Pool Safety Receives Congressional Attention

It’s that time of year again! Preparation has begun for opening the pools later this month. This year, community associations must be aware that by December 2008, any association with a pool must comply with the recently enacted “Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.” This new legislation was prompted by the 750 children who died in pool-related drownings in 2004.

The aim of this act is to address the dangers of filter intake drains in pools and spas. All public pools must take steps to mitigate intake-entrapment issues by year-end. Community association pools are included as public pools under the act. The act also requires that each state impose a set of minimum standards for pool safety.

All pools will be required to be equipped with anti-entrapment devices or other similar systems that comply with requirements of the American National Standards Institute or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Any pool or spa with a single main drain (other than an unblockable drain) must be equipped with one or more of the following: •A safety vacuum release system that engages when a blockage is detected;
•A suction-limiting vent system;
•A gravity-drainage system;
•An automatic pump shut off;
•A drain-disablement system;
•Other systems the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) determines reduce the risk of entrapment.

Each state will be required to implement state statutes that require the enclosure of all outdoor residential pools by a barrier to prevent small children from gaining unsupervised access to the pool. All pools and spas will be required to be equipped with devices and systems to prevent entrapment in pool drains. A pool with a main drain will need to have a drain cover that meets CPSC requirements. Notice will be provided to owners of residential pools and spas about compliance with the standards under the Act. The CPSC is currently drafting guidelines for compliance with the Act.

More on Community Associations