78-79 WORLD NEWS:SPN Master pages 20/11/2009 11:29 Page 2
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OBAMA ACTS TOUGH AND
SHUTS DOWN 200 POOLS
change, a handful of Obama In a move designed as much is reworking the relationship
appointees have been quietly for symbolism as effect, the new between government and
exercising their power over the chairman of the Consumer business.
trappings of daily life. In a Product Safety Commission The US swimming pool trade
powerful move which has dispatched all 100 agency has recently been exposed as
caught a lot of the US napping, inspectors across the country failing to comply with the new
the Government’s action has last month to enforce a law that Virginia Graeme Baker Act – the
been swift and decisive. requires special drains on law which requires them to
Obama’s ’workforce’ are swimming pools to prevent install new, safer suction covers
awakening a vast regulatory children from entrapment. The to prevent the risk of
apparatus with authority over agency shut down more than entrapment.
The Obama administration in nearly every US workplace and 200 pools. The US Network television
the United States is taking on the issue of slow undertaking The new regulators display a NBC’s Today show found that
swimming pool drains. by swimming pool owners to passion for rules and a belief thousands of pools in the US
With much of Washington take action on the highly that government must protect were failing to comply. And the
focused on efforts to revamp publicised Virginia Graeme the public from dangers lurking trade has been in the past two
the President’s health-care Baker Act has been the at home and on the job – one months on the receiving end of
system and address climate forefront of the action. more way the new White House critical press coverage.
RENOVATION HOPE AS FIGURES SHOW HALF
OF US POOLS ARE OVER 15 YEARS OLD
For more than three years the 38% share of the new figure was bleak.
specialist pool trade in the US construction market and a 42% Today, as many as 48% of all
has been talking of a deeper share of the renovation market. pools are more than 15 years
and more sever downturn than “Replacement is about old, which provides multiple
it expected. The stark reality double new construction,” he opportunities for renovation ROMANIAN MARKET
behind the downturn was said. “Liners, tiles, plaster – all of jobs, Perez de la Mesa said. ORGANISES ITSELF
evident last month when new those need to be replaced. Indeed, the replacement The worldwide pool trade
industry figures were released Those volumes have more market could bring as much as continues to expand – despite
for 2009. impact than new pools.” $660m in product sales once tough trading conditions. A
The statistics came as part Pool construction hit a high of an economic recovery gets new specialist association is
of a presentation by Perez de approximately 210,000 in 2005, thoroughly under way. now trading in Romania where
la Mesa, Chief Executive of the according to estimates. The “And even if the market interest has developed in pools
US distribution giant PoolCom numbers dropped to: remains sluggish, some of that and spas in the past 10 years to
who spoke to 900 employees 2006: 189,920 revenue will still be seen, a point where the industry has
gathered for the annual 2007: 139,920 company officials said. now organised itself. Several
National Sales Conference and 2008: 79,920 “Economic conditions over specialist companies active in
Trade Show. 2009: 43,920 (est.) the past year have forced design, construction,
With more than 240 many pool owners to put off installation and maintenance of
branches in the United States, But he said that there was repairs, but that can’t continue swimming pools, saunas, spas
the distribution company has a some good news and not every indefinitely.” as well as sale of swimming
pool equipment and
accessories have created
APPW – Association of
Employers in the field of
Swimming Pool and Wellness
to meet the European norms
and promote the industry.
Cristina Grigorescu is the new
association chairperson.
78 Swimming Pool News December 09 Digital edition available at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
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