Question #1: What do the mandatory provisions of the
Federal Pool and Spa Safety Act cover?
Answer: The federal mandates in the Act pertain to
two issues:
1. The manufacture, import, and sale of suction outlet fittings (drain
fittings and covers) and
2. Entrapment avoidance systems in public pools and spas.
Question #2: What do these provisions require?
Answer: The Act requires the following --
1. On or after 12/20/08, all suction outlet fittings and covers made,
imported, or sold in the U.S. must be certified to comply with ASME/ANSI
A 112.19.8, 2007 version.
2. As of 12/20/08, all public pools and spas, both new and
existing, be equipped with certified covers on every suction outlet.
3. As of 12/20/08, every public pool and spa, new and existing, that
has a single outlet, other than an unblockable outlet, must employ
one or more of the following additional options: Safety vacuum release
system (SVRS) that complies with ANSI/ASME A112.19.17 or ASTM F2387;
or
Suction limiting vent system; or
Gravity drainage system; or
Automatic pump shut-off; or
Drain disablement; or
Equivalent system that may be approved by the CPSC.
Question #3: Does the suction outlet cover requirement
in the Act apply to pools and spas with dual or multiple drains?
Answer: Yes. Every drain in every public pool and
spa must have a
compliant cover by the effective date. After 12/20/08 the pool or spa
cannot be open for use if the covers and system are not compliant.
Question #4: Will such covers be available in time
to install before the effective date?
Answer: Some manufacturers have assured the APSP that
compliant covers will be available in sufficient time to purchase and
install. However, the APSP cannot speak to every cover installed, especially
covers of unusual sizes and shape.
Question #5: How will I know which covers comply?
Answer: They will have the following embossed or permanently
marked in a location that is visible when installed: Or, ”ASME
A112.19. 8 2007” and, a flow rating “X GPM”, and “Life:
X Years”, and Manufacturer and Model.
Question #6: What if I cannot find the manufacturer
or a compliant replacement cover that fits?
Answer: The drain will require permanent disablement,
or replacement with a cover and mounting frame that is compliant.
Question #7: Is a skimmer considered a suction outlet?
Answer: No. The Act addresses only submerged suction
outlets.
Question #8: Does the Act require SVRS devices on
all public pools?
Answer: No. An SVRS is one of several options available
to release a high vacuum occurrence in a pool or spa with a single outlet.
These options are not required on pools or spas with multiple certified
drains or with a single unblockable drain and sump.
Question #9: What is an unblockable drain?
Answer: The Act defines an unblockable drain as a
drain sump of “any size or shape that a human body cannot sufficiently
block to create a suction entrapment issue.” The ANSI/APSP-7 2006
standard defines unblockable as “of any size and shape such that
a representation of the torso of the 99 percentile adult male cannot
sufficiently block it to the extent that it creates a body suction entrapment
hazard.” In other words, the outlet must be such that a torso
18” x 23” with corners having a 4-inch radius would not
be able to sufficiently block the outlet. The standard also allows for
channel drains with a minimum open area 3” wide X 31” long.
Question #10: What is a safety vacuum release system
(SVRS)?
Answer: The definition in the Act is as follows: “The
term ‘safety vacuum release system’ means a vacuum release
system capable of providing vacuum release at a suction outlet caused
by a high vacuum occurrence due to a suction outlet flow blockage.”
SVRS devices must be certified to ASME/ANSI A112.19.17 or ASTM 2387-04
Question #11: What is a gravity drainage system?
Answer: Gravity Drainage is a circulation system where
the water flowing from the pool/spa does not connect directly to the
pump. The water drains into a tank or basin open to atmosphere from
which the pump pulls its water for circulation back to the pool.
Question #12: What is a suction limiting vent system?
Answer: Suction-Limiting Vent System -- a pipe vented
to the atmosphere that connects to the suction pipe between the pool
and the pump. When a high vacuum event occurs, air from the vent pipe
replaces the water in the suction pipe thereby breaking the suction.
The vent opening is protected by a tamper resistant cover.
Question #13: What is an automatic pump shut-off?
Answer: Automatic Pump shut-off system -- a device
or system that shuts off the pump/motor when it senses a high vacuum
occurrence that includes but is not limited to some of the safety vacuum
release devices (SVRS) and load sensing motors.
Question #14: What is drain disablement?
Answer:
Existing Construction-
1. Fill with concrete, Glue in plug
2. Reverse flow, permanently disconnect from pool pump
suction (no valve to switch back)
3. Permanently disconnect suction outlet pipe from all
circulation systems
New Construction-
1. Not applicable -- the rest of the codes and standards do not
permit single blockable drain configurations.
Question #15: According to the Act, how far apart
must multiple or dual drains be?
Answer: The Act does not specify. The ANSI/APSP-7
2006 standard requires that multiple drains or suction outlets be at
least 3 feet apart, measured from center of sump to center of sump.
Or that suction outlets be located on different planes.
Question #16: Does the Act apply to hot tubs?
Answer: Yes. Hot Tubs are considered “spas”
for purposes of this act.
Question #17: Does the Act apply to residential pools
and spas?
Answer: Yes. As of 12/20/08, it will be against federal
law to make, import, or sell a suction outlet fitting and cover that
does not comply with ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 -2007. Installation of a non
compliant cover in a customer’s pool or spa would be a violation
of that provision. The other federal mandates discussed above apply
only to public facilities.
Question #18: How does the Act define a “Public”
pool or spa?
Answer: The term is defined broadly and includes --
1. any facility open to the public whether free or for a fee
2. multiple family residential facilities
3. hotels or other public accommodations
4. facilities operated by the federal government for the military,
their dependents, or for any federal agency or department
Question #19: How do these Federal provisions or mandates
compare with ANSI/APSP-7?
Answer: Each of the above provisions is entirely consistent
with ANSI/APSP-7. Pools and spas built or retrofitted to comply with
this standard will also comply with the Act.
Question #20: Does ANSI/APSP-7 require a pool to be
closed to swimmers if the cover is not ASME compliant?
Answer: The standard requires ASME approved covers.
Non-compliant covers and systems should be addressed. If a cover is
broken, damaged, not secure or missing, the standard requires that the
pool or spa be immediately closed to bathers.
Question #21: What is the penalty for not complying
with these provisions?
Answer: That has yet to be determined by the CPSC.
Question #22: How else does this Act affect residential
pools and spas?
Answer: That is also yet to be determined. The CPSC
is charged with creating “minimum state law requirements,”
pertaining to entrapment protection and barriers to prevent drowning.
Any state that enacts laws that meet or exceed those requirements will
be eligible for grant money from the CPSC. The Act provides guidelines
and instructions to the CPSC in creating those “minimum state
law requirements.” With regard to entrapment, these guidelines
and instructions are entirely consistent with ANSI/APSP-7. With regard
to barriers, these guidelines and instructions are consistent with the
“Layers or Protection” approach endorsed by the APSP and
found in our literature.
Question #23: What else should I do about entrapment
protection in residential pools?
Answer: All residential pools and spas and hot tubs
should be built and maintained in accordance with applicable state and
local law and ANSI/APSP-7.
Question #24: What should I do about barriers in public
and residential pools and spas?
Answer: All pools and spas and hot tubs should be
protected in accordance with applicable state and local law and the
ANSI/APSP-8
Model Barrier Code.
SOURCE: APSP (The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals) http://www.apsp.org