercial pool operators nationwide.

Product overview

Deutsche Gesellschaft für das Badewesen (DGfdB) is a professional membership association for Germany's public swimming pool and bath industry, not a software technology company. Its offerings consist primarily of publications (AB Archiv des Badewesens trade journal, article database since 1906), events (interbad trade fair and congress), technical guidelines (KOK-Richtlinien for pool construction), member services (seminars, consultations, surveys), and online tools (job market, cleaning products database, branch directory). The organization also advocates for pool preservation and sustainability through policy work and the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AB Archiv des Badewesens: Europe's leading bath trade journal, published monthly since 1948, covering topics including bath construction, bath operations, bath technology, health and wellness, law, training, and association work. Official publication of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für das Badewesen (DGfdB).
• interbad

Products and services

• AB Archiv des Badewesens (Journal Subscription) Europe's leading monthly trade journal covering pool construction, operations, technology, health and wellness, law, training, and association work, available as an annual subscription at €95 (free for DGfdB members). Targets bathing facility operators, planners, architects, and industry suppliers in Germany.
• interbad Trade Fair and Congress Biennial international trade fair and congress for swimming pools, saunas, and spas held at Messe Stuttgart, organized in partnership with Messe Stuttgart. Features approximately 450 exhibitors from Germany and abroad with visitors from 64 countries.
• KOK-Richtlinien für den Bäderbau (KOK Pool Construction Guidelines) Technical guidelines for pool construction developed by the Koordinierungskreis Bäder (KOK), serving as a key working and contractual basis for planners, architects, and operators of public bathing facilities.
• Bäderberatung (Bath Consulting Services) Expert consulting and advisory services for public bathing facility operators, covering operational challenges, maintenance, safety compliance, energy efficiency, and investment planning for bath renovation and construction.
• DGfdB Professional Seminars and Training Professional seminars and training programs for bathing facility operators and staff, addressing operational, technical, and regulatory topics in the bath industry.
• DGfdB Membership Program Annual membership program offering free access to the AB Archiv des Badewesens journal, reduced prices for guidelines and work materials, free participation in events, access to internal area with resources and networking opportunities, and member-exclusive surveys and benchmarks.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bäderallianz DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Coalition founded in January 2017, coordinated by DGfdB. Comprises 11 German swimming, sports, and leisure associations working together to secure and develop the German bathing landscape. Since October 2024, the management of the Bäderallianz Deutschland has been with DGfdB again. The association's board chairman, Prof. Dr. Christian Kuhn, serves as spokesperson.
• Bundesverband Deutscher Schwimmmeister e. V. (BDS)minorOthersPart of the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition, based in Wesseling.
• Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft e. V. (DLRG)minorOthersPart of the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition, based in Bad Nenndorf.
• Deutscher Sauna-Bund e. V.minorOthersPart of the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition, based in Bielefeld.
• Deutscher Schwimm-Verband e. V.minorOthersPart of the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition, based in Kassel.
• Deutscher Sportlehrerverband e. V.minorOthersPart of the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition, based in Krefeld.
• Deutsche Vereinigung für Sportwissenschaft e. V.minorOthersPart of the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition, based in Hamburg.
• Internationale Akademie für Bäder-, Sport- und Freizeitbauten e. V. (iab)minorOthersPart of the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition, based in Hamm.
• Internationale Vereinigung Sport- und Freizeiteinrichtungen (IAKS) Deutschland e. V.minorOthersPart of the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition, based in Köln.
• VDB-Physiotherapieverband e. V.minorOthersPart of the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition, based in Bonn.
• Verband Deutscher Sporttaucher e. V. (VDST)minorOthersPart of the Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition, based in Offenbach.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sportmedizin und Prävention e.V. (DGSP)minorOthersNew member of Bäderallianz Deutschland since April 2021, based in Frankfurt am Main.
• Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft (BISp)minorOthersSupporting organization of the Bäderallianz Deutschland.
• Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund (DOSB)minorOthersSupporting organization of the Bäderallianz Deutschland.
• Messe StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for organizing interbad trade fair, the largest swimming pool, sauna, and spa trade fair in Germany, held biennially at Messe Stuttgart.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bundesverband Deutscher Schwimmmeister e.V. (BDS): German federation of swimming pool masters — coalition partner of DGfdB inside Bäderallianz Deutschland. Represents the operational labor force in German public baths, overlapping DGfdB's Fachangestellte/r für Bäderbetriebe constituency.
• Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA): The leading US trade association for the pool, hot tub, and spa industry. Direct functional equivalent of DGfdB in North America, with parallel offerings in standards, certification, training, and trade events.
• Internationale Vereinigung Sport- und Freizeiteinrichtungen (IAKS): International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities — a coalition partner of DGfdB inside Bäderallianz Deutschland, with parallel advisory and standards activity for public sports/recreation facilities.
• SPASA UK: UK Swimming Pool and Spa Association — national trade body covering pool/spa operators, standards, and training in the British market. Closest UK analogue to DGfdB's role in Germany.
• SPASA Australia: Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia — national industry association representing pool builders, suppliers, and operators. Comparable member-services and standards-setting model to DGfdB.
• bsw - Bundesverband Schwimmbad & Wellness: German trade association for the private swimming pool and wellness industry. Closely mirrors DGfdB's mission on the operator-side, but focused on private/commercial pools rather than municipal/public bathing facilities.
• Deutscher Sauna-Bund e.V. German Sauna Federation and a Bäderallianz Deutschland coalition partner with DGfdB. Directly comparable as a German industry association serving the bathing/wellness sector with similar structure.
• Fédération des Professionnels de la Piscine (FPP): French federation of pool professionals, serving as the French national trade body for the swimming pool industry. Comparable continental European peer to DGfdB with similar member-driven standards and event model.

Emerging players

• Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft (DLRG): German Lifesaving Society and Bäderallianz coalition partner. Overlaps DGfdB on water-safety training, certification of bath staff, and standards for aquatic safety — adjacent rather than directly competing.

Broad incumbents

• DIN - Deutsches Institut für Normung: Germany's national standards body. Sits above DGfdB in the formal standards hierarchy (DGfdB's R 94.05 and KOK guidelines operate as industry working bases that can interact with DIN norms) — a broader incumbent in the same standards ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dgfdb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Deutsche Gesellschaft für das Badewesen