Cedar Management Group Blog
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety law took effect December 19, 2008. It was named after a granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker, who drowned after becoming entrapped by a spa drain in 2002.
All pools classified as “public,” which includes pools at condominium and homeowners associations, must comply with a the new federal law requiring the installation of federally approved drain covers and sometimes backup safety equipment to prevent swimmers from being trapped underwater by the suction that can occur at drains.
In general, the law requires pool owners to reduce the suction effect by installing two (2) drains or unblockable drain covers and, in some cases, a backup system in case an approved drain cover fails.
According to pool contractors and safety officials, the average cost to install the equipment necessary to comply with the law is about $1,500 or more. Failure to comply can lead to fines up to $15 million and could leave associations open to liability in case of an injury or death.
To this day many pools still are not in compliance. A spokesman for the Pool Safety Council believes that a lot of people do not know about the law or are willingly not complying.
