Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB)

General Overview:

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (VGB Act) was enacted by Congress and signed by President Bush on December 19, 2007. Designed to prevent drain entrapments and eviscerations in pools and spas, the law became effective on December 19, 2008.

Under the law, all public pools and spas must have ANSI/ASME A112.19.8 performance standard, or the successor standard ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 2017 compliant drain covers installed and a second anti-entrapment system installed, when there is a single main drain other than an unblockable drain. 

Background Information:

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act represents an important step to ensure pool and spa safety.  The law specifies that it is to be interpreted and enforced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Currently, most waterparks are already compliant and employ anti-entrapment features including gravity drains, multiple drains and low flow rates through drains. The risk of entrapment has been addressed with these features.

Please keep in mind that much of the general information available online applies most to pools and spas and not waterpark attractions. Waterparks with regular pools, spas and hot tubs should refer to the VGB Act to confirm compliance.

Latest News:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has voted to adopt ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 2017 Standard for Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies (SOFA) for Use in Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs as the next successor standard referenced in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Act (VGBA). This rule was announced in the Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 101 / Friday, May 24, 2019 / Rules and Regulations. For your information, this standard was approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on August 18, 2017. 

Call To Action:

WWA asks that any member who experiences an issue related to any part of the VGB Act at their facility to please inform the WWA Office by calling +1-913-599-0300. If you have questions or concerns about the VGB Act, please email WWA's Government Relations Committee

Useful Links:

Download the latest version of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act, last revised in 2014. Download

Purchase and download the ANSI/APSP-16 2011 standard.