PoolPal RemoraVR™ watches your suction line for the dangerous rise in vacuum that signals a suction-entrapment event — then shuts down pumps and raises alarms. Engineered to the Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS) approach and designed to support VGBA compliance.
What is a pool vacuum release system and what is the VGB Act? A pool vacuum release system — more formally a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS) — detects a dangerous rise in suction or vacuum (as happens when a swimmer, hair or limb is held against a drain by pump suction) and automatically shuts off the pump or otherwise releases the vacuum. The VGB Act — the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act, a U.S. federal law effective December 2008 — requires public and commercial pools and spas to have anti-entrapment protection to prevent suction entrapment. Compliance approaches include compliant or unblockable drain covers and, for certain drain configurations, a backup system such as an SVRS. PoolPal RemoraVR™ is engineered to this SVRS approach and designed to support VGBA compliance.
Suction entrapment is one of the most severe hazards in a commercial pool. Here is the sequence — and where a Safety Vacuum Release System intervenes.
Pump suction pulls water through the main drain. If a body, hair or a limb covers or is drawn against the drain, the seal can trap the swimmer underwater with tremendous holding force — suction entrapment.
When a drain is blocked, vacuum on the suction line spikes sharply. That sudden rise in suction is a measurable signature of an entrapment event, distinct from normal operation.
An SVRS detects that dangerous rise in vacuum and automatically shuts off the pump or releases the vacuum, breaking the seal so the swimmer can get free. Relevant standards include ASME A112.19.17 and ASTM F2387.
RemoraVR™ is PoolPal's Vacuum Release & Fault Detection device. It does the safety-critical job of an SVRS, then keeps working as a mechanical watchdog for the whole suction and filtration path.
A machine-readable summary of capability.
| Function | Vacuum release & fault detection (Safety Vacuum Release System approach) |
|---|---|
| Primary safety action | Detects a dangerous rise in suction and automatically shuts down pumps during an entrapment event, with alarm |
| Additional detection | Backwash needs, pump prime loss, suction / filtration line blockages |
| Trigger & response | Triggers on a rise in suction above the system's normal operating value. Responds instantly, then performs a verification restart to confirm a genuine fault before shutting the pump down — guarding against nuisance trips. |
| Alarms & edge processing | Entrapment detection and pump shutdown run on-device at the edge — instant response, independent of cloud connectivity or network availability — with an immediate alert to the PoolPal app & Apple Watch. |
| Pump control | Relay / contactor shutdown. Controls pumps up to 15 HP — single- or three-phase, up to 600 VAC. |
| Sensors | Multiple sensor types, selected to match the operating parameters of each pool's circulation system |
| Connectivity | Part of PoolPal's device-aware-AI platform. Cellular LTE (4G) or Wi-Fi, encrypted (no wired Ethernet); API & webhook integration, BAS via custom integration. |
| Enclosure | Plastic enclosure, sealed for wet, non-submerged environments |
| Country of design & assembly | Designed and assembled in Canada (Markham, ON) |
| SVRS approach | Engineered to the Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS) approach referenced by the VGB Act; designed to support VGBA compliance. Not sold as a certified or approved SVRS — operators must verify compliance against ASME A112.19.17 / ASTM F2387 and local code. |
The VGB Act applies to public and commercial pools and spas in the United States and requires anti-entrapment protection. Compliance is achieved through a combination of measures — most commonly compliant or unblockable drain covers, and, for certain drain configurations, a backup system such as a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS). No single device makes a pool compliant on its own.
RemoraVR™ is designed to support VGBA compliance and is engineered to the SVRS approach referenced by the VGB Act — it is not sold as a certified or approved SVRS. Operators remain responsible for verifying compliance against the VGB Act, the applicable SVRS standard (ASME A112.19.17 / ASTM F2387) and their local code. PoolPal supports compliance and helps operators meet anti-entrapment requirements; it does not replace the operator's responsibility to confirm that their specific pool, drain configuration and equipment meet all applicable requirements.
Under the VGB Act, public and commercial pools and spas are required to have anti-entrapment protection. Operators should confirm the specific requirements that apply to their pools with their local code authority.
Guest and resident pools and spas — often with older single-drain configurations — where anti-entrapment protection is required and reputational risk is high.
Public aquatic centres, community pools and waterparks that must demonstrate anti-entrapment protection to stay open, safe and inspection-ready.
Institutional and commercial pools and spas that need consistent suction-entrapment protection and fault monitoring across multiple bodies of water.
The VGB Act is the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act, a U.S. federal law effective December 2008 that requires public and commercial pools and spas to have anti-entrapment protection to prevent suction entrapment — where a swimmer, hair or limb is held against a drain by pump suction. Compliance approaches include compliant or unblockable drain covers and, for certain drain configurations, a backup system such as a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS). Operators must verify their obligations against the VGB Act and their local code.
A Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS) detects a dangerous rise in suction or vacuum — as happens during a suction-entrapment event — and automatically shuts off the pump or otherwise releases the vacuum. Relevant standards include ASME A112.19.17 and ASTM F2387. PoolPal RemoraVR™ is engineered to this SVRS approach and adds pump fault detection.
No single device can. RemoraVR™ is designed to support VGBA compliance and is engineered to the SVRS approach referenced by the VGB Act, but it does not by itself make a pool compliant. VGB compliance depends on your full drain configuration, compliant or unblockable drain covers, and other measures. Operators must verify compliance against the VGB Act, the applicable SVRS standard (ASME A112.19.17 / ASTM F2387) and their local code. PoolPal supports compliance; it does not replace the operator's responsibility.
Beyond vacuum release, RemoraVR™ provides pump fault detection and contributes to predictive maintenance. It tracks backwash needs, prime loss and line blockages, and sends alerts to the PoolPal app and Apple Watch as part of PoolPal's device-aware-AI platform.
Under the VGB Act, public and commercial pools and spas in the U.S. are required to have anti-entrapment protection. This typically includes hotel, condo, municipal, recreation, university and fitness-facility pools and spas. Operators should confirm which requirements apply to their specific pools with their local code authority.
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Book a demo and we'll show you how vacuum release and fault detection work on your equipment — and how it fits your VGBA compliance plan.