Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act
As of December 19, 2008 a Federal law went into effect pertaining to public swimming pool main drain and skimmer equalizer line covers.  This law mandates a particular acceptable cover.  There have been many recorded deaths by drowning because the wrong main drain covers and/or skimmer equalizer covers were installed or broken.

The Act specifies that on or after December 19, 2008, swimming pool and spa drain covers available for purchase in the United States must meet specific performance requirements.  Additionally, public swimming pools, wading pools, spas and hot tubs must meet requirements for installation of compliant drain covers.  Also, in certain instances, public pools and spas must have additional devices or systems designed to prevent suction entrapment, evisceration or hair getting wrapped around the old grate style covers.

Under current law, the maximum penalty for one or more related violations is $1.825 million.  Congress is considering legislation that would increase this penalty to $10 million or higher.  A willful violation of the drain cover standard could result in criminal penalties, including fines or imprisonment, under Section 21 of the Consumer Product Safety Act. In the near future, States will receive federal grants to ensure that all swimming pools, residential or public, comply with these safety regulations.

How Does the New Title 20 Law Affect You? If you have a swimming pool, listen up. If it's not new construction and you have been enjoying it for years, you need to know about Title 20, especially if you live in California. In brief, the California Energy Commission (CEC) Title 20 Appliance Efficiency Regulations as they relate to the residential swimming pool industry require that new or replacement residential pool filtration pumps must meet certain energy efficiency standards.

Pool Pump Efficiency Regulations The regulation states that pool pump motors manufactured on or after January 1, 2006, may not be split-phase or capacitor start (this means the induction run type). Further, the pump must be of two-speed capability. Simply, this means that the pump needs to operate at two or more speeds, with a low speed having a rotation rate that is no more than one-half of the motor's maximum rotation rate. The default circulation speed shall be the lowest speed, with a high-speed override capability for a temporary period not to exceed one normal cycle.

Does your system meet the new standards? It could be that part of your system is up to par and you just need to upgrade other parts. However, you may not know without calling a professional out to have a look at your existing system. Penalties can be heavy if your pool equipment doesn't measure up to new Title 20 standards, so be mindful of the new law. Upgrading your equipment can vary in price, so we cannot give you a quote over the phone. We can come out for a no-fee, no-obligation consultation. We'll give you straight talk on your system and what you need to do to have it upgraded to meet today's standards. We'll keep your budget in mind, too.

Schedule a Free Consultation With 2nd Generation Pools Before you fret over costs, remember this… In the long run, whatever you spend to upgrade will come back to you in energy savings. Learn more. Contact us to schedule a consultation, so we can take a look at your pool equipment. You might be just fine. You might not need a thing. If that's the case, we'll tell you so!