Leveraging Your NSF Certification: Now that you've received NSF Certification ... why not leverage the Mark to your advantage.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2008
CONTACT: Greta Houlahan
Phone: 734.913.5723
Email: houlahan@nsf.org
A&A Manufacturing, Hayward and Paddock Pool Equipment First to be Certified by NSF to Meet New Legislation
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Congress recently enacted new legislation to reduce the number of children that drown each year because of entrapment under water.
The goal of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act is to protect children from life-threatening injuries and deaths from potentially dangerous pool and spa drains. This is critical as Consumer Product Safety Commission* records indicate 126 suction entrapment accidents occurred between 1990 and October 2003, 25 of which resulted in death.
By December 20, 2008, all suction outlet fittings and covers manufactured, distributed, or sold in the United States must comply with ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007: Suction Fittings for Use in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and Whirlpool Bathtub Appliances. The ASME standard addresses many components, including requirements for ultraviolet (UV) resistance, loading, and multiple potential suction and mechanical entrapment hazards: hair entrapment, limb entrapment, and body suction entrapment.
Paddock Pool Equipment, Hayward, and A&A Manufacturing, a Division of Shasta, are the first companies to have products certified by NSF as compliant with the new anti-entrapment legislation. In order to obtain certification, these company’s products were tested and evaluated to the requirements of ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 and NSF/ANSI Standard 50: Circulation System Components and Related Materials for Swimming Pools, Spas/Hot Tubs. Several other companies have also applied for certification.
“Paddock Pool Equipment Company has always put safety first when it comes to aquatic play and competition swimming,” said Mike Schuett, Executive Vice President, Paddock Industries, Inc. “Many pool owners think that the new safety act applies only to the main drain cover/grate, and they don’t realize the hazard of the whole suction outlet fitting system. By obtaining certification from NSF, our customers know our products have met safety and performance requirements.”
Paddock’s 2424PCDC drain cover with the 18”x18” ESMD sump is NSF Standard 50 and ASME A112.19.8 Certified and Listed with a maximum flow rate of 1420 gallons per minute for floor or wall installation.
“The new legislation is a vital step in protecting public health,” said Richard Martin, NSF Recreational Water Business Manager. “At NSF, we provide manufacturers the means to demonstrate compliance with NSF, ASTM, ASME, and other standards using a truly independent third-party certification organization. Our reputation and technical abilities lend great confidence in our work. NSF is known as the leader in public health and safety for the recreational and aquatics industries. Public health officials, users, and manufacturers seek a provider they know they can trust to do the job accurately and properly.”
Jepson Sutton, R&D Director of A&A Manufacturing noted, “Our AVSC drain is currently the only 'large aperture' or 'debris removal' drain that has been certified to the new safety standard. Although other certification facilities are available, A&A Manufacturing felt that it was important to obtain our certification from NSF International due to NSF’s reputation in helping to ensure all products are tested to the most stringent requirements."
"Hayward® Pool Products has been America’s first choice in swimming pool equipment for more than 40 years,” said Joe DiOrio, Product Manager-White Goods for Hayward Industries, Inc. “Obtaining agency approvals like NSF/ANSI Standard 50 and ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 is just one step in our efforts to help ensure our products are in compliance with the latest industry standards. For compliant suction outlet covers (drain covers), Hayward has an NSF Tested and Certified 8” round series (WG1048). Hayward will continue to work with NSF to evaluate, test and certify many of our other products as well."
All manufacturers that have met ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 requirements are listed on NSF’s Web site.
For more information on certification to the new pool and spa safety legislation contact Richard Martin at 734-769-5346, martin@nsf.org or visit the NSF Web site.
About NSF International: NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water and consumer goods (www.nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. Additional services include safety audits for the food and water industries, management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, organic certification provided by Quality Assurance International and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education.
* Public Field Hearing Concerning Swimming Pool Safety U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
