Insurance Companies Pick Up Where States Can't Or Won't Inforce New Federal Swimming Pool Law

Dec. 31, 2008 - PRLog -- Some states and counties across the nation have said they will not be enforcing the new law this year . Many state that they do not have the man power or money in their budget to do so. This is where the insurance companies
Are stepping up to get the pools compliant. The average swim club or community pool carries up to a 3 million dollar policy  against injury or death .  The insurance companies are making these pools comply to avoid the risk of law suites. If the pools do not comply they will not have the insurance coverage remain open. One of the biggest law suites settlements ever won over a  pool drain injury was  for the sum of 30 million dollars  . The Valerie Lakey case  referring to the 5-year-old girl was disemboweled, but survived, after being caught and suctioned by wading pool's defective drain. The case was tried and won by John Edwards against the manufacture of the drain., pool Associations, and management company of the pool.  


The act, signed by President George W. Bush on Dec. 19, 2007, goes into effect Dec. 19 of this year. It is called the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, named after the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker. She died after becoming stuck on the drain of a spa in 2002..  This is a federal law for all commercial pools and swim clubs to have new drain covers or SVRS * installed in all pools to meet the new code to prevent bodily injury and/or death. All covers and SVRS * must meet or exceed the  ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 National Standards and ASTM G154 for UV Testing. This is stamped on all compliant covers and the law is regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission as well as state and local pool inspectors. All pools must have the new type of drain covers, which don't easily create suction. Pools with just one drain must also install a second drain system or an external shut-off (SVRS).
The bill states that the maximum fine is $1.8 million and for pool closer until compliant with the law. National Swimming Pool Foundation officials said that some pool owners might have to spend up to $15,000 to update their drainage system. Thirty-three children died from pool or spa suction between 1985 and 2004, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, a Washington-based nonprofit group.
POOLCENTER.com has had A hard time keeping up with the high demand for the new compliant covers and svrs systems . With most of the manufactures having the items on backorder. Most of the drains did not pass the Consumer product safety commission testing until a few weeks before the law went into effect. Jonathan Ruhe of POOLCENTER.com’s purchasing department says “ The demand is just so great on these items and supply is just not there yet”

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