Hot Tub Spa Cover ASTM Standards for Consumer Safety

ASTM Safety Standards for Hot Tub Covers

ASTM Hot Tub Safety Logo

ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials) has developed a standard for Swimming Pool and Spa Covers.
This Standard, ASTM F 1346-91, established three cover classifications:
1) power safety covers, typically found on swimming pools; 2) manual safety covers, such as AccuLok hot tub covers, 3) other covers, which do not serve as a barrier for children under the age of five and do not qualify as a safety cover.

This ASTM Standard refers to the standard performance specification for safety covers and labeling requirements
for all covers for swimming pools and hot tubs.

To access the detailed data, please visit the ASTM site at; www.astm.org

Questions You Should Ask:

Can only Safety Covers Qualify under ASTM?

Non-safety covers can meet ASTM standards if they comply with the labeling requirements. To qualify as a safety cover you must comply with the specific requirements of the Standard which include performance tests and labeling requirements. Covers must be able to pass tests such as Static Load Test for weight support; Perimeter Deflection Tests for entry or entrapment between the cover and the side of the pool; and Surface Drainage Test to see if a dangerous amount of rain could collect on the cover's surface. There are also requirements to include labeling in consumer information (such as the warranty), and on the cover itself. Labeling must contain the proper warnings (as described by the Standard), and identify the product as a safety cover.

How can you tell if a cover meets ASTM Safety Cover Standards?

The required wording must appear in packaging and consumer information on the cover stating that it meets ASTM Safety Cover standards. It it doesn't say "safety", then it only meets non-safety cover standards. In order to legitimately bear a safety label, a cover must be able to pass the tests that satisfy the performance standards of ASTM F 1346-91.

Safety Cover Check List	AccuLok	Others
Does the cover meet the ASTM Sfety Cover Standard?	YES
Has it been tested by a reputable independent testing lab?	YES
Can a third-party documentation be provided to certify that the cover meets safety standards before it's approved for installation?	YES
Do you have confidence in the cover company's capability and willingness to back-up their safety claims, and that they will be there to support you in the years to come?	YES

Does the cover meet the ASTM Standards for a
Safety Cover?

AccuLok covers meet or
exceed the ASTM Standards
for a Manual Safety Cover.

Has the cover been tested by an independent lab for compliance with the ASTM Safety Cover Standard?

AccuLok covers have been tested by Underwriters Laboratories' independent lab. UL has certified with our classification Number 4Z00, that all AccuLok covers meet or exceed ASTM Standards for Safety Covers.

AccuLok customer phone contact Will this cover satisfy my local building code requirements for
a safety cover?

Some cities are adopting the ASTM Standard into their AccuLok hot tub cover logo
codes therefore, AccuLok is accepted.