The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is currently providing assistance to States that may be enacting statutes (or amending existing statutes), regarding the technical requirements of the Pool and Spa Safety Act. The current Minimum State Law Requirements under draft review would require the following at any residential swimming pool:

Barriers:

Specific design requirements for size, style, location, height and gate operation for fences and/or walls.

Entrapment Protection/Prevention Devices:

Specific design requirements for size, style, and number required. Various design flow aspects of a specific installation, including date of installation, may require the use of additional mechanical components for entrapment protection/prevention.

In addition there are suggested, additional layers of protection that are being recommended, including:

• Window guards

              For windows in walls that allow access into the pool area.

• Swimming pool alarms.

              A pool alarm may be used to provide warning that a pool has been entered. 

                   There are pool-based alarms, surface and subsurface, as well as perimeter 

                   alarms that monitor the pool area.

What we do and how we can help:

We conduct on-site, equipment requirement verifications.  The verifications include a site visit to review your current installation and determine if the location meets the requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. A detailed report will be assembled and provided outlining the findings and indicating conformance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. If the existing items are not in conformance, options for retrofit or replacement to meet requirements will be provided. Additionally, in certain instances, pools and spas must have additional devices or systems designed to prevent suction entrapment. Detailed information will be provided, indicating items that need to be corrected, purchased and installed to meet requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. Component options, depending upon availability, will be provided. Our mobile offices allow the detailed, conformance reports to be completed, printed on-site and made available at the end of the site visit.

Please note:

Currently, for residential swimming pool installations, there are no standards for swimming pool and spa main drain suction fittings. For your swimming pool

safety, it is strongly recommended that an evaluation be performed, to verify

and review all installations.

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