Drain Cover Updates and Replacements - VGB Law
NEW DRAIN COVER LAW
Summary: The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act
Purpose
The purpose of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act is to increase the safety of swimming pools and spas by:
- Requiring the use of proper devices, such as anti-entrapment drain covers and fences/barriers, through establishment of a grant incentive program in order to encourage states to enact comprehensive pool and spa laws;
- Educating the public about drowning prevention;
- Establishing a federal swimming pool and spa drain cover standard; and
- Ensuring public pools are equipped with proper safety devices.
December 19th, 2008, is the day the federal and state law ruled all commercial pools need to comply with the new Drain cover law which includes equalizer covers below or to the side of skimmers.
The law is primarily directed at commercial pools, hotels, apartments, clubs, gyms etc. All covers are to be replaced after 5 years, health department will remind you when the covers are coming up to expiration when they carry out the yearly inspection on your facility, it's at that point you need to call me.
Sacramento county as of 2024 wants sump and suction line measurements accompanied by pump sizes. Once I have those I can complete the mandatory Minor Re-model form. This means an exploration dive HAS to be carried out.
Once the county gives approval for the recommended covers I can install the new covers, complete the AB1020 and you are certified for the next 5 years.
As of 2025 Yolo, Yuba and Placer Counties will accept 'like for like.' That means as long as the current cover types are still approved, we can just replace the exisiting covers without doing exploration dive and completing a minor remodel form, we would just need to complete the AB1020 form for the county.
I can also accept your photo images for the current covers to decipher the type and if they are still approved which allows just one visit to do the job. (Yolo, Yuba and Placer counties ONLY.)
There is a lot more information should you wish to know, however I would like to keep it simple at this time should you have any questions feel free to email or call and I will get back to you promptly.
CALL/TEXT ME TO GET SCHEDULED FOR YOUR DRAIN COVER UPDATES 916-240-5443
The images of the 3 covers below are examples of the most common covers you will see, the lower cover is mostly seen below the skimmer.
 10 inch Aquastar |  6 inch Aquastar |  32 inch Aquastar |
All work was done in 15 ft. of water and 6 covers were required in total
Old unapproved drain cover in 50 meter competition pool.
Old cover chipped out revealing sump and suction line.
New frame for VGB 18x18 cover sized to hole.
New VGB approved frame and cover plastered in.