Builder: Page 195

Villa Lante: Lessons of Ages

For those who believe that aquatic design began with the swimming pools of the 20th Century, think again, says landscape architect and educator Mark Holden, an artist ...

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Underfunded SPEC Makes Plea For Survival

John Norwood, president of the California Spa and Pool Industry Education Council (SPEC), says the organization’s fundraising goals have fallen short in recent years and threaten the survival of the industry watchdog.

Underwater Art

Pool and spa service professionals, in particular, can relate to Danny Clark's story. A photographer in Houston, Clark was noticing a lot of photographers entering ...

Better Business Practices Means Better Pool Building

A renowned master of custom residential swimming pool design and construction, David Tisherman is also famous for his unabridged commentary about the shortcomings ...

October 2011 Spotlight: Brenda Murr, Vice President, Mermaid Pool, Spa & Patio, Muncie, Ind.

Mermaid does a good job of pulling the community into its charity events, principally to benefit BioGuard Splash for CF, a nationwide fundraiser in support of ...

New Designs

Welcome to the first installment of AQUA Architecture, a brand-new special section covering the cutting edge of aquatic design and construction – content we hope will ...

CPSC Changes VGB Rule

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has voted to reverse its earlier ruling on unblockable drains under VGB. Before the vote yesterday, an approved ...

Book Review: "International Award Winning Pools, Spas and Water Environments II"

Recently released by Schiffer Publishing, International Award Winning Pools, Spas & Water Environments II, by Virginia Martino, Joseph Vassallo and ...

Succeed In Spa Sales By Doing What Costco Can't Do

The dedicated, brick-and-mortar spa retailer faces tough adversaries in warehouse stores and internet sites, both of which offer low prices for equipment and chemicals. That's ...

Reminder: VGB Vote Tomorrow

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will meet tomorrow, Wednesday, September 28, to reevaluate its current position that a pool with an unblockable drain cover does not require an additional level of protection. The CPSC will vote on and possibly revoke this interpretation.Since the Pool & Spa Safety Act (P&SSA) was enacted, there have been no U.S. entrapment fatalities and no serious injuries to justify implementing a costly new requirement.The unintended consequences of revoking this rule may increase the risk of drowning, thus conflicting with the intent of the law.This change will create confusion in the market with no net benefit.Lack of Scientific Support to Implement There have been no U.S. entrapment fatalities or serious injuries since the Pool & Spa Safety Act was enacted to justify implementing a costly new requirement. As a result, there is no scientific evidence to justify adding another level of protection when compliant unblockable drain covers have been used.Unintended Consequences May Increase Drowning Risk The unintended consequences of this change may increase the risk of drowning, thus conflicting with the intent of the P&SSA. The nation has suffered the most severe economic recession since the Great Depression. Though justified, the Pool & Spa Safety Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act have placed an additional burden on aquatic facilities during a financially vulnerable time. In addition, the CPSC issued a recall prior to the 2011 swim season that resulted in new resource challenges for facilities to comply with the P&SSA.Confusion with No Net Benefit The CPSC has funded several millions of dollars with contractors to create and disseminate educational materials to consumers, industry, and health officials. Changing the interpretation after all training contracts have ended will create confusion. Additional confusion may occur since there have been no serious injuries or deaths, suggesting that the proposed rule change would be ill-justified.

Doll Too Real For Pool

Last July at the Holmes Aquatic Center in University Park, Texas, a lifeguard told a mother she had to dress her daughter's lifelike doll in a bathing suit if she wanted to bring it back to the swimming pool because it was "creeping her out."

Crucial VGB Vote Wednesday

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is scheduled to meet tomorrow to discuss and vote on a proposal to change VGB’s current definition of an unblockable drain.

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