The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) kicked off its 40th year as a standards developer by announcing the review and revision of ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 2017 American National Standard for Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies (SOFA) for Use in Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs and ANSI/APSP/ICC-1 American National Standard for Public Swimming Pools and calling for subject matter expert (SME) participation in the Standard Writing Committees (SWCs). The APSP-1 Standard would be redesignated as the PHTA/ICC-1 Standard for Public Pool and Spa Design, Construction and Installation.
Once formed, over the next months, the SWCs will meet bi-weekly to review and consider revision to the standards for consideration by PHTA’s ANSI consensus body. SMEs who would like to serve on an SWC must be willing and able to actively participate in the language drafting process and have a working understanding of the current standard. Interested parties who may not be SMEs or active users of the standard are welcome to attend meetings as observers throughout the revision process.
Stakeholders are invited to apply to serve on the PHTA-16 and PHTA-1 SWCs. The appointment criteria seek to establish a diverse SWC ensuring reasonable balance without dominance by a single interest category, individual, or organization. Priority will be given to applicants from the various interest categories with experience using, applying, and enforcing the ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 2017 and ANSI/APSP/ICC-1 2014 standards.
The PHTA-16 SWC will revise the standard establishing materials, testing, product marking, and installation instructions governing product use for new or replacement drain covers. The standard is the federal regulation for all bather-accessible Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies (SOFAs) that are designed to be fully submerged for use in any pool, which include, but are not limited to, a swimming pool, hot tub, spa, portable spa, swim spa, non-portable wading pool, storable pool, or any other aquatic venue intended for swimming or recreational bathing.
This standard is the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Standard referenced in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA) and for this reason any revisions must be reviewed and approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) before the revised standard can be accepted as the successor standard to ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 2017. The CPSC has the responsibly to determine if proposed changes are in the public interest.
For the PHTA-16 SWC, PHTA is seeking SME participation from certifying bodies and Registered Design Professionals (RDPs) who currently test and certify or previously tested and certified SOFAs in accordance with the standard. Other important stakeholder categories include, but are not limited to, SOFA manufacturers, Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), and installation professionals who work closely with AHJs to assure public pools’ suction systems conform to the standard.
The PHTA-1 SWC will revise the standard establishing provisions which apply to the construction, alteration, movement, renovation, replacement, repair, and maintenance of aquatic venues, public pools, and public spas. The public pools and spas covered by this standard are either permanent or temporary and shall be only those that are designed and manufactured to be connected to a circulation system and that are intended for swimming, bathing, or wading.
For the PHTA-1 SWC, PHTA is seeking SME participation from stakeholder categories that include, but are not limited to, building officials, health department officials, contractors, pool service and maintenance providers, architects, engineers, RDPs, equipment manufacturers, distributors, retail vendors, chemical suppliers, instructors, trainers, standards organizations, and others interested in participating in the revision process.
Completed application forms are due to PHTA by January 27, 2023. For more information, visit the Participate in the Process webpage or phta.org/standards.