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Altering an Anti-entrapment cover

Posted by Wes Burdine on January 8, 2009 at 1:36pm in Safety, Standards, and Codes
I had a call today from someone wanting to know if they took the center part, (the drain cover) from the frame, and drilled new holes in the cover so it would match the existing frame, would they be in VGB compliance.They are using a Aquastar RFS9 XXX "Retrofit 9" Square to 8" Anti-Entrapment Suction Outlet Cover"I am assuming they would definitely be non-compliant, but hey, you never know. This has also significantly increased the velocity of the H2O. I told them any field modification to the product would bring non-compliance into the picture. They still wanted me to ask.Any ideas??Thanks~ Wes

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Tags: flow, rate, velocity, vgb
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Replies

  • Wes Burdine January 20, 2009 at 4:39am
    Great advice Scott. Thanks.
  • Scott Heusser January 19, 2009 at 9:07am
    It is your professional responsibility to notify the owner/operator of unsafe conditions. At a minimum I would; A. take copious notes (and pictures if possible), B. Speak directly to a manager (decision maker) on site, C. Follow up with a registered letter outlining safety issues you witnessed, the dangers they pose and solutions both immediate and long-term and the fact that you spoke with person "X" while on site.

    Depending on the codes in your local area you may have responsibilities beyond that.

    Wes Burdine said:
    Is it my responsibility, as a CPO, to shut the pool down, alert authorities or some other action (any non-compliant pool refusing to to the work for that matter)? If so, where do I go? I don't want to be the "new sheriff" in town, but in the same breath, I don't want to be responsible for an injury or, heaven forbid, a death. I don't want to go to them and say...."I told you so". I have no enforcement authority, but I do feel a responsibility to the public.
    Any thoughts?
  • Wes Burdine January 17, 2009 at 10:12am
    Is it my responsibility, as a CPO, to shut the pool down, alert authorities or some other action (any non-compliant pool refusing to to the work for that matter)? If so, where do I go? I don't want to be the "new sheriff" in town, but in the same breath, I don't want to be responsible for an injury or, heaven forbid, a death. I don't want to go to them and say...."I told you so". I have no enforcement authority, but I do feel a responsibility to the public.
    Any thoughts?
  • David Bauer January 16, 2009 at 10:31am
    Automatic inspection failure
  • Scott Heusser January 13, 2009 at 5:17pm
    Hmm, $15m worth of gross negligence maybe? That is what the max fine is at now. I dont know about criminal penalties like prison time but I suppose that could be party of the penalty.

    Wes Burdine said:
    Remember the old commercial..."You can pay me now, or pay me later"? Only the later payment could be with a life. What are these people thinking?
    One of my local High Schools is still under the impression, (and I don't know how after my more than direct statements) that they'll table it for now and work it into next year's budget. I guess all I can do is make them aware, offer the solutions, and the rest is up to the owner.
    Can you imagine if someone gets hurt in any way, what a lawyer will do to them if they are not in compliance, have been repeatedly informed in writing, and still chose not to act? I'm smelling GROSS negligence. I myself will have a sick feeling in my stomach if it is an entrapment accident, knowing I informed them, yet couldn't get action.
  • Wes Burdine January 12, 2009 at 11:20am
    Thanks Hal. I was assuming this was the case. No need to email AquaStar then.

    Hal said:
    Any physical modification to a main drain cover will negate the certification of the cover. We have spoken with UL many, many times on this.
    The covers are tested as manufactured and cannot be modified.
  • Hal January 12, 2009 at 9:38am
    Any physical modification to a main drain cover will negate the certification of the cover. We have spoken with UL many, many times on this.
    The covers are tested as manufactured and cannot be modified.
  • Wes Burdine January 10, 2009 at 11:40pm
    Thanks Wendy, I'll do that. Great suggestion.

    Wendy Purser said:
    Email Aquastar to confirm for your customer but I'll take the bet on absolutely not.

    Wendy
  • Wendy Purser January 10, 2009 at 4:49pm
    Email Aquastar to confirm for your customer but I'll take the bet on absolutely not.

    Wendy
  • Wes Burdine January 9, 2009 at 9:05pm
    Remember the old commercial..."You can pay me now, or pay me later"? Only the later payment could be with a life. What are these people thinking?
    One of my local High Schools is still under the impression, (and I don't know how after my more than direct statements) that they'll table it for now and work it into next year's budget. I guess all I can do is make them aware, offer the solutions, and the rest is up to the owner.
    Can you imagine if someone gets hurt in any way, what a lawyer will do to them if they are not in compliance, have been repeatedly informed in writing, and still chose not to act? I'm smelling GROSS negligence. I myself will have a sick feeling in my stomach if it is an entrapment accident, knowing I informed them, yet couldn't get action.
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