Suction can pose a serious hazard to swimmers just as electricity can be a hazard. Both are important for proper water filtration and
both must be treated with respect. Suction safety begins with a professional design that includes a quality suction system installed
by a certified contractor.
The MDX-R3 VGB Compliant Debris Drain is only available to certified contractors for the same reason certified electricians are
required to connect filtration pumps to public utilities; both require proper training and certification to assure no hidden hazards are
built into the project.
Certified builders will address the following issues when designing and installing a proper filtration system:
•
Properly bond-grounded pumps, time clocks, switches and any other metal in or near water. This is required to address Electrical
Shock Hazards.
•
Design the suction piping so there are no single-point suction hazards; single-point suction (one drain) is a leading cause of
Body Suction Entrapment Hazards. Note: your certified builder has many effective options for addressing this hazard; they may
include dual-drain systems, like MDX-R3, skimmers, gutters, negative edge features and many more products and piping designs
known to professionals.
•
Install ANSI/APSP - 16 - 2011 listed drains, suction covers and debris removal systems. This is the ONLY approved option for
preventing Hair Entrapment Hazards, the leading cause of suction related injuries.
•
Design and install an effective circulation system (including optional cleaning systems), to direct filtered water to all areas and
interior surfaces. NOTE: Suction fittings can NOT clean or direct filtered water for proper sanitation; that can only be done on
the pressure (return) side of the filtration system.
While suction injuries are extremely rare, drowning and diving injuries are far too common and there is little your certified builder can
do to eliminate these hazards. You must educate yourself and your guests. Below are some important safety issues every swimmer
must know and recognize.
•
PREVENT DROWNING: Watch children at all times, no swimming alone.
•
NO DIVING IN SHALLOW WATER: You can be permanently injured.
•
PREVENT SUCTION ENTRAPMENT: Inspect suction covers before swimming, keep swimmers away from suction fittings,
protect long hair, don’t swim with loose clothing or large and dangling jewelry.
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS & WARNINGS:
DANGER
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY will result from contact with a damaged, loose, or missing
drain cover.
• Do not allow limbs to contact or be inserted into a drain pipe with a damaged, loose, or
missing drain cover. This could result in swelling of the limb and/or trapping a swimmer
underwater.
• Avoid mechanical entrapment of jewelry, swimsuit, hair decorations, finger, toe, or knuckle
in a drain pipe with damaged, loose, or missing drain cover. This may result in trapping a
swimmer underwater.
• Do not allow body to come into contact with a drain pipe that has a damaged, loose, or
missing drain cover. This may result in trapping a swimmer underwater.
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can result from pool or spa drain covers or grates that are clogged
by debris.
• All pool and spa drain covers may become obstructed by debris and should be cleaned
periodically due to clogging from debris, such as pieces of plastic, hair, fabric, twigs, leaves,
seeds, etc.
• The frequency of periodic cleaning will vary depending on the amount and type of debris
introduced into the pool or spa
• Clogging of the drain cover will increase the suction effect and increase the likelihood of death or
serious injury from those hazards listed above.
• A clogged drain can negatively affect the safety of the drain.
• It is advisable to have a qualified pool or spa professional perform this inspection and debris
removal from the pool an spa drain covers.
WARNING
