Virginia Graeme Baker Act Advisory
On December 19, 2007 the Virginia Graeme Baker Federal Pool and Spa Safety Act was signed into law. The act is named after the granddaughter of the former Secretary of State James Baker, who died in 2002 when the suction from a spa drain entrapped her under the water.
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requires that all public swimming pools and spas be equipped with anti-entrapment drain covers that comply with the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 standard by December 19, 2008.
California AB1020 Bill Highlights: California Public Pool & Spa Safety Act
Assembly Bill 1020 was signed into law on October 11, 2009 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The purpose of this new law is to ensure that California law is in conformance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Federal Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB) designed to prevent entrapment hazards associated with public swimming pools and spas.
According to this law:
- Every Public pool/spa/wading pool shall be equipped with anti-entrapment drain covers that comply with the latest compliance standards adopted by the California State Department of Public Health (CDPH).
- If the Public pool/spa/wading pool has a single main drain that is not an unblockable drain shall be equipped with at least one or more of the following devices or systems that are designed to prevent physical entrapment by pool drains:
- A safety vacuum release system (SVRS)
- A suction-limiting vent system
- A gravity drainage system that utilizes a collector tank
- An automatic pump shut-off system
- Other system deemed, in accordance with federal law, to be equally effective as, or more effective than the above listed systems
- CDPH will issue a form by March 31, 2010, which will be posted on their website to be used as the compliance documentation by Pool Owners.
- Form shall be submitted within 30 days of completion of work or if completed prior to the forms availability, within 30 days of the forms publication.
- Form must be signed by and license number provided by a contractor who holds a current valid license issued by the State of California or a professional engineer licensed in the State of California who has experience working on public swimming pools.
- Until January 1, 2014, CDPH may assess an annual fee on the owners of each Public pool/spa/wading pool, to be collected by the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department, not to exceed six dollars ($6).
- Failure to comply is a misdemeanor and punishable by law.
What this means to the Swimming Pool Owner/Operator:
- Public pools/spas/wading pools built on or after January 1, 2010, shall have two (2) main drains per pump, hydraulically balanced and symmetrically plumbed through one or more “T” fittings separated three (3) feet apart.
- Public pools/spas/wading pools built prior to January 1, 2010, must comply with the retrofit by July 1, 2010.
- Public pools/spas/wading pools that have completed the VGB retrofit between December 19, 2007 and January 1, 2010 and have received a written approval from our Department do not need to do anything else.
- Public pools/spas/wading pools that have completed the VGB retrofit between December 19, 2007 and January 1, 2010 but have not submitted to our Department for review and approval must submit for approval and provide the CDPH form to our Department by September 30, 2010 verifying work has been completed.
- CDPH form must be submitted to our Department within 30 days of retrofit work being completed.
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