The new federal law was enacted to help prevent suction entrapment injuries and became effective December 19, 2008. The requirements for public swimming pools, spas and wading pools are summarized below and must be met before these facilities can be operated after that date.
Drain Cover Requirements – New drain covers certified to ASME/ANSI A 112.19.8-2007 must be installed.
Backup System Requirements – Suction piping for each pump must be inspected and will be considered in compliance with the federal law if: 1) no submerged drains connect to the pump,2) there are two drains at least three feet apart, or 3) there is a single un-blockable drain. An un-blockable drain includes a sump under the cover that is larger than 18 inches by 23 inches, or a channel-type drain with a diagonal open area of at least 29 inches.
Single and two-drain systems less than three feet apart that fail to meet one of the above requirements must be updated by adding, a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS), a Suction-Limiting Vent System, a Gravity Drainage System, an Automatic Pump Shut-Off System, a Drain Disablement or other systems determined by Consumer Product Safety Commission to be equally effective. Another option is to split the single drain into a dual-drain system with at least three feet of separation.
For more information about the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act and how to comply, review the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s interpretation posted at www.cpsc.gov/phth/vgpsa.pdf
There is no better way to meet new anti-entrapment requirements than with the Pentair IntelliFlo vs+svrs pump.
• The IntelliFlo vs+svrs pump includes a built-in controller with proprietary software that immediately detects blockage and automatically shuts itself down within seconds.
• No SVRS calibration required: the blockage detection/shut down function is pre-programmed into the software so once the IntelliFlo vs+svrs pump is installed, the SVRS function works perfectly.
• IntelliFlo’s SVRS protection cannot be disabled.
• If, for any reason, the IntelliFlo’s controller becomes inoperable, the pump will not run, providing an added layer of safety.
• Safety lockout feature (password protected) can prevent settings from being changed by unauthorized personnel.
In short, Pentair’s IntelliFlow vs+svrs provides the anti-body entrapment protection that your pool or spa requires with a virtually fail-safe, tamper-proof solution. Call for your free consultation today.
SCV Pools, Spas & Masonry, Inc. is located at 17831 W. Sierra Highway in Canyon Country. For more information, please call 661-250-4900.