Does Your Spa Cover Meet Safety Standards?

What are ASTM Standards?

ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials) has developed a standard for Pool & Spa Covers. This Standard, (ASTM F 1346-91), establishes three cover classifications: 1). Power Safety Covers, typically found on swimming pools; 2). Manual Safety Covers, such as the SpaMate and 3). Other Covers, which do not serve as a barrier for children under the age of five and do not qualify as a safety cover.

Can Only Safety Covers Qualify Under ASTM?

Non-safety covers can meet ASTM standards if they comply with the labeling requirements. To qualify as a safety cover you must comply with the specific requirements of the Standard which include performance tests and labeling requirements. Covers must be able to pass tests such as Static Load Tests for weight support; Perimeter Deflection Tests for entry or entrapment between the cover and the side of the pool; and Surface Drainage Tests to see if a dangerous amount of rain could collect on the cover’s surface. There are also requirements to include labeling in consumer information (such as the warranty), and on the cover itself. Labeling must contain the proper warnings (as described by the Standard), and identify the product as a safety cover.

How Can You Tell if a Cover Meets ASTM Safety Cover Standards?

The required wording must appear in packaging and consumer information and on the cover stating that it meets ASTM Safety Cover standards. If it doesn’t say “safety”, then it only meets non-safety cover standards. In order to legitimately bear a safety label, a cover must be able to pass the tests that satisfy the performance standards of ASTM F 1346-91.

Four Questions to Consider. . .
Does the cover meet the ASTM Standards for a Safety Cover?

SpaMate covers meet or exceed the ASTM Standards for a Manual Safety Cover.

Has the cover been tested by an independent lab for compliance with the ASTM Safety Cover Standard?

SpaMate covers have been tested by an independent lab. The lab has certified that SpaMate covers meet or exceed the ASTM Standards for Safety Covers.

Will this cover satisfy my local building code requirements for a safety cover?

Some cities are adopting the ASTM Standard into their codes so of course, SpaMate covers are accepted. In other areas, building inspectors have approved permits when the SpaMate cover is used. We can provide inspectors with third-party documentation demonstrating that the SpaMate meets safety requirements and complies with ASTM Standard.

Download a printable PDF: BUL-513-DOES YOUR SPA COVER MEET SAFETY STANDARDS

MANUAL SAFETY COVER CLASSIFIED BY
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.®
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ASTM F 1346-91

Bulletin #513