Comments were submitted by NAA/NMHC to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) on Dec. 12 about its plan to revoke their interpretive rule on “unblockable drains” for purposes of complying with the requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA). As a result of this action, pool owners and operators who followed this earlier interpretation may now face additional compliance obligations.
The CPSC sought public input on the feasibility of pools coming into compliance with the revised interpretation with input due May 28. NAA/NMHC’s comments highlighted the multifamily housing industry’s frustrations over the Act’s broader compliance issues, i.e., those associated with the initial drain cover requirements, a subsequent manufacturer recall of May 2011 and the lack of guidance from the CPSC.
NAA/NMHC asked the CPSC to establish a system for responding to inquiries about proposed system designs to aid in compliance. NAA/NMHC also requested that the CPSC monitor and evaluate owner/operator progress in becoming compliant with the new requirements and consider amending the enforcement date accordingly. Information and NAA/NMHC’s comments are available at http://tinyurl.com/4td5kr.