ICC & APSP ANNOUNCE APPROVAL OF FIRST INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL & SPA CODE 11/14/11 Monumental New Code Benefits Industry & Regulators by Having One Uniform Set of Requirements for Construction of Public & Private Pools & Spas Across U.S. the International Code Council (ICC) and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) announce the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) has been approved at the ICC final action hearings in Phoenix, October 31, 2011 and will be published March 2012. Read Press Release Here TREVOR SHERWOOD RECEIVES INSTRUCTOR AWARD FROM NSPF® - 10/25/11 Trevor Sherwood, Pool Operation Management, Brick, New Jersey certified more students with the Fusion™ program from July 2010 to June 2011. The program allows students to take the Pool Operator Primer™ online course and earn a Record of Completion, then go on to a one-day classroom and proctored exam, earning a CPO® certification. Sherwood has received award recognition in previous years. Read Article Here. ARTICLE FEATURED IN Recreation Management–www.recmanagement.com - 10/20/11 An article on how to prevent pool problems focusing on what's in the pool water and how to maintain proper water chemistry and clarity quoting Trevor A. Sherwood, II, of Pool Operation Management appears in the October edition of the Recreation Management Magazine. Access article here. ARTICLE FEATURED IN PRB (Parks & Rec Business) magazine – www.parksandrebusiness.com - 10/3/11 An article written by Trevor A. Sherwood, II, of Pool Operation Management appears in the October edition of the Parks and Rec Business Magazine highligting the advantages of using the winter months to prepare your pools for for the next season. Includes information on pool and spa covers, chlorine generation and energcy efficient products. Access article here. Reprinted with permission of PRB (Parks & Rec Business) magazine – www.parksandrebusiness.com. NEW DRAIN RULING IMPOSED 9/28/11 In a vote of 3-2, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted to change the definition of an unblockable drain to require that the sump, in addition to the drain cover, measure more than 18 by 23 inches and meet certain other testing criteria. This calls for many commercial pools with unblockable drains to be altered. The law now states that unblockable drains are required to be split or supplemented with a backup system. The vote is retoractice so all pools must comply. The CPSC originally considered setting a compliance date of May 28, 2012 , but instead opened a 60-day public-comment period for affected parties to provide opinions on development of a deadline. See FAQs to CPSC Vote on Unblockable Drains - APSP FAQS INFO DRAIN RECALL- 5/26/11 http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11230.html NEWS from CPSC - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission - May 26, 2011 Eight Manufacturers Recall Pool and In-Ground Spa Drain Covers Due to Incorrect Ratings Covers Pose Possible Entrapment Hazard to Swimmers The drains recalled are: Manufacturers:
AquaStar Pool Products Inc., of San Diego, Calif.; 1-877-726-3671
Color Match Pool Fittings, of Surprise, Ariz.;1-877-635-4120
Custom Molded Products, of Tyrone, Ga.;
Hayward Pool Products, of Elizabeth, N.J.; (888) 407-9281
Pentair Water Pool and Spa, of Sanford, N.C.; 1-888-711-7495
Rising Dragon USA, of E. Sweetwater, Tenn.; 1-866-478-3521
Waterway Plastics, of Oxnard, Calif. (866) 719-6044
What should you do: For details, see the press release from US Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11230.html Additional Information: VOLUNTARY CORRECTION ACTION PLAN (CAP) by Lawson Aquatics, http://www.lawsonaquatics.com/CAP.htm Lawson Aquatics has issued a VOLUNTARY CORRECTION ACTION PLAN (CAP) FOR 18" X 18" MAIN DRAINS ONLY. The models affected are:
If they are installed in a dual main drain pool or gravity drainage system in a body of water greater than 2 feet, they are not affected. If they are installed in a single drain pool, or any body of water greater than 24 ", they are affected. If gallons per minutes allow, they have a grate to switch it out. If it is greater than 515 gpm, they need to ascertain on a case by case basis. Please contact them at: Shawn Doty 800-897-6160 or shawn@laswonaquatics.com. SVRS RECALL - 1/19/11 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Vacless Systems of Sylmar, Calif., has announced a voluntary recall of the company's Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS). The recalled product has model number SVRS10ADJ and only involves the following serial numbers found on the weather-proof label attached to the top of every unit: 061040994 through 061041353 For more information, visit http://www.vacless.com Recent legislative changes to the swimming pool & spa energy efficiency regulations -- what you need to know to be prepared for the 2011 effective date by Jennifer Hatfield In 2008 the Florida Legislature passed HB 7135, a wide-reaching energy bill that included new requirements for swimming pools and spas. These requirements, slated to take effect July 1, 2011, were similar to the energy efficiency requirements passed in California under Title 20 and 24 of the California Energy Code. Since the passage of HB 7135, slight changes were made to Title 20 and 24, and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals began developing standards to help ensure that all states adopt the same energy efficiency standards rather than the industry ending up with 50 states with 50 different standards. The Florida Swimming Pool Association recognized in 2009 that some of the language in the original HB 7135 was either inconsistent with developing national standards or was not entirely clear. Clarification language was put forth to be amended onto 2010 legislation. This language:
This language was successfully amended onto HB 663 by Rep. Aubuchon and SB 648 by Sen. Bennett; the 2010 session’s all encompassing building code legislation. HB 663 passed the House on a 111-3 vote and just this past Friday, the last day of the 2010 legislative session, it passed the Senate unanimously. The bill is currently on its way to the Governor for his signature. The Governor can veto HB 663, but at this time there is no inclination he will do so, this piece of legislation has many pieces vital to the construction industry. It is also critical to understand that the legislation is only part of the forthcoming new requirements. The Florida Building Commission put together a Pool Energy Workgroup that concluded additional code regulations need to be developed in order to implement the legislative requirements. These code changes are the current APSP-14 and APSP-15 energy efficiency standard drafts and they will be vetted at this summers FBC meeting. These documents do not change any of the legislative requirements; they provide contractors with additional guidance. However, most important to note is any pool and spa energy changes adopted by the 2010 Florida Building Code will go into effect December 31, 2011. In conclusion, this means that if the Governor signs HB 663 and the Florida Building Commission adopt the proposed energy code changes the following are important dates to remember:
FSPA will announce when the Governor signs the bill. It will also work to alert the industry and consumers of these pending changes, and work to develop CE courses on these changes. Watch for additional information regarding energy efficiency requirements for pools and spas in the coming months. Questions contact: Jennifer@floridapoolpro.com NEW CODE REVISIONS FOR NEW YORK New York has adopted the 2010 revisions to the NY Building Code and the NY Residential Code which contains significant changes for swimming pools, hot tubs and spas both commercial and residential: NY Residential Code - New Section G106.1.1, provides that swimming pool suction outlets may be designed and installed in accordance with ANSI/APSP7 as an alternative to compliance with Sections G106.2 – G106.5. Interpretation: If a builder chooses to construct a residential swimming pool or spa in accordance with the ANSI/APSP - 7 Standard for Suction Entrapment Avoidance in Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs and Spas, a suction vacuum release system (SVRS) may no longer be necessary. Building Code - Section 3109 (Revised for swimming pools or spas that do not fit the definition of a residential pool or spa found in section G101.1) – This section states that pools and spas must be constructed in accordance with entrapment avoidance requirements of the Department of Health and the Federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. In addition, like the NY Residential Code revisions (see above) it offers the builder a choice of building in accordance with the ANSI/APSP 7 or following the specific language of Section 3109.6.2 which may require the installation of an SVRS along with several other mandates. For further information please contact NESPA at 609-689-9111. NEW GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FROM NJ HEALTH DEPARTMENT REGADING CHLORINE LEVELS AT COMMERCIAL SWIMMING POOLS IN NEW JERSEY - 9/2010 A recent request was made for interpretation from the Department regarding free chlorine and bromine levels in public pools. The request was “Can public swimming pools exceed the chlorine and bromine maximum free levels in both indoor and outdoor swimming pools and spas and conform to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 1 and 2 for free chlorine and bromine. Also, please be advised that this is a guidance policy if the local health authority will allow a public pool within its jurisdiction to exceed the current maximum levels of disinfectant as state in the current Public Recreational Bathing rule, N.J.A.C. 8:26-7.8 and 7.12. As for a certified laboratory changing their requirements and not reporting a failure of a water sample, they are only stating that a sample has not failed if the microbiological test passes and the pH is good then the free chlorine can exceed 4 and not >10. All the other operational parameters must be good and tested by the facility and approved by the LHA. GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE APPROVES ANSI/APSP-7 SUCTION ENTRAPMENT AVOIDANCE STANDARD ENDING REQUIREMENT FOR SVRS WITH PROPERLY BUILT DUAL MAIN DRAIN SYSTEMS Safe Storage and Handling of Pool Chemicals http://www.epa.gov/swercepp/web/docs/chem/spalert.pdf This information is provided solely as a notice of changing laws and regulations that may affect your business. POM does not dispense legal advice and assumes no liability for the contents of this informagtion. You are urged to seek competent legal advice if they have any questions on this or any other law or regulation that may affect them.
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