TEL 919 856 7400
Environmental
Services
Environmental Health and Safety Division
336 Fayetteville St.  P.O. Box 550  Raleigh, NC 27602
Date:
January 23, 2015
To:
Wake Co. Pool Owners, Operators, & Builders
From: Terry D. Chappell R.S., Section Chief
Wake Co. Plan Review & Recreational Sanitation Program
Re:
Updated Virginia Graeme Baker Act compliance letter
History: The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB) became law on
December 19, 2008. As a result of that federal legislation every pool, wading pool, and
spa in the state of North Carolina had to be in compliance with the ASME/ANSI
A112.19.8-2007 standard prior to the 2010 pool season. All Wake County pools
submitted letters of compliance with VGB before opening in 2010.
The majority of drain covers that were installed in 2009 and 2010 were under a 5 year
warranty, and that warranty has now expired. The expired covers must now be replaced
with new VGB covers.
Wake County is requiring a new Virginia Graeme Baker compliance letter from a North
Carolina registered Professional Engineer or Architect for each pool, wading pool, and
spa that is 5 years of age or older. Every pool, wading pool, and spa located in Wake
County must supply this letter to our office prior to the 2015 pool season (April 1, 2015).
If a pool, wading pool, or spa does not supply this compliance letter by their requested
date of opening, they will not be issued a permit to operate by the Wake County
Environmental Services staff for the 2015 pool season.
We strongly urge you to move toward compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act as
soon as possible to avoid problems related to the large number of pools trying to become
compliant at the same time. If you have previously submitted an updated
Engineer/Architect VGB compliance letter to this office for your pool, wading pool, or
spa, then you may disregard this letter. If you are not certain of the date of your VGB
letter submittal you may contact this office for confirmation of the date of your updated
letter submission. We will accept these letters by mail or by email at
tchappell@wakegov.com.
If you have questions concerning this letter, please contact me at 919-856-7437. Thanks!