ASTM F2707-10(2018)e1

Standard Safety Performance Specification for Safe Design and Installation of Field Fabricated Suction-Limiting Vent Systems for Suction Entrapment Prevention in Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and Wading Pools

SCOPE
1.1 This safety performance specification provides requirements for safety in design and installation when using a suction-limiting vent system for suction entrapment prevention in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or wading pools.  
1.2 The purpose of the vent is to relieve the vacuum at the suction outlet(s) caused by any blockage of the suction outlet(s). The vent is intended to prevent body entrapment at the suction outlet(s) and may also mitigate limb entrapment. It is not intended to prevent other injuries caused by the suction outlet(s) such as hair entrapment, mechanical entrapment, or evisceration.  
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2018
• ICS: 97.220.10 - Sports facilities
• Technical Committee: F15 - Consumer Products
• Drafting Committee: F15.51 - Safety Vacuum Release Systems for Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F2707-10 - Standard Safety Performance Specification for Safe Design and Installation of Field Fabricated Suction-Limiting Vent Systems for Suction Entrapment Prevention in Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and Wading Pools
• Effective Date: 01-May-2018
• Referred By: ASTM F2387-21 - Standard Specification for Manufactured Safety Vacuum Release Systems (SVRS) for Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs
• Effective Date: 01-May-2018

Overview

ASTM F2707-10(2018)e1 is a standard developed by ASTM International, specifying safety requirements for the design and installation of field-fabricated suction-limiting vent systems in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and wading pools. These vent systems are engineered to prevent suction entrapment hazards by relieving vacuum pressure at suction outlets, significantly reducing the risk of body and limb entrapment incidents. The standard applies to vent system installations intended to protect pool users and must be implemented following professional engineering guidelines and applicable local regulations.

Key Topics

• Suction Entrapment Prevention: The vent system is designed to prevent suction-related injuries by rapidly equalizing pressure when a blockage occurs at the suction outlet.
• Safety Performance Specification: Outlines the required safety performance traits for vent systems, ensuring reliable operation under typical and adverse pool conditions.
• Engineering Certification: All system designs and installations must be certified by a registered professional engineer, covering considerations such as flow rates, elevations, pipe specifications, and location of fittings.
• Testing and Inspection: Methods for in-place testing of vent functionality, including purge and drawdown tests, are provided to confirm compliance and ongoing system operability.
• Signage and Marking: The standard requires clear and permanent safety signage, following ANSI Z535.2 and Z535.4, to warn users not to tamper with the system and to inform about its presence.
• Acceptable Materials and Installation: Specifications highlight use of Schedule 40 or 80 PVC piping, proper vent termination fittings, and requirements for installation above max pool water levels.

Applications

• Pool Safety Compliance: Pool designers, builders, and facility managers use ASTM F2707-10(2018)e1 to meet regulatory and industry safety requirements for suction entrapment prevention.
• Field-Fabricated Installations: The standard addresses vent systems designed and built on site, making it especially relevant for custom or retrofitted swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and wading pools.
• Risk Mitigation: Suction-limiting vent systems ensure that, should the pool’s primary suction outlet become blocked, vacuum levels will not reach dangerous thresholds that can trap bathers.
• Annual Inspections: The standard encourages annual system testing to verify continued safety and compliance, enhancing pool user protection over time.

Related Standards

• ANSI/APSP/ICC-16: Standard for suction fittings used in pools, wading pools, spas, and hot tubs.
• ANSI Z535.2 & Z535.4: Standards for environmental, facility, and product safety signage and labels.
• Local Building Codes: Additional regional requirements may apply for pool equipment installations.
• ISO/IEC International Guidelines: ASTM F2707-10(2018)e1 aligns with World Trade Organization guidelines for international standardization.

By adhering to ASTM F2707-10(2018)e1, pool professionals can greatly enhance swimmer safety, reduce liability, and ensure their installations meet the latest safety performance benchmarks for suction entrapment prevention in aquatic environments.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
´1
Designation:F2707 −10 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Safety Performance Specification for
Safe Design and Installation of Field Fabricated Suction-
Limiting Vent Systems for Suction Entrapment Prevention in
Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and Wading Pools
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2707; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
ε NOTE—Editorially corrected Referenced Documents in June 2018.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ANSI Standards:
1.1 This safety performance specification provides require-
ments for safety in design and installation when using a ANSI Z535.2 Environmental and facility safety signs
ANSI Z535.4 Product safety signs and labels
suction-limiting vent system for suction entrapment prevention
in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or wading pools. ANSI/APSP 16 Standard Suction Fittings for Use in Swim-
ming Pools, Wading Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs
1.2 The purpose of the vent is to relieve the vacuum at the
suction outlet(s) caused by any blockage of the suction
3. Terminology
outlet(s). The vent is intended to prevent body entrapment at
3.1 Definitions:
the suction outlet(s) and may also mitigate limb entrapment. It
3.1.1 allowable drawdown, n—drawdown depth corre-
is not intended to prevent other injuries caused by the suction
sponding to the acceptable removal effort for a particular
outlet(s) such as hair entrapment, mechanical entrapment, or
uncovered sump; it is physically built into the system.
evisceration.
3.1.2 engineer, n—registered professional engineer.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3.1.3 field-fabricated vent (FFV), n—open-to-atmosphere
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
ventinstalledbetweenthepoolsuctionoutlet(s)andthesuction
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
side of the pump in such a way as to relieve the vacuum caused
and are not considered standard.
by a blockage of the suction outlet(s).
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.4 operating drawdown, n—lowering of the water level
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
in the vent from the static condition caused by normal
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
operation.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1.5 purge test, n—placing a blocking element over the
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
sump to ensure that air enters the vent system.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1.6 startup surge, n—transient lowering of the water level
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
in the vent during pump startup.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1.6.1 Discussion—If excessive, the pump may lose prime.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
4. Significance and Use
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4.1 This performance specification outlines the require-
ments needed to design and install a field-fabricated vent for
safety purposes. Vents only address suction outlet body and
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on
Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.51 on may mitigate limb entrapment. Vents have proven effective
Safety Vacuum Release Systems for Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs.
Current edition approved May 1, 2018. Published June 2018. Originally
approved in 2010. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as F2707 – 10. DOI: Available fromAvailable from American National Standards Institute (ANSI),
10.1520/F2707-10R18E01. 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
´1
F2707−10 (2018)
when installed correctly. It is not intended to prevent other accordance withANSI/APSP16, including the head loss at the
injuries caused by suction outlet(s) such as hair entrapment, suction fitting and the make and model of the atmospheric vent
mechanical entrapment, or evisceration. termination fitting. Vent termination fittings are rated by the
size of the pipe they can successfully vent. For larger pipes, the
5. General Requirements
number of fittings shall equal or exceed the flow area of the
large pipe divided by the flow area of the fitting’s rated pipe
5.1 Design and installation instructions for field-fabricated
size.
vents (FFV) shall be certified only by a registered professional
engineer. Multiple systems may be built to the same “vent
6.2 The vent shall be designed to insure that with any or all
design drawings and specifications” with the approval of the
suction outlet(s) completely blocked, the sump or vent draw-
engineer.
down shall not exceed the values in Table 1 for the size of a
given suction outlet sump with the vent termination fitting in
5.2 Thedesignandinstallationoftheventisspecifictoeach
place and with or without the cover in place.
piping system and shall consider all relevant parameters
includingbutnotlimitedto:elevations,flowrate,startupsurge,
6.3 The vent system and atmospheric vent termination
minimum and maximum water operating levels, water depth at
fitting shall be designed so that neither can be disabled without
the suction outlet(s), pipe fittings, spacing between fittings,
the use of tools.
atmospheric vent fitting, and suction outlet configurations.
6.4 Under normal operation, the vent system shall not
5.3 The vent shall be tested in place for proper function. See
adversely affect pump suction, system flow, or other equipment
Section 7 for details.
performance.
6.5 Nocheckvalvesorvalvesshallbeinstalledbetweenany
6. Specific Requirements
suction outlet and the atmospheric opening of the system.
6.1 Theengineershallspecifyminimumandmaximumflow
rates, pipe sizes, and minimum and maximum pipe length(s), 6.6 The vent shall be piped to a location specified by the
including equivalent length of fittings, elevation of critical registered professional engineer. If the vent is located outside
fittings with respect to normal pool operating level, as well as the deck area, the vent shall be clearly visible and above grade
the make and model of the suction outlet approved cover in as indicated by the engineer.
TABLE 1 Allowable Drawdown for Circular and Square Open Sump
KcircLT9= KcircGT9= KsqLT9= KsqGT9=
Diam (in.) Drawdown (in.) Diam (in.) Drawdown (in.) Side (in.) Drawdown (in.) Side (in.) Drawdown (in.)
2 132.4 9 6.5 2 104.0 9 5.1
2.25 104.6 9.25 6.7 2.25 82.1 9.25 5.3
2.5 84.7 9.5 7.0 2.5 66.5 9.5 5.5
2.75 70.0 9.75 7.1 2.75 55.0 9.75 5.6
3 58.8 10 7.4 3 46.2 10 5.8
3.25 50.1 10.25 7.4 3.25 39.4 10.25 5.8
3.5 43.2 10.5 7.7 3.5 33.9 10.5 6.0
3.75 37.6 10.75 7.8 3.75 29.6 10.75 6.1
4 33.1 11 7.9 4 26.0 11 6.2
4.25 29.3 11.25 8.2 4.25 23.0 11.25 6.4
4.5 26.1 11.5 8.3 4.5 20.5 11.5 6.5
4.75 23.5 11.75 8.5 4.75 18.4 11.75 6.7
5 21.2 12 8.8 5 16.6 12 6.9
5.25 19.2 1
...