Want to know what all the top pool builders already know? There's still time to watch our most popular sessions from the GENESIS® Symposium:

• Keynote: Staying Focused
• B245: How to Manage Clients and Leads in the New “Roaring” ‘20s
• C225: Quality Shotcrete Placement for Pool Contractors
• B131: How Have Buying Trends Changed in 2020
• D415: How I’m Inspired to Design

If you haven't registered yet, you still can! Register now.

Already registered? Log in here.

Stay on top of what others in the industry are talking about. This week on the myPHTA Online Community, the newest discussions are about:

• Advice for a New Builder
• Hiring
• Preventable Issues
• How Can Financing Be Better?
• Waterproofing New Pools - Pros/Cons
• Website Design: Best Practices

Join these discussions and more at my.PHTA.org.

PHTA seeks participants to serve as voting members on the PHTA-10 SWC for Elevated Pools, Spas, and Other Aquatic Venues Integrated into a Building or Structure and the PHTA-15 SWC for Residential Swimming Pool and Spa Energy Efficiency. Additional details and application forms are available here. Please send completed application forms to standards@phta.org.

PHTA seeks participants to serve as voting members on the PHTA Glossary Committee. The committee, led by Jeff McGalliard of JMK Associates Inc., is responsible for reviewing and approving all terms and definitions used in PHTA’s published standards. The committee will also consider terms and proposed definitions that are new to the industry or not currently defined within PHTA’s existing American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved standards. Get involved today and make a difference in the industry by applying to serve on the Glossary Committee. Please contact standards@phta.org for more information.

The ANSI/PHTA/ICC-7 2020 American National Standard for Suction Entrapment Avoidance in Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and Catch Basins is now available for purchase. A PDF version and a print version are both available in the PHTA store. Questions may be directed to standards@phta.org.

A Provisional Amendment (PA) addressing storable pool integral suction outlet fitting assemblies was approved by the PHTA Standards Consensus Committee (SCC) on March 19, 2021. Members may access a read-only version of the ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 2017 (PA) American National Standard for Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies (SOFA) for Use in Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs for free. Questions? Please contact standards@phta.org.

The PHTA Government Relations team continues to press on, monitoring state and local legislation as well as rulemaking nationwide. With 48 state legislatures meeting this week, the GR team is currently advocating in 20 states around the country, lobbying for legislation and rulemaking that benefits PHTA and its members. Priority issues surround the adoption of the International Swimming Pool & Spa Code (ISPSC), Portable Electric Spa Energy Efficiency via adoption of the APSP-14 Standard, Licensing/Certification/Training, Pool & Hot Tub Safety and Education, Prop 65 in California, as well as other areas. The following are a few highlights:

• APSP-14, Portable Spa Legislation: The adoption of the APSP-14 Standard for portable electric spas for every state is absolutely critical for the hot tub industry. This standard promotes energy efficiency and creates one standard for manufacturers to follow nationwide. In Nevada, AB 383 passed out of the Assembly Growth and Infrastructure Committee. In Oregon, HB 2062 (sponsored by Governor Kate Brown) passed out of the House of Representatives and was referred to the Senate Energy and Environment Committee.
  *Note: The standards for portable electric spas proposed by HB 2062 were submitted through the rulemaking process on August 28, 2020, by the Oregon Department of Energy. The rule changes will become effective on September 1, 2021.

• Decarbonization: “Decarb Efforts” have been gaining traction and significantly impact the goal of balanced energy solutions. In Nevada, AB 380, which places onerous and burdensome requirements on natural gas public utilities, received an unfavorable report by the Assembly Growth and Infrastructure Committee on April 9. PHTA raised awareness of the hearing via social media and submitted a letter of written testimony in opposition.

*Code Update: PHTA staff and members participated on a call with the North Central Texas Council of Government’s Plumbing and Mechanical Advisory Board on April 19. The Board had previously voted to remove the safety cover exception to barrier requirements, an exception that is in the International Swimming Pool & Spa Code (ISPSC). This language allows spas and hot tubs with a lockable safety cover and pools with a powered safety cover, each complying with the rigorous requirements of the ASTM F1346 standard, to be excepted from the barrier requirements of the ISPSC. Removing this exception would require pools, spas, and hot tubs in all Dallas-area jurisdictions to be surrounded by a fence or other structure, among other consequences. PHTA Senior Manager of Codes and External Standards Nicholas Capezza, Master Spa’s Nathan Coelho, and Michael Shebek of Automatic Pool Covers presented on the success of these safety covers in drowning prevention and the extensive, collaborative process involved in including this exception in the ISPSC. Board members were also shown videos and photographs of safety covers in use. The Board unanimously voted to change their previous decision and allow the safety cover exception for residential pools, spas, and hot tubs.

Questions or input on any legislative, regulatory, or local matters should be directed to Jason Davidson at jdavidson@phta.org.

For a full, comprehensive report on PHTA Government Relations activities nationwide, click here.