International pool and spa code gets approval

by MODE, ignore | May 9, 2012 3:42 pm

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U.S. residential and commercial pool and spa builders will soon have a new uniform set of requirements to follow after the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) was recently approved by the International Code Council (ICC) and Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP).

The core of the ISPSC is the incorporation of the current American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/APSP pool and spa standards, which cover the design, installation and inspection of aquatic vessels (e.g. public pools, spas and aquatic recreational facilities, above-ground, onground and inground residential pools, permanently installed residential spas, portable spas, barriers for all residential pools, and spas and suction entrapment avoidance for these installations).

“By adopting the ISPSC, local municipalities and states have a ready-made, federally compliant code that enhances consumer safety and minimizes time and money in the development and tracking of separate state codes,” says Carvin DiGiovanni, APSP senior director, technical and standards. “Adoption of the ISPSC empowers manufacturers and builders to build confidently with a consistent code across all 50 states and beyond.

“It’s one of the most important developments for our industry in setting the groundwork for enhancing the safety of consumers and increasing opportunities for industry companies to expand their markets by building and working with one uniform code.”

The code’s development is a result of the combined efforts of APSP and ICC, in collaboration with other standards groups—such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), which have their own specific pool and spa standards—to develop co-operative language for final incorporation into this comprehensive code. The ISPSC includes safety provisions meeting the requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA), as well as the latest industry best practices.

Rob Wood, Pool & Hot Tub Council of Canada (PHTCC) executive director, says the approval of the ISPSC is a positive step forward for the industry.

“Representatives of the PHTCC provided the ICC with a few recommended amendments to the draft document upon its review earlier in the year,” says Wood. “Once we are assured the final document is in keeping with Canadian practices, it may be of benefit to the industry to promote its implementation across the country.”

The ISPSC will be published in March and the APSP will work with the ICC to encourage adoption of the code. For more information, visit www.iccsafe.org[2].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/international-pool-and-spa-code-gets-approval/

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