Click here for important U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding recalled Drain Covers.
Title XIV Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act
This act of congress was named after the granddaughter of Secretary of State James A. Baker III, who lost her life in a family spa suction entrapment during a birthday party. Her tragic passing will be forever remembered with this law.The Virgina Graeme Baker Act (VGB) was written to enhance the safety of public and private pools and spas, to reduce child drowings, to reduce the number of suction entrapment incidents and to educate people on the importance of constant supervision of children in and around water. There are federal, state and city requirements relating to compliant drain covers and SVRS devices related to this law.
Federal law requires that all pool/spa drains that were manufactured distributed or sold on or after December 19, 2008 must meet ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 requirements. In addition, all public pools and spas must be retrofitted with covers that meet the previous mentioned standards. Finally, all public pools and spas that have a single drain other than an unblockable drain must employ one or more SVRS device.
SVRS devices come in three main varieties:
1) Mechanical devices which let air into the circulation pump to ease the vacuum when entrapment or blockage is sensed by device.
2) Electro-mechanical devices which shut off circulation pump when entrapment or blockage is sensed.
3) Pumps or motors with built in software which shuts off circulation pump when entrapment or blockage is sensed.
