Mike the Poolman

The Virginia Graeme Baker Federal Pool and Spa Safety Act
aka, The New Drain Cover Law

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

our services:

We specialize in helping public pool owners and operators comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker (VGB) Safety Act in Sacramento County, El Dorado County and Placer County.

We install anti-entrapment drain covers, unblockable channel drains, vacuum release systems, SVRS devices, SVRS pumps and split drains.

We are licensed to inspect, repair, and sign off on local health department and state forms.

Most of these these upgrades can be done without draining your pool, saving you money, time and water.

We work for lodging associations (hotels, motels), apartment complexes, homeowners associations and insurance companies for their liability risk management plan.

Confused? Don't worry, we are here to help. This is not an easy law to understand.
If you would like detailed information on the law, click here...

 

If you just want us to come out and give you a quote to make your pool/spa compliant,
please contact us here...

why hire mike the Poolman for vgb compliance?

• In business since 1995- over 14 years experience in the swimming pool and spa industry
• Ten years experience in underwater swimming pool plaster repairs & drain cover retrofits
• Past Treasurer for Region XI of The National Pool & Spa Institute (now known as APSP)
• Current Governor on the California Spa and Pool Industry Education Council (SPEC)
• Past two term president of the Independent Pool & Spa Service Association (IPSSA)
• Member of Sacramento County Health Department Swimming Pool Working Group
• Past Safety Chair of the Capital Valley chapter of IPSSA
• IAPMO Swimming Pool Code Technical Committee
• California Contractors License # C53-731809
• NSPI Tech I & II Certified
• More qualifications...
  

 

are you VGB compliant ? Click to open the VGB compliance "Self-Help" flow chart:     1. Do all suction lines have dual ports? Yes, go to 2. No, go to 5. 2. Do ALL suction ports have stamped VGB 2008 compliant drain covers? Yes, go to 3. No, go to 4. 3. If all suctions lines have dual ports and VGB 2008 covers, the pool/spa is compliant. No further action is required. Additional layers of protection are always recommended but are not required. 4. Contact Mike the Poolman to install VGB 2008 compliant covers. 5. You have six options: a) split all single ports into dual ports (they must be 36" apart) b) disable all single ports by plugging c) install unblockable drain covers (also known as channel drains) on all single port suction lines (we can do this underwater or by draining the pool) d) install a gravity drainage system (this is an alternative but not realistic. This is only done when the pool is built) e) install a SVRS (vacuum release) system on each pump with single port suction f) the pool/spa must be closed and cannot re-open until it is within compliance 6. Contact Mike the Poolman to schedule your upgrades.

 

 

Helpful VGB Links: -APSP Frequently Asked Questions -Aquatics International Frequently Asked Questions -Consumer Product Safety Commission Staff's Guide to Complying with the Law -APSP Summary Analysis of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act -CPSC Staff Interpretation of the Federal Swimming Pool and Spa Drain Cover Standard -Consumer Product Safety Commission presentation January 13, 2009

 

 

more VGB:

The goal of The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act is to make every pool and spa safe. Because water flows in the path of least resistance, having at least two ports on each suction line has eliminated accidents (not a single accident). There are no reported suction entrapment accidents when suction lines have (properly installed) drain covers on dual ports (also known as split drains, dual drains and tee'd drains). The goal is to make every suction line a dual port and therefore prevent unnecessary accidents.

Most older pools do not have dual ports on every suction line (duals have been standard practice among top builders in California for awhile now). Today when pools are resurfaced, the contractor drains the pool, tee's (or splits) the single drain pipe into two drains, does the same to the equalizer ports, and all is safe.
However, to drain most swimming pools in the United States would be a tremendous waste of water (does anyone really need us to explain how precious water is these days...?) Seeing the need (many of us say "creating the need") for a product to protect swimmers, companies have developed (/ lobbied) vacuum release systems that meet (/created) federal guidelines.

 

and more...
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act of 2007 (not Virginia Graham Baker) promotes the safe use of pools, spas and hot tubs by imposing mandatory federal requirements for suction entrapment avoidance and by establishing a voluntary grant program for states with laws that meet certain minimum requirements as outlined in the Act.

Effective December 20, 2007, the Act is being administered by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
1. Mandatory Federal Requirements for Entrapment Avoidance.
By December 20, 2008, the Act requires:

• Safety Drain Covers. Each swimming pool or spa drain cover manufactured, distributed, or entered into commerce in the United States shall conform to the
American National Standard ASME A112.19.8 - 2007 Suction Fittings for Use in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs published by the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Compliance with this Standard will be enforced by the CPSC as a consumer product safety rule.

• Public Pool Drain Covers. Each public pool and spa (as defined), both new and existing, shall be equipped with drain covers conforming to the ASME/ANSI
A112.19.8 - 2007 Standard described above.

• Public Pool Drain Systems. Each public pool and spa (pump) with a single main drain, other than an unblockable drain, shall be equipped with one or more
additional devices or systems designed to prevent suction entrapment that meet the requirements of any applicable ASME/ANSI Standard or applicable consumer
product safety rule. In addition to a compliant drain cover, such additional devices or systems include a safety vacuum release system (SVRS), or suction limiting vent system, or gravity drainage system, or automatic pump shutoff system, or drain disablement, or other system determined by the CPSC to be equally effective in preventing suction entrapment.
ANSI/APSP-7 Standard Exceeds Federal Requirements. All pools and spas configured to comply with ANSI/APSP–7 American National Standard for Suction Entrapment Avoidance in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and Catch Basins will comply with each of these mandatory requirements.

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