ASTM F2208-08(2014)
(Specification)Standard Safety Specification for Residential Pool Alarms
Standard Safety Specification for Residential Pool Alarms
ABSTRACT
This specification deals with the performance requirements for pool alarms for residential swimming pools and spas. This specification covers devices that provide for rapid and automatic detection and alarm in cases of unintentional, unsupervised or accidental entry of a child one year of age or older into the water of swimming pools or spas. This specification is not intended to replace other standard safety requirements that should be in place, that is, adult supervision, fences, gates, locks, and so forth. This specification covers four different types of alarms: Type A, Surface—Pool alarm floating on water surface; Type B, Subsurface—Pool alarm located below the water surface; Type C, Pool Perimeter—Pool alarm located such as to detect movement at the perimeter of or above the water surface; and Type D, Personal Immersion Alarm—Pool alarm device located on the person(s).
SCOPE
1.1 This safety specification covers safety and performance requirements for pool alarms for residential swimming pools and spas.
1.2 This safety specification describes devices intended to improve personal safety and reduce injuries or deaths.
1.3 This safety specification covers devices that provide for rapid and automatic detection and alarm in cases of unintentional, unsupervised or accidental entry of a child one year of age or older into the water of swimming pools or spas.
1.4 This safety specification is not intended to replace other standard safety requirements that should be in place, that is, adult supervision, fences, gates, locks, and so forth.
1.5 This safety specification covers four different types of alarms.
1.6 The detection criteria for this safety specification is for a child one year of age and older.
1.7 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.
1.8 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:F2208 −08 (Reapproved 2014)
Standard Safety Specification for
Residential Pool Alarms
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2208; 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.
INTRODUCTION
According to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) data, it is estimated that each year on
average 256 children under 5 years of age drown in swimming pools, with most deaths occurring in
residential settings. Additionally, each year on average over 2000 children under 5 years of age are
treated in hospital emergency rooms for pool submersion injuries.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This safety specification covers safety and performance
2.1 ANSI Standards:
requirements for pool alarms for residential swimming pools ANSI Z535.4 Product Safety Signs and Labels
and spas.
ANSI Z535.6 Product Safety Information and Product
Manuals, Instructions, and Other Collateral Materials
1.2 This safety specification describes devices intended to
improve personal safety and reduce injuries or deaths.
3. Terminology
1.3 This safety specification covers devices that provide for
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
rapid and automatic detection and alarm in cases of
3.1.1 lot, n—normal production run or in the case of
unintentional, unsupervised or accidental entry of a child one
imports, a shipment of items produced in the same time frame.
year of age or older into the water of swimming pools or spas.
3.1.2 pool alarm, n—device designed to provide a rapid
1.4 This safety specification is not intended to replace other detection and automatic alarm in incidents of accidental,
standard safety requirements that should be in place, that is, unintentional or unsupervised entry of a child one year of age
adult supervision, fences, gates, locks, and so forth. or older into the water of a swimming pool or spa.
1.5 This safety specification covers four different types of
4. Classification
alarms.
4.1 Types:
1.6 The detection criteria for this safety specification is for
4.1.1 TypeA, Surface—Poolalarmfloatingonwatersurface.
a child one year of age and older.
4.1.2 Type B, Subsurface—Pool alarm located below the
water surface.
1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
4.1.3 Type C, Pool Perimeter—Pool alarm located such as
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
to detect movement at the perimeter of or above the water
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
surface.
and are not considered standard.
4.1.4 Type D, Personal Immersion Alarm—Pool alarm de-
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
vice located on the person(s).
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5. Performance Requirements
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
5.1 General:
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5.1.1 Alarms shall sound both at poolside and inside any
adjacent residence or building of occupancy via a remote
receiver within 20 s or less when tested in accordance with
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on
Section 6.
Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.49 on Pool
Safety Standards.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2014. Published February 2014. Originally
approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as F2208 – 08. DOI: Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/F2208-08R14. 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
F2208−08 (2014)
5.1.2 The operational condition of a swimming pool alarm, called Rescue Timmy. Rescue Timmy meets the requirements
either on or off, shall be indicated with an energized lamp or of the National Center(s) for Disease Control for a one-year-
other distinctive indicator, visible from a distance of 10 61ft
old child. All testing shall be done in a 16-by-32 ft (4.87-by-
(3 6 0.3 m) at angles of 45 6 5° perpendicular to the unit to 9.75 m) swimming pool with a minimum depth of 36 in. (91
indicate the operability of the product.
cm). Any pool shape is sufficient as long as the pool measures
5.1.3 Pool alarms shall have a minimum sound pressure at some point 16 by 32 ft (4.87 by 9.75 m). During all drop
rating of 85 dBA at 10 ft (3.5 m) for 3 min. tests, both fans shall be operating as described in 6.3. During
all drop tests, the pump and filter shall be on and operating.
5.1.4 If the device is battery operated, there shall be a
low-battery indicator. A low-battery condition is defined as an
6.2 To begin each drop test the pool shall be in a non-
inability to meet the requirements of 5.1.3.
operational state, that is, pump, filter, and fans off for a
5.1.5 Pool alarms shall automatically reset.
minimum of 10 min. All drop tests are conducted two times
5.1.6 Pool alarm manufacturers who employ wireless com-
with the second drop test following the completion of the first
munication (RF) shall comply with all relevant provisions of
drop test using the testing sequence A, B, C, as described
FCC Part-15 rules for unlicensed radio frequency devices
below.
including the required compliance labeling and statement.
A. Turn pump, filter, and both fans on for 2 min.
5.1.7 If the alarm deactivates or has reduced sensitivity due
B. Initiate any one of the five (5) the drop tests.
to environmental factors, the alarm shall indicate this in both a
C.Twominutesafterinitiatingthedroptestturnpump,filter,
visual and audible manner.
and fans off for 10 min, repeat test.
D. Each of the two drop tests shall follow the same sequence
5.2 Type A, Surface Alarm:
(A, B, C).
5.2.1 TypeAalarmsshallprovidefortheautomaticsoundof
6.2.1 Vertical Drop Test:
the alarm when tested in accordance with 6.1. For alarms with
variable sensitivity, the setting shall be set at the least sensitive, 6.2.1.1 Position of the pool alarm shall be in accordance
according to manufacturer’s instructions. with manufacturer’s specifications.
5.2.2 Type A alarms shall not alarm when tested in accor- 6.2.1.2 All vertical drop tests shall be conducted using a
dance with 6.3. For alarms with variable sensitivity, the setting
ramp (see Fig. 1). Material for the ramp shall be 10- to 20-mm
shall be set at the most sensitive, according to manufacturer’s
thick polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or fluorinated ethylene
instructions.
propylene (FEP), approximately 2 ft (0.6 m) wide and 4 ft (1.2
m) in length. A sheet of polypropylene precision woven mesh
5.3 Type B, Subsurface Alarm:
that is 12 in. in width and 30 in. in length with 20.3 by 20.3
5.3.1 Type B alarms shall provide for the automatic sound
openings per square inch and a thread diameter of .0173 in.
of the alarm when tested in accordance with 6.1. For alarms
shall be placed between Rescue Timmy and the ramp to enable
with variable sensitivity, the setting shall be set at the least
Rescue Timmy to slide off the ramp in a consistent manner.
sensitive, according to manufacturer’s instructions.
The ramp shall be located on the 16-ft (4.87-m) side of the pool
5.3.2 Type B alarms shall not alarm when tested in accor-
between the two fans approximately in the middle.
dance with 6.3. For alarms with variable sensitivity, the setting
6.2.1.3 Place and secure Rescue Timmy (CIS) on his stom-
shall be set at the most sensitive, according to manufacturer’s
ach at the lower end of the ramp with the head even with the
instructions.
end of the ramp for a head-first intrusion. Use a string and
5.4 Type C, Pool Perimeter Alarm:
sinker to maintain the ramp 6 6 0.5 in. (15 6 1.3 cm) above
5.4.1 Type C alarms shall provide for the automatic sound
the water and have the ramp at a 35 6 1° angle. Release
of the alarm when tested in accordance with 6.4, according to
Rescue Timmy into the water head first. This test shall be
manufacturer’s instructions.
repeated two times (see 6.1).
5.4.2 Type C alarms shall not alarm when tested in accor-
6.2.1.4 Place and secure RescueTimmy (CIS) on his back at
dance with 6.5, according to manufacturer’s instructions.
the end of the ramp with the feet even with the lower end of the
ramp for a feet-first intrusion. Use a string and sinker to
5.5 Type D, Personal Immersion Alarm:
maintain the ramp 6 6 0.5 in. (15 6 1.3 cm) above the water
5.5.1 Type D alarms shall provide for the automatic sound
of the alarm when tested in accordance with 6.6, according to
manufacturer’s instruc
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