4
POOL PUMP SUCTION
REQUIREMENTS
Pump suction is hazardous and can trap
and drown or disembowel bathers. Do not use or oper-
ate swimming pools, spas, or hot tubs if a suction outlet
cover is missing, broken, or loose.
Follow the guidelines
below for a pump installation which minimizes risk to
users of pools, spas, and hot tubs.
Entrapment Protection
The pump suction system
must
provide protection
against the hazard of
suction entrapment or hair entrapment/entanglement.
Suction Outlet Covers
All suction outlet covers must be maintained. They must
be replaced if cracked, broken, or missing.
See below for outlet cover certification requirements.
All suction outlets must have correctly installed, screw-
fastened covers in place.
Testing and Certification
Suction outlet covers must have been tested by a nation-
ally recognized testing laboratory and found to comply
with the lastest ASME/ANSI Specification for
Suction
Fittings For Use in Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and
Whirlpool Bathtub Applications.
Outlets Per Pump
(see Figure 2)
Provide at least two hydraulically balanced main drains,
with covers, for each swimming pool pump suction line.
The centers of the main drains (suction fittings) must be
at least three feet apart.
The system must be built so that it cannot operate with
the pump drawing water from only
one
main drain (that
is, there must be at least two main drains connected to
the pump whenever it is running). However, if two main
drains run into a single suction line, the single suction
line may be equipped with a valve which will shutoff
both
main drains from the pump.
More than one pump can be connected to a single suc-
tion line as long as the requirements above are met.
Water Velocity
The maximum water velocity through any suction outlet
must be 1.5 feet per second unless the outlet complies
with the latest ASME/SNSI Specification for
Suction
Fittings For Use in Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and
Whirlpool Bathtub Applications.
In any case, do not ex-
ceed the suction fittings maximum designed flow rate.
If 100% of the pump’s flow comes from the main drain
system, the maximum water velocity in the pump suc-
tion hydraulic system must be six feet per second or less
even if one main drain (suction fitting) is completely
blocked. The flow through the remaining main drain(s)
must comply with the latest ASME/ANSI Specification for
Suction Fittings For Use in Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot
Tubs, and Whirlpool Bathtub Applications.
At Least
3 Feet
Suction Outlet
(Main Drain)
Suction Outlet
(Main Drain)
IAPMO Certified
Anti-entrapment
Cover or Suction Fitting,
screw-fastened to
Main Drain Sump
IAPMO Certified
Anti-entrapment
Cover or Suction Fitting,
screw-fastened to
Main Drain Sump
Pump
Valves OK between
pump and Tee
No valves between
Tee and Main Drains
2762 0197
Figure 2 – Recommended pump suction layout.
