Spa Cover ASTM Safety Specification

The ASTM F1346-91 Standard for Safety Covers for Pools and Spas establishes specific performance testing and labeling requirements. To comply with this standard, covers must successfully pass several tests, including:

• Static load tests to verify weight-bearing capacity
• Perimeter deflection tests to prevent entry or entrapment between the cover and the spa wall
• Surface drainage tests to ensure that hazardous amounts of rainwater cannot accumulate on the cover

The standard also requires proper labeling, both in consumer documentation and on the cover itself. Labels must include the prescribed safety warnings and clearly identify the product as a safety cover.

Thermal Guardian premium spa covers equipped with four locking straps meet these requirements and comply with building codes that reference ASTM F1346-91. EconoShield covers do not currently comply with this standard.

Contrary to popular belief, UL listing is not required to meet most building code requirements. Building regulations generally require compliance with the ASTM specification itself, not certification by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), which is a private, for-profit testing organization.