The Virginia Graeme Baker Act Pool System Compliance
The following information was obtained from www.PoolSafety.gov. Pool owners and operators, by law, must ensure their pools are compliant with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act after December 2008.
M&M Pool Specialists, Inc. will professionally help you upgrade your pool or spa to make sure it meets these requirements. We provide the following for your convenience.
Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act Compliant Products
A variety of drain covers in various sizes have already been certified to the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 standard. View a complete listing of drain cover manufacturers who have received certification at www.poolsafety.gov.
The products on this page have been certified by one of the following independent, nationally recognized testing laboratories: Underwriters Laboratories, the National Sanitation Foundation, and IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials).
What to look for when purchasing new drain covers or other P&SSAct devices
The P&SSAct does not require a product marking for approved drain covers. Covers are to display (per ASME standard):
- Use – single or multiple
- Flow rate GPM
- “Life” (number of years)
- Wall and/or floor mount
- Manufacturers name
- Model number
Drain covers made during the summer of 2008 used the ASME symbol and/or the “ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007″ mark. Since November 12, 2008, newly made drain covers should have the “VGB 2008” marking. The drain cover manufacturer should provide a certification document with each drain cover stating that it complies with the requirements of the P&SSAct. If there is no mark or you are otherwise in doubt, contact the manufacturer and ask for a copy of the certificate. Also keep a record of where and when you purchased the cover.
All drain covers must be compliant with the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 standard. If your covers are field fabricated, then a Registered Design Professional or a licensed professional engineer (PE) can specify that your pre-existing grate(s) meet the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 standard.
Secondary Layer of Protection
In addition to having a compliant drain cover, public pools and spas with single, blockable main drains or multiple drains less than 3 feet apart must have an additional layer of protection using one of the following systems or devices:
I. SAFETY VACUUM RELEASE SYSTEM – A safety vacuum release system which ceases operation of the pump, reverses the circulation flow, or otherwise provides a vacuum release at a suction outlet when a blockage is detected, that has been tested by an independent third party and found to conform to ASME/ANSI standard A112.19.17 or ASTM standard F2387.
II. SUCTION-LIMITING VENT SYSTEM – A suction-limiting vent system with a tamper-resistant atmospheric opening.
III. GRAVITY DRAINAGE SYSTEM – A gravity drainage system that utilizes a collector tank.
IV. AUTOMATIC PUMP SHUT-OFF SYSTEM – An automatic pump shut-off system.
V. DRAIN DISABLEMENT – A device or system that disables the drain.
VI. OTHER SYSTEMS – Any other system determined by the Commission to be equally effective as, or better than, the systems described above at preventing or eliminating the risk of injury or death associated with pool drainage systems.
A list of certified SVRS manufacturers can be found at www.poolsafety.gov.
Installation
A pool owner or operator should have documentation that the installed drain covers are compliant. Documentation of the installation is not a requirement of the P&SSAct, but CPSC staff advises checking with your local and state officials to confirm any local/state certification or installation requirements.
CPSC recommends contacting state or local officials to determine who is qualified as a professional engineer or a design professional in your area. Experts should be formally licensed or certified as a business and carry some level of insurance or similar protection.
For More Information on pool safety you should contact:
CPSC staff at poolsafely@cpsc.gov
CPSC Office of Communications
301-504-7908
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, Md. 20814
301-504-7900