§8003 Federal Swimming Pool and Spa Drain Cover Standard

Summary

Makes pool and spa drain covers and anti-entrapment devices follow set safety standards and gives the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) authority to enforce those rules. One year after December 19, 2007, any drain cover made, sold, or brought into the U.S. must meet the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 standard or a later version. If a new version is proposed, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers must tell the CPSC, and the CPSC can adopt it after giving 30 days’ public notice if it finds the change is in the public interest. Also starting one year after December 19, 2007, every public pool and spa must have anti-entrapment systems that meet ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 or its successor. Public pools with a single main drain that is not unblockable must have at least one approved device, such as a safety vacuum release system (which must be independently tested and meet ASME/ANSI A112.19.17 or ASTM F2387), a suction-limiting vent, a collector-tank gravity system, an automatic pump shut-off, a drain-disabling device, or another system the CPSC finds equally good. Such devices must meet any applicable ASME/ANSI, ASTM, or consumer product safety standard. A violation counts as a breach of the Consumer Product Safety Act and can be enforced under that law. Definitions: “public pool and spa” means pools open to the public, pools for members/residents/hotel guests, or pools run by the federal government for military or federal employees and their families.