VGB Act (Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act)
The federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act, which mandates anti-entrapment drain covers and related safeguards to prevent suction injuries.
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (VGB Act), effective in 2008, set federal anti-entrapment standards after a child drowned from drain suction. It requires compliant, dome-shaped drain covers and, for single-drain pools, a backup safety system like an automatic pump shutoff.
While its strict mandates apply to public pools, VGB-compliant drain covers are now the manufacturing standard and are commonly required for residential builds and resales. It's one of several code and safety items — alongside barriers and fencing — that affect a pool's permitting.
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