MARCH 20, 2007
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff is participating in voluntary standards activities related to inflatable pools. Inflatable pools include self-rising, soft-sided self-rising, inflatable, and inflatable top-ring pools which come in all sizes, shapes, and water depths. Some pools are as large as 20 feet in diameter with volumes of water that can range up to 5,000 gallons. The larger models may even be equipped with circulation pumps and water filters.
Approximately 280 children under 5 years old drown in pools each year nationwide and an additional 2200 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for submersion incidents. Most of the incidents involve residential pools. Additionally, CPSC staff is aware of an average of 12 deaths per year (for 2003-2005) associated with inflatable pools involving children under 10 years old.
CPSC staff is working with ASTM International to develop a standard for "portable" pools, which would cover the relatively new, increasingly popular inflatable pools. In addition, the ANSI/National Spa and Pool Institute standard (NSPI-4) for above ground pools has been circulated for public review and comment. Staff has stated that the new inflatable-ring, self-rising, on-ground pools, which have become prominent on the market, should be incorporated into this standard. Currently, above-ground/on-ground pools with water depths less than 36 inches are not included in the scope of the standard.
Additional Information
Safety Alerts:
Press Releases:
- Government Investigation Raises Concerns About Pool and Spa Drain Cover Testing and Entrapment RisksMarch 18, 2011
- CPSC Pool Safely Campaign Partners With Industry on Education and Outreach November 4, 2010
- Communities Celebrate Pool Safely Day Across America September 30, 2010
- As Pools Open for Summer, Young Children Face Drowning Risk May 17, 2006
Fact Sheets:
- How to Plan for the Unexpected: Prevent Child Drownings (pdf)
- Steps for Safety Around the Pool (pdf)
CPSC Staff Reports, Memoranda and Contracts:
Voluntary Standard and Code Activities:
- Correspondence to ASTM International (pdf)
October 17, 2005, regarding CPSC staff support of new voluntary standard activity
Additional Information
For further information concerning specific standards, please contact the relevant standards organization:
International Aquatic Foundation
The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals
ASTM International
- Len Morrissey at lmorriss@astm.org or ASTM International at http://www.astm.org
Contact CPSC
- For additional information or to comment, please contact CPSC’s Office of the Secretary at cpsc-os@cpsc.gov
- Join a voluntary standards Email Subscription List