The federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act and California Health & Safety Code 116064+ require anti-entrapment drain covers meeting ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 on all public and residential pools and spas. Single main drains must also have a secondary anti-entrapment system such as a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS), dual drains, or gravity drainage. Concord building officials verify compliance on new construction and major equipment replacement.
Pool and spa drain entrapment has caused serious injuries and deaths, and both federal and California law require layered anti-entrapment protection. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act, 15 USC 8001 et seq.) mandates that every public and residential pool and spa use drain covers certified to ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 (now A112.19.8-2007 with subsequent revisions) that are designed to prevent hair, limb, body, mechanical, and evisceration entrapment. California Health and Safety Code 116064-116064.2 incorporates these requirements for public pools and imposes additional state-level requirements. For any pool or spa with a single main drain other than an unblockable drain, at least one additional anti-entrapment device or system must be installed: a safety vacuum release system (SVRS) meeting ASME/ANSI A112.19.17 or ASTM F2387, a properly designed suction-limiting vent system, a gravity drainage system with no direct suction, an automatic pump shut-off system, or an approved equivalent. Drain covers must be replaced at the end of their rated service life (commonly 5, 7, or 10 years depending on manufacturer). Concord's Building Division reviews pool and spa permits, and pool service professionals must verify compliance when replacing pumps, motors, or covers. Homeowners retrofitting older pools must ensure the new cover is compatible with the sump dimensions and flow; improper replacements have themselves caused entrapment. For shared-use pools at HOAs, apartments, hotels, and public facilities, California Title 22 Code of Regulations Chapter 20 adds inspection and operational requirements overseen by Contra Costa County Environmental Health.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Concord, CA
Concord enforces the California Vehicle Code 72-hour rule (CVC 22651(k)) citywide, prohibits parking on unpaved surfaces in front yards, and operates permit ...
Concord, CA
Commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR are prohibited from overnight parking on residential streets in Concord and cannot be stored on residentially zoned ...
Concord, CA
California Public Resources Code §4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severi...
Concord, CA
All fireworks, including "safe and sane" fireworks, are completely banned in Concord. Possession, sale, or use of any consumer fireworks is a misdemeanor pun...
Concord, CA
Concord regulates removal of protected trees under Concord Municipal Code chapter 8.50 (Tree Preservation). Protected trees over 10 inches DBH require a perm...
Concord, CA
Concord water customers served by Contra Costa Water District must follow permanent statewide conservation rules: no runoff, no watering during or 48 hours a...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Contra Costa County.
See how other cities in Contra Costa County handle safety rules.
See how Concord's safety rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.