NO PUBLIC POOL IS EXEMPT FROM AB1020
On October 20, 2009, California Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB1020 into law, a vital piece of pool safety legislation to help minimize entrapments, drowning and other pool accidents. All public pools must comply and have changes made by July, 2010.
The bill makes it easier for public pool owners to comply with the current federal pool safety law. It states that all current public single drain pools must be fitted with an anti-entrapment device like a safety vacuum release system. All public pools must also be fitted with approved safety drain covers. The law makes it easier for California’s public pools to comply with the provisions of the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. It also makes it easier for California officials to enforce the Act.
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was signed into law in December 2007. The law is named after the granddaughter of former US Secretary of State James Baker. The little girl drowned in a hot tub when she became trapped, sucked down by the drain. The law requires all public pools and spas in the county to have drain covers installed. It also requires another additional anti-entrapment device installed when there is a single main drain, besides an unblockable drain.
The law was passed to prevent child drowning incidents in pools and spas from such suction entrapment. In California, there have been several cases where children have been trapped by the forceful suction emanating from the pool drain. The suction power can be strong enough to entrap adults.
The Act also known as the P&SS Act became effective in December last year, but enforcement has been a problem. Because the P&SS act is a federal law, states are not mandated to enforce it. AB1020 was meant to make it easier for California public pools to comply with the provisions of the Act. Now public pools can comply with the law for prices ranging from $1,500 to $10,000. depending on pool size and requirements.
Pools that do not comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act can face up to $100,000 in fines, and these can climb up to $15 million in case of repeated violations. Bill AB1020 makes it clear that public pools don’t have to go through the expensive process of draining pools, installing unblockable drains or making expensive safety enhancements to comply with the provisions of the Act.
OCEAN SPRINGS TECH, INC. IS FULLY LICENSED AND CONTRACTED TO MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS TO COMPLY WITH THIS IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY LAW
