The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (VGBA) is federal law: every public pool and spa drain cover must meet the ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 standard, and a single blockable main drain must be protected by a secondary anti-entrapment system. The CPSC incorporated ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 as the successor drain cover standard in 2019 (replacing ASME A112.19.8), and covers manufactured on or after 24 May 2021 are marked VGBA-2017 and labelled blockable or unblockable.
Where a pool or spa has a single blockable main drain, the operator must either disable the drain or add one of the recognised secondary systems:
- Safety vacuum release system (SVRS)
- Suction-limiting vent system
- Gravity drainage system
- Automatic pump shut-off
- Drain disablement
Multiple drains on the same suction line count as independent outlets only when separated by at least 3 feet; drains closer than that (or on the same plane) are treated like a single drain. Covers also carry a manufacturer-stated service life and must be replaced by that date — an inspection should record the install date and replacement due date for every cover.
CertBox includes a VGB anti-entrapment compliance report covering the drain cover inventory, suction configuration and secondary systems, with a professional PDF for the operator or health department.
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