Swimming Pool News June 2009

80-81 WORLD NEWS:SPN Master pages 18/5/09 17:12 Page 3
US POOLS STRUGGLE
NEWS IN BRIEF
US SWIMMING
POOLS GO SOLAR IN 21 acre pool will be
A MAJOR WAY
TO ENFORCE ANTI-
world’s largest
It’s official – the fastest- The world’s largest swimming
growing market for solar
ENTRAPMENT LAW
pool is to be built at a new
water systems in the United $5.5bn development in the
States is swimming pools. Last Egyptian coastal resort of Sharm
year, about 95% of the square Pool operators throughout the that if they are not in El Sheikh. It is going to be one
footage of all solar collectors United States are still compliance at this point, they monster pool, measuring 21
shipped to US markets were scrambling to comply with a need to work quickly to come acres! And the best thing is that
for swimming pools. new law requiring installation of into compliance.” it’s just one of 12 giant lagoons
A recent analysis of such anti-entrapment drain covers in Although many pools have not that will be built right on the
systems for pools in Florida public swimming pools and spas installed the anti-entrapment beach. The company building the
found that homeowners – covers designed to prevent drain covers, swimming pools pools is called Crystal Lagoons,
generally recoup their drownings and injuries related are open. Many pools ordered and they build huge swimming
investment in one and a half to drain suction. the covers a month ago and will pools all over the world –
to seven years, with an The law took effect in install them by the start of the currently the largest pool in the
installed system typically December last year but local summer season. world is one of nearly 20 acres
costing from $2,000 - $4,000. pool operators acknowledge One pool operator said that the company built in Chile.
A solar heating system for they have been allowing authorities didn’t close the Crystal Lagoons is working with
pools uses the same swimmers into pools even swimming pools when the law local Egyptian investors. The
principle as a garden hose though the new protections went into effect, because they entire development is going to
lying in the sun. When you aren’t fully in place. Those pools, believed the entrapment risk include 30,000 home units,
turn on the tap, out comes however, won’t face was low since the pools had several five star hotels, a museum
hot water. The sun’s energy consequences for failing to multiple, unblockable drains. and a shopping center.
has been absorbed by the comply with the law because “It was felt that if we closed
hose and transmitted as health inspectors aren’t the pool, does that then pose a
heat to the water inside. The enforcing it yet. greater risk to the public who New US code for pool
hose acts a solar collector. Under the Virginia Graeme aren’t able to take swim lessons illnesses
For a pool, the filtration Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, and aren’t able to swim?” he said. A new countrywide US code of
system pumps water from public swimming pools and spas Pool operators across the practice designed to be a
the pool to the solar must install the drain covers. A country have blamed delays on comprehensive set of rules for
collectors, which might be pool or spa that has a single complying with the law on a aquatics facility development and
on the roof of a pool house main drain must also put in a shortage of suitable drain covers. illnesses is being launched later
or somewhere else near the back-up system, such as an “What we’re hearing in private this year. The draft of the Model
pool. There, the water is automatic pump shut-off, if conversation is that the majority Aquatic Health Code may be
heated through solar something blocks the drain. of pools are still not compliant ready by autumn 2009.
radiation and returned to The law applies to municipal and many of them are really Written by aquatics
the pool. Because of the pools and spas as well as those having challenges,” said Tom professionals and health experts,
large volumes of water at hotels and motels and Lachocki, CEO of the National the code is designed to be a
being heated, pools require apartment complexes. Swimming Pool Foundation. comprehensive standard for
large collectors – sometimes The law is named for former Cities that close their pools aquatics facility development and
they are as big as the pool’s Secretary of State James during the winter say they are operation. Topics include design,
surface area itself. Baker’s granddaughter, who working on replacing the water chemistry, air quality,
The market for solar pool- drowned in 2002 when she drain covers. equipment and filtration.
heating systems has been was trapped at the bottom of The Consumer Product “The whole reason for creating
strong. The Solar Energy a hot tub by the powerful Safety Commission is the code in the first place is to
Industries Association says suction from its drain. She was responsible for enforcing the prevent swimming pool and spa
more than 500,000 seven years old. law, but Wolfson said the water illnesses. In prioritising, we
swimming pools nationally According to the US agency is relying on state and determined that the first section
are heated with solar water Consumer Product Safety county health inspectors to should be the one dealing with
systems. Many of the new Commission, there were 74 make sure public pool and spa fecal accidents,” said Doug
systems replaced existing reported cases of entrapment in operators have met the law’s Sackett, director of the Aquatic
electric or gas heaters that pools and spas from 1999 to requirements. Health Code and Risk Reduction
can be costly to run. In many 2007, resulting in nine deaths. Alan Korn, Public Policy for the Centers for Disease
cases, however, solar pool “This is aimed at preventing a Director for Safe Kids USA, said Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
heaters are added to hidden and deadly hazard in parents should ask pool He noted that as additional
unheated pools, allowing the some pools all across the operators if they have installed topics become available for
owners to use their pools for country,” said Scott Wolfson, the anti- entrapment drain review, interested professionals
several more weeks – or safety commission spokesman. covers. He also advises parents can participate in the public
even months – each season. “It is critical for public pool and to tell their children to stay away comment periods for each section.
spa operators to understand from the drains. Currently, there are 12 technical
committees of approximately 10
members each, all in various stages
NEVADA SAFETY LEGISLATION CAUSES SPLIT
of developing pieces of the code.
Committee members include
New legislation proposed in Nevada in the United States would require homeowners to enclose health officials, pool operators,
swimming pools with fences or equip the pools with alarms. Supporters of the bill say it would help designers and manufacturers.
prevent child drownings, but critics say it would be a costly expense for homeowners. Pool experts say For more informtion see
an alarm system can cost as little as $20, while a fence runs more than $1,000. www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming
Visit our website at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk JUNE 09 swimming pool news 81
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