Recent regulatory updates have called for addition methods to
avoid suction outlet entrapment. According to the National Safe
Kids organization more than two-thirds of parents (66 percent)
are not at all or only somewhat familiar with the topic of
suction entrapment and entanglement. According to the CPSC,
there are five categories of potential suction entrapment
hazards and there is no single product that protects against all
five-entrapment hazards. The five hazards are:
-Hair entanglement
-Body suction entrapment
-Limb entrapment
-Evisceration/disembowelment
-Mechanical entrapment
The Vac-alert™ Model VA-2000L is a Safety Vacuum Release System
(SVRS) designed for suction lift applications. Suction lift in
this case applies to all applications where the circulating pump
suction is either at or above the level of the pool water
surface. This unit incorporates a 0.170” diameter orifice
opening installed below the surge tube section. This orifice
opening is sized to prevent nuisance tripping of the SVRS unit
caused by high vacuum surges typical of many pump start-up
conditions.The Model VA-2000L SVRS unit also utilizes a check
valve assembly equipped with a 3.5 pound spring, a poppet disc
and a one-way (up only) vented poppet This check valve assembly
permits continued water flow to the circulating pump while the
SVRS unit is in the open or vented position. The 3.5 pound
spring further compressed by the poppet disc, creates enough
sealing force within the check valve to allow partial water flow
to the circulating pump for suction lifts up to 3.5 feet. This
is critical to the elimination of circulating pump damage that
can be caused by a sustained dry-running condition. The one-way
vented poppet allows the surge chamber to be internally
recharged when the circulating pump is turned off.
The Vac-alert™ Model VA-2000S is a Safety Vacuum Release
System (SVRS) designed for submerged suction applications.
Submerged suction in this case applies to all applications where
the circulating pump suction is below the level of the pool
water surface. This unit incorporates a 0.375” diameter orifice
opening installed below the surge tube section. This orifice
opening is sized to provide a limited amount of pump start-up
surge protection, while at the same time allowing enough air
into the piping system to insure dissipation of the dynamic
suction force caused by the circulating pump.
The Model VA-2000S SVRS unit also utilizes a check valve
assembly equipped with a 0.25 pound spring and a non-vented
poppet (no poppet disc or hole through the poppet). This check
valve assembly utilizes a light duty spring to minimize the
sealing force of the check valve. The non-vented poppet insures
that water from the circulating system, under a positive
hydrostatic head condition, does not migrate up into the SVRS
