Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act
This new legislation concerns safety at all commercial swimming pools. This law will go into effect on December 20, 2008.
The federal government has recently enacted the “Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act”. This new standard is a national regulation and all commercial swimming pools in the country must comply in order to operate for the 2009 pool season.
The federal mandates in this act pertain, primarily, to two major issues:
- Main drain suction fittings: The new law mandates that these fittings all comply with ASME/ANSI A 112.19.8. No main drain fitting manufactured prior to 2008 complies with this regulation. All main drain covers will need to be replaced.
- Entrapment avoidance systems: The new law targets pools with one main drain per pump. It stipulates that all pools with one main drain per pump employ additional measures including (a) Suction Vacuum Release System (SVRS), (b) Suction limiting vent system, (c) Gravity drainage system, (d) Automatic pump shut off, or (e) Drain disablement.
Our recommendation is to arrange a consultation to determine what steps need to be taken to ensure that your pool facility properly complies with the new federal mandate. At that time, you will be provided with an evaluation of your pool facility, as it relates to the Virginia Graeme Baker Federal Pool and Spa Safety Act.
We strongly recommend addressing this topic at your facility as soon as possible. As there will be an enormous nationwide demand for new equipment, remedial work, and consultation, compliance may be difficult to attain in the spring of 2009.
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