Safety Spa Covers (F1346-91)

Scope:

1.1 This specification establishes requirements for safety covers for swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and wading pools (hereinafter referred to as pools, unless otherwise specified).

When correctly installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, this specification is intended to reduce risk of drowning by inhibiting access of children less than five years of age to the water.

 

Materials and Manufacture

5.1 Only materials not known to be harmful to health,

6.2 Labels attached to the cover shall meet the general requirements described in 8.5.1 and 8.8 - 8.8.2.

6.4 Fastening mechanisms or devices —Ties, attachment points, anchors, anchorage, and controls for automatic covers or other means of fastening a cover shall include provisions such as keys, combination locks, special tools, devices, or inaccessible locations, and the like, to inhibit children under five years of age from removing or operating the cover.

 7.1 Static Load: In the case of a pool with a width or diameter greater than 8 ft. (2.4 m) from the periphery, the cover shall be able to hold a weight of 485 lb. (220.0 kg) (2 adults and 1 child) to permit a rescue operation.

7.1.1 In the case of a pool with a width or diameter not greater than 8 ft. (2.4 m) the cover shall withstand the weight of 275 lb. (125 kg) (weight of a child and an adult). Compliance shall be determined by the test method described in 9.1.

 8.5.1 Warning Label shall be legible, permanently attached and durable to withstand conditions as the cover itself.  

9.1 Static Load Test:

9.1.1 This test shall be conducted to demonstrate that the cover is capable of supporting a weight of (a) 485 lbs. (composed of one 210-lb, one 225-lb or one 50-lb weight) for pools or spas within a width or diameter greater than 8 ft. or (b) 275 lbs. (composed of one 225-lb and one 50-lb weight) for a pool or a spa with a width or diameter equal to or less than 8 ft. distributed over 1 ft. each, all of which are within a 3-ft radius without the test objects causing damage which would allow any of the test objects to pass through the cover. During this test there shall be no requirement for the absence of water appearing on the surface of the cover.