July 5, 2007

BACK

Florida Building Commission Adopts APSP Standard for Suction Entrapment Avoidance

On June 27, the Florida Building Commission voted 19-1 to adopt the ANSI/APSP-7 Suction Entrapment Avoidance Standard and remove the existing entrapment language in the Florida building code. According to Jennifer Hatfield, Director of Government and Public Affairs of FSPA, the APSP affiliate in Florida, the action will be ratified by the Commission in August, when a rule adoption hearing is held to approve the entire 2007 Code. The 2007 Code is slated to go into effect October 1, 2008. The Commission also unanimously approved all other swimming pool-related modifications that were accepted by the Plumbing TAC in March.

The Commission vote will increase the safety of industry products for consumers and has many positive implications, including its potential to affect the Wasserman Schultz federal Pool and Spa Safety bill (HR 1721). Kudos to the many who participated in this effort; particularly Hatfield, the FSPA, the APSP Technical Committee, and Lorraine Ross.
 
APSP Chair Penny Johnson said the Commission action was the result of “a lot of volunteer work that goes on behind the scenes. I know this would not have happened in FL had it not been for Steve Barnes of Pentair, Ray Cronise of Trilogy, and many others on the APSP Technical Committee. Many volunteers perform their day jobs and sacrifice their family time for our industry to see these types of projects won for our association.”

Members can purchase the APSP-7 Standard by contacting APSP Member Services at 703.838.0083, ext. 301 or at memberservices@APSP.org.