The federal government has an active role in ensuring everyone’s safety at swimming pools, both public and private. The EPA has put in place guidelines regarding swimming pool chemical usage and discharge. There are also building code requirements, both local and national, addressing swimming pool construction and safety. In the past few years Congress has enacted new government regulations stemming from the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Virginia Graeme Baker Act that also impact the swimming pool industry directly. A brief explanation of these laws, as well as links to more information on them is offered below.
ADA Accessibility Guidelines from the APSP (Associaton of Pool and Spa Professionals) Website.
The deadline for existing pool and spa compliance with sections 242 and 1009 of the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standard for Accessible Design was January 31, 2013. Pools built or renovated since March 15, 2012, are currently required to meet the ADA requirements. APSP urges facility operators and owners of pools and spas that fall under the requirements to work with an APSP member company to provide a barrier removal analysis, if they have not already done so. For additional information on the ADA requirements for pools and spas, visit the APSP website to access the DOJ’s Technical Assistant Document, the ADA’s 2010 Accessibility Standards, and the APSP FAQs. For more information directly from the Federal Government about the ADA as it relates to pools and spas, visit ADA.gov.
Other links you may find helpful are: ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities and Click Here to read the specific sections concerning pool lifts. Costs vary on the ADA approved lifts, but generally start at about $6000.00, including installation. If you have questions regarding this act or how it may affect your specific water facility, contact us and we will be happy to discuss it.
Main Drains / VGBA
Due to the Virginia Graeme Baker Act (VGBA) that Congress passed into federal law in December, 2007, main drain covers are still a hot topic. The intention of the law is to prevent accidental drowning and injury due to entrapment on the suction grates of all swimming pools, spas and fountains.
You can read more about the act on the U.S. Government page of the Consumer Product Safety Commission at this link:
http://www.poolsafely.gov/pool-spa-safety-act/virginia-graeme-baker/
What does this mean? If you are a commercial operation such as a hotel or health club, the local health department may close your facility down until you are in compliance with the law. Compliance may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, as local laws may go beyond the minimal regulations established in VGBA. However, at the minimum, the main drain grates on your water facility probably need to be changed to the new approved grates.
The VGBA specifies main drain depth versus pipe size, as part of the safety regulations.
If you are a home pool owner and your pool was built before 2008, your pool is probably not in compliance and you may run the risk of accidental entrapment in your pool. Please call us if you would like us to assess your pool for this risk.
Yes, we scuba dive to change main drain grates, check for leaks and to make minor repairs.
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Phone us at: 301-608-1100
