January 23 , 2008

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Analysis of New Pool/Spa Safety Law Available

APSP members can now obtain and use the completed “Summary Analysis of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.” The analysis is available on the APSP website and provides information about the technical requirements of the act. The act imposes mandatory federal requirements for suction entrapment avoidance and establishes a grant program for states with laws that meet certain requirements of the act. The entrapment guidelines in the new law are consistent with the new ANSI/APSP-7 American National Standard for Suction Entrapment Avoidance.

View the Summary Analysis, the Title XIV Pool & Spa Safety Act, and the December 19 press release about the act.

By December 20, 2008 the act requires (1) safety drain covers to be in conformance with the ANSI/ASME A112.19.8 2007 standard; (2) new and existing public pools and spas to be equipped with conforming safety drain covers; (3) public pools and spas with a single main drain, other than an unblockable drain, to be equipped with one or more approved devices/systems, for example, SVRS, gravity drainage, and automatic pump shutoff systems.

To be eligible for grants, states must have laws requiring barriers for outdoor residential pools and spas. There are also requirements for suction entrapment avoidance for both new and existing pools and spas.
 
APSP members will find the analysis useful for their own businesses and for work with local building code officials. APSP encourages members to provide the analysis to code officials to use it as a handout when meeting with legislators and code officials.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for administering the state grant program and for developing the process for states to apply for grants. The CPSC has not yet announced the details for the grant application process. The funds for the state grant program also must be allocated. APSP will provide this information to members as soon as it becomes available. See related story in Pool & Spa News.