Officers:

Steven Gorlin (2, 2010)
Past Chair
Gorlin Pools and Spas
732.323.8200
sgorlin@gorlinpools.com

Anthony Pasquarelli (1, 2011)
Vice Chair
Jacuzzi Hot Tubs / Sundance Spas
909.247.2057
Anthony.pasquarelli@jacuzzi.com

Greg Lowe (2, 2012)
Secretary / Treasurer
GE Money
P: 651.286.5629
Gregory_lowe@ge.com

Chris Robinson (1, 2010)
Division Director
Lucite International
P: 901.381.2309
chris.robinson@lucite.com

Other members:

Leslie Turville (2, 2010)
Arch Chemicals Inc.
714.334.5813
Laturville@archchemicals.com

Larry Nameche (3, 2012)
Therm Products, Inc.
P: 800.879.6199 ext. 3045
lnameche@truheat.com

Darryl Marin (1, 2011)
Wells Fargo Financial Retail Services
515.557.6586
DarrylMarin@WellsFargo.com

Bob Spillar (2, 2011)
Balboa Instruments
P: 714.955.6240
bobs@balboa-instruments.com

Gary Nugent (1, 2010)
Gecko Alliance
951.667.2000
gnugent@geckoal.com

Brad de Koning (1, 2010)
L. A. Spas, Inc.
714.630.1150
bradd@laspas.com

Scott Bittner (2, 2010)
King Technology, Inc.
P: 952.933.6118
sbittner@kingtechnology.com

Pat Shadrach (1, 2011)
Emerson Motor Technologies
314.553.2276
pat.shadrach@emerson.com

Ken Osborne (2, 2012)
A.O. Smith
P: 314-392-9500
ken.osborne@aosepc.com

Barry Knickerbocker (3, 2012)
Spa Parts Plus (SPP)
P: 928.775.5058 ext. 101
Barryk@spaparts.com

Karen Turnball (1, 2011)
Newport Controls
949.442.4266
ktsales@newportcontrols.com

Three open seats
 

Download a PDF roster

Revised 2/17/10

Hot Tub News

NY State Energy Bill — Hot Tub Update

Larry Caniglia, executive director of NESPA reports on a New York State bill with implications for portable hot tubs:

The New York Senate has passed SB 8070 the Energy Efficiency Bill, which, if passed by the Assembly where it currently resides, will give the New York Department of State and NYSERDA the joint authority to write energy-efficiency regulations for a number of appliances, including pool pumps and portable hot tubs. The Assembly could act on the bill in the next few days. We will continue to watch the progress and are ready to act as soon as it passes and is signed by the Governor. We intend to meet with the regulators at that time to encourage the adoption of the APSP/ANSI standards on energy efficiency.

Good Hot Tub News from NESPA

NESPA received some good news from the State of New Jersey on its inquiry to clarify the requirement for equipotential bonding around portable hot tubs and spas. New Jersey code specialist Suzanne Borek advised that making a conductive surface (pavers or concrete) nonconductive through the use of rubber matting or wood decking would meet the intent of Section 680.26 of the 2005 NEC.

“We have a long way to go as this is only an advisory opinion and does not solve the long-term problem,” said Larry Caniglia, executive director of NESPA. “We are hopeful that this will help our New Jersey dealers in this interim period while APSP and the technical people attempt to secure a TIA from the NFPA to solve the problem over the long term.”

Prior to this clarification, some code inspectors were requiring installation of an equipotential grid under a portable hot tub or spa.

See NESPA’s inquiry letter.

See New Jersey’s advisory letter.

CPSC Adopts APSP Comments on VGB and Hot Tubs
“This is a tremendous win for the hot tub segment — and for safety.” Read More

Hot Tub Advocacy and Technical Update
The Hot Tub Council is your representative to lawmakers, regulators and officials.Our Standards and Technical department maintains the organization's status as the ANSI-approved standards-making body for the United States. With over a dozen standards published, we're constantly working to keep the industry and government officials informed on the latest thinking in safety, energy efficiency and best practices. And our new partnership with the International Code Council ensures that code officials and the construction industry will look to APSP and its Hot Tub Council for years to come.

Our new Government Relations department manages issues at the state and national level to be sure that the Hot Tub segment is heard whenever legislation or rulemaking is pending.

This update was prepared by Carvin DiGiovanni, Technical and Standards and Jennifer Hatfield, Government Relations. Check back often to stay up to date on the issues that effect the Hot Tub Council and the hot tub industry.

Portable Hot Tub Energy Efficiency- Federal and State Laws
Senate Bill S. 1462
State Hot Tub Energy Requirements
Canadian Hot Tub Energy Requirements
Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa safety Act--developments
National Electrical Code
Certification and Licensing
International Code Council (ICC) Pool and Spa/Hot Tub Code
APSP/IAPMO-16 drain cover standard for pools, spas and hot tubs
ANSI/NSPI -6 standard on Portable Hot Tubs
APSP-14 – Spa Energy

CPSC Adopts APSP Comments on VGB and Hot Tubs

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission provided a major victory for the APSP and hot tub manufacturers when it voted to approve a final technical guidance and model state legislation for the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act state grant program. While the documents contain several requirements that qualifying states would have to impose on pools and in-ground spas, portable spas or hot tubs are deemed to be in compliance with all entrapment provisions as long as they are certified to UL 1563 by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. The UL 1563 standard is referenced throughout the APSP-6 standard on portable spas.

This provision will exempt portable spas from several requirements that are appropriate for pools but are not indicated for hot tubs:

• The 3-foot separation required for multiple-drain systems
• The need to replace outlet covers in existing installations
• The need to install “backup” devices such as SVRSs or shut-off switches

“This is a tremendous win for the hot tub segment — and for safety,” said Carvin DiGiovanni, APSP’s senior director, technical and standards. “This guidance document recognizes that UL 1563 provides for safe hot tubs and that additional measures that are correct for swimming pools do not improve the safety of hot tubs. As the ANSI-recognized standards development organization for the hot tub and spa sector, we are pleased to see the government’s confidence in voluntary standards.”

The action by the CPSC Commissioners, which confirmed their staff recommendations, is a recognition at the highest level that factory-built, portable spas listed to UL 1563 already provide sufficient protection against entrapment and that any additional provisions in the VGB would not provide additional safety.

This result was the culmination of a years-long effort by the APSP to promote recognition of the UL standard and to exclude UL 1563-compliant hot tubs from certain VGB provisions that were intended for pools and in-ground spas.

These efforts included public comments submitted by the APSP in October, 2008 and a critical meeting with the CPSC on December 8, 2008, where APSP’s Carvin DiGiovanni, APSP Counsel Steven Getzoff, and several manufacturers met with the CPSC Assistant Executive Director, Compliance and Field Operations, John “Gib” Mullan and CPSC General Counsel Cheryl A. Falvey

Technical guidance document is available here http://www.poolsafety.gov/grant.pdf and the model code document is here: http://www.poolsafety.gov/modelvgb.pdf

California Energy Commission - APSP’s 4-year involvement with California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Title 20 produces clarifications to help more portable hot tubs to be sold in California. Amended into CA law on December 3, 2008.

Senate Bill S. 1462 - By recent action of the APSP -14 Spa Energy Committee, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the US Senate Energy Committee has adopted APSP’s modified Title 20 language for portable hot tubs in new Energy Bill S. 1462. This proposed federal energy bill is scheduled to go into effect January, 1 2012. Highlighted bill changes: a) the definition of portable hot tubs has been expanded and will include the term “factory built” b) swimspas are included in the bill and c) the bill will recognize the APSP -14 standard once it is ANSI approved.

State Hot Tub Energy Requirements - Portable hot tub energy regulations (with APSP/CEC clarifications) are being considered for adoption by the states; e.g., Florida and State of Washington. Overall, each state has the potential to address portable hot tub energy requirements differently, thus leaving APSP to monitor each state with a varying strategy. Our current strategy is to get states to wait on any portable hot tub formula/testing procedure, deferring to the above referenced federal legislation that will go into effect January 1, 2012. Those states already in the process like Florida and the State of Washington will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis but making sure the formula and any test procedure stays consistent with APSP-14 standard and federal language. [JS-OREGON ALREADY ADOPTED]

Canadian Hot Tub Energy Requirements - APSP is also monitoring the Canadian hot tub energy standard C374 in the expectation of harmonizing it with APSP-14 Spa Energy Efficiency Standard. APSP has a voting seat on the C374 committee.


Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa safety Act (VGB) – Federal Law

Portable hot tubs with ASTM locked covers are exempted from barrier requirements in VGB.

We are anticipating (subject to official announcement from the CPSC Commissioner’s vote of March 1st ) that portable hot tubs are deemed to be in compliance with all entrapment provisions of the VGB as long as they are certified to UL 1563 by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. CPSC is acceding to the APSP testimony presented to them on December 8, 2008.

This provision will exempt portable spas from:

• the 3 foot separation required for multiple drain systems
• the need to replace outlet covers in existing installations
• the need to install “backup” devices such as SVRSs or shut off switches

The action by the CPSC Commissioners, which followed their Staff recommendations, is a recognition at the highest level that factory built portable spas listed to UL 1563 already provide sufficient protection against entrapment and that any additional entrapment provisions in the VGB need not apply.


National Electrical Code

Equipotential Bonding. Still waiting outcome of NEC vote to require a bonding grid for outdoor portable hot tubs. (Not required for indoor installations). Vote is currently 6 for (putting in a grid) and 5 against (APSP). Results have not been finalized which means there is no confidence in this action. Consequently, there are enough negative votes to pursue a Technical Interim Amendment (TIA) that will give APSP the clarification it is seeking should the 6 to 5 vote stand. In addition, APSP is working with NESPA and spa manufacturers on a strategy of how New Jersey is interpreting that a portable spa requires a bonding grid.

Certification and Licensing

Certification to ANSI/APSP-6 - Many states have adopted the International Residential Code (IRC) that has referenced ANSI/NSPI -6 Standard for Portable Hot Tubs in its Appendix G which states, “Portable spas and hot tubs shall be designed and constructed in conformance with ANSI/NSPI -6”. The ANSI/NSPI -6 standard does reference the UL 1563 standard for electrical compliance. Many code inspectors are accepting spa manufacturers self certification letters that indicate that their portable hot tub was built in compliance with ANS/NSPI -6.

Connecticut has recently issued a variance that compliance with UL 1563 would satisfy the need for a building permit to be issued.


International Code Council (ICC) Pool and Spa/Hot Tub Code – The ICC
and the APSP have joined forces to write a new pool and spa building
code for states to adopt. The new ICC Pool and Spa Code will include
all the residential ANSI/APSP pool and spa standards including ANSI-6 for
Portable Hot Tubs. A placeholder for the APSP-14 Portable Hot tub
Energy standard has been established within the new code, pending what
the APSP-14 committee wants to do regarding putting spa energy
requirements into a building code. No decisions have been made
regarding putting the APSP -14 portable spa energy formula/test
procedure into this new code as it may be deemed inappropriate for a
building code. The ANSI/APSP-7 Suction Entrapment Avoidance Standard
was adopted into the 2009 International Residential and International
Building Codes of the ICC.

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
(IAPMO)- APSP is the lead co-secretariat with IAPMO on a new
APSP/IAPMO-16 drain cover standard for pools, spas and hot tubs to
succeed ASME A112.19.8 which is referenced in the VGB.

APSP is also the lead co-secretariat with IAPMO on a new APSP/IAPMO -
17 SVRS standard for pools, spas and hot tubs to succeed ASME
A112.19.17 which is also referenced in the VGB.

ANSI/NSPI -6  The ANSI/NSPI -6 standard on Portable Hot Tubs will be
going out for ANSI ballot and Public review by the end of March, 2010.

APSP-14  Spa Energy Committee – APSP-14 committee has finalized a
draft to be sent out for ANSI ballot and public review. After the draft clears
the APSP Technical Committee review for technical accuracy it will enter
the ANSI process, we anticipate at the end of April, 2010. ANSI approval
is scheduled for late 2010 or early 2011.

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