The Texas Senate has passed a pool and spa safety bill that would implement safety requirements more stringent than those in the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.
SB 96 takes many VGB Act requirements for commercial vessels and places them on all pools and spas statewide.
And if passed as currently written, it would add other requirements as well. In addition to the drain requirements found in the federal law, the Texas legislation would require a safety vacuum release system, suction-limiting vent or other such device as a backup on all pools to prevent a vacuum from forming. If passed, the law will apply to pools and spas built on or after Sept. 1, 2009.
Existing single-drain pools renovated after that date must be modified to have a dual-drain, blockable drain or drainless system, as well as some of the shut-off devices.
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