Last year we worked very hard to make sure all DRD run pools met the requirements of the Federally Mandated Virginia Graeme –Baker Pool and Spa Safety  Act (VGB).  Enacted to protect swimmers from entrapment hazards in commercial pools caused by such things as high-suction single drains that can catch hair or create a suction powerful enough to hold a person under water,  the VGB act forced the pool industry to re-tool their manufacturing plants to produce suction covers that prevent body, limb and hair entrapment.

All in all, we were able to get in excess of 200 pools compliant with the new requirements, which was no mean feat. Our biggest challenge was getting enough product in place quickly enough to meet the Maryland state deadline last year.

Manufacturers across the country scrambled to re-tool their plants to get this done in time, and we would like to commend Baystate Pool Supplies and South Central Pool Supply of Baltimore for their herculean efforts. They were instrumental in providing the material we needed to get this done in a timely fashion.
Even though all our pools were brought to standard last year, we’ll continue to check all suction fittings for new and existing pools to make sure they are in compliance before the season gets under way. Kudos to our friends at Baystate and SCP for working hard to help us keep our pools as safe as they can be!

Tags: commercial pools, DRD Pools, Maryland pools, pool entrapment hazards, pool safety, pool supplies, Virginia Graeme Baker Act