Beyond the sound bites surrounding entrapment protection lie equally important questions regarding how the technology works, its strengths and limitations, and what issues remain to be solved.

Examining the five recognized types of suction entrapment.

The SVRS devices and automatic pump shut-offs on the market vary in their placement within the circulation system.

Suction-limiting vents provide an alternate vacuum-breaking system.

When the drain is blocked, water is no longer fed into the suction line, causing the low pressure point or “vacuum” at the pump impeller to lengthen until it reaches the drain and holds down whatever is causing the blockage.

Upon detecting a rise in vacuum, SVRSs and automatic pump shut-offs disable the pump by allowing air to enter the line or turning off the power, thereby equalizing pressure at the drain and releasing the entrapment victim.

About the Author

Rebecca Robledo

Rebecca Robledo is deputy editor of Pool & Spa News and Aquatics International. She is an award-winning trade journalist with more than 25 years experience reporting on and editing content for the pool, spa and aquatics industries. She specializes in technical, complex or detail-oriented subject matter with an emphasis in design and construction, as well as legal and regulatory issues. For this coverage and editing, she has received numerous awards, including four Jesse H. Neal Awards, considered by many to be the “Pulitzer Prize of Trade Journalism.”

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