February 20, 2008
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APSP Alerts the Industry about Pool & Spa Safety Act through Meetings, Website
APSP is continuing its communication and outreach about the Pool and Spa Safety Act with APSP’s Technical Committee Chairman Steve Barnes and APSP staff giving presentations at several upcoming industry venues, including APSP chapter meetings and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) National Aquatic Conference. APSP is also publishing on APSP.org several membership information documents that will provide specific guidance about how to comply with the new federal requirements for retrofitting public pools with ASME-compliant safety covers.
Barnes will present the seminar, “The New Federal Pool and Spa Safety Act: How Does it Affect Your Business?” on March 27 in Palm Springs, CA, during NRPA’s National Aquatic Conference. Barnes’s presentation will cover the provisions of the new law for suction entrapment avoidance for public pools and spas, the state grant program, and other important features of the act. The session is part of the NAC regulatory agenda. Barnes will also be the featured speaker at the Chesapeake (MD) chapter’s meeting on February 26 in Timonium, MD. Barnes and APSP chapter members will meet with government officials in a round table discussion about the new federal pool and spa safety act. The program will help chapter members prepare to comply with the requirements in the new law, and ensure that all public pools and spas in their jurisdictions are retrofitted with AMSE-compliant safety drain covers. For more information about the Chesapeake chapter meeting contact Terry Brown. Other APSP chapters are hosting similar meetings. Please check with the Regional Service Center Manager for your region for meeting dates and locations. Contact information for Regional Service Center Managers is on the Contact Us page of the APSP website.
Watch APSP.org for “Go-To” Information
The APSP website (APSP.org) will soon have posted additional new information about the federal Pool and Spa Safety Act to help APSP members understand the suction entrapment provisions of the new law that become effective December 20, 2008. The documents are being prepared by APSP’s technical experts.
APSP is developing a summary of the key provisions with notations as to which industry segment is affected, including manufacturers, builders, facility owners and managers, and service companies. The December 20 requirements include a provision that all safety covers in commerce be in compliance with ASME 112.19.18 2007 Suction Fittings for Swimming and Wading Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and Whirlpool Bathtub Appliances. As of December 20 all commercial pools must be retrofitted with 2007 ASME-compliant covers. Commercial pools with a single drain must install an ASME-compliant cover and install an additional suction entrapment avoidance device or system such as an SVRS or vent systems.
APSP is also developing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the provisions of the act. Information will be presented in a Q&A format and will cover the immediate needs for compliance that pool and spa professionals must address by December 20. APSP will update the Q&A throughout the year so check-in on a regular basis and watch IC for updates. In the meantime, APSP members should become familiar with the requirements of the act by reviewing the following documents on APSP.org
Summary of the Pool & Spa Safety Act
Title XIV Pool & Spa Safety Act
Pool & Spa Safety Act Supported by APSP Enacted Into Law
Pool & Spa Safety Act Supported by APSP Enacted Into Law
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