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PHTA Issues Call for Participation on Revision of Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies Standard, Successor Standard for VGBA

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Expert Advice

(Alexandria, Va.) – The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) has issued a call for participation on the PHTA-16 Standard Writing Committee (SWC) to develop a revision of the ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 2017 American National Standard for Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies (SOFA) for Use in Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs that is the Drain Cover Standard referenced in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA). The standard was designated the current U.S. Consumer Product Safety Standard effective May 24, 2021. Proposed revisions will be submitted to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). After ANSI approval, the revised standard will be submitted to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), who will determine if the changes are in the public interest.

The VGBA and the Drain Cover Standard have proven effective in the prevention of drownings and injuries for both public and residential pools, according to U.S. CPSC data. The review and revision processes are conducted in conformance with ANSI Essential Requirements for due process and development of policy consensus.

The standard establishes materials, testing, certification, and marking requirements for new or replacement fully submerged drain covers for use in any body of recreational water. These include, but are not limited to, swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, portable spas, non-portable wading pools, storable pools, or any other aquatic venue intended for swimming or recreational use.

“PHTA is seeking subject matter experts (SMEs) who are willing to share their knowledge and experience to develop this revised standard which will have an impact on the industry and the general public,” says PHTA Program Director of Standards and Technical Services Genevieve Lynn. “Committee members will bring their unique perspectives to write language for the standard.”

All stakeholders, including drain cover manufacturers, certifying bodies, pool designers, public health and building code officials, local municipalities, pool and spa operators, and service companies, are invited to apply for the PHTA-16 SWC. The appointment criteria seek to establish a sufficiently diverse SWC to ensure reasonable balance without dominance or imbalance by a single interest category, individual, or organization. Priority will be given to applicants from the various interest categories with the most personal experience using, applying, and enforcing the ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 2017 standard.

“Subject matter experts wanting to serve on the SWC must be willing and able to actively participate in the language drafting process and have a working understanding of the current standard,” says PHTA-16 SWC Chair Steve Barnes of AquaStar Pool Products. “It is imperative that we gather perspective from all stakeholders in this matter to ensure the best proposal is put forth for this revision.”

Interested parties, who may not be SMEs or active users of the standard, are encouraged to attend meetings as observers who can offer comments and insight throughout the revision process.

Application forms are due to PHTA by May 9and may be sent to  [email protected]. For more information, visit the Standards Department page on the PHTA website or email PHTA Program Director of Standards and Technical Services Genevieve Lynn at [email protected].

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About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with over 3,600 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $36.5B pool, hot tub and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge and profitability. Additionally, PHTA facilitates the expansion of swimming, water safety and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.

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Marianne Trusty

Marianne Trusty is a Press Correspondent for the pool & spa industry. A published author and social media influencer reaching over 20 million people around the world each day. Contact Marianne about publishing op-editorials, breaking pool news and press releases at [email protected].

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Fluidra Acquires Datapool to Lead Digitalization and Efficiency in the Pool Sector

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Fluidra Acquires Datapool to Lead Digitalization and Efficiency in the Pool Sector

Fluidra, the global leader in pool and wellness equipment and connected solutions, has announced the acquisition of Datapool, the digital twin platform developed by Ecotropy. With this transaction, the company reinforces its strategic commitment to sustainability, operational efficiency and the digitalization of the sector.

The transaction represents the evolution of a collaboration that began in 2024, when Fluidra invested in Ecotropy through Fluidra Ventures, its Corporate Venture Capital fund focused on startups with the potential to transform the pool and wellness sector through technological innovation.

With this acquisition, Datapool becomes fully integrated into Fluidra’s digital ecosystem for commercial pools, consolidating its role as a key part of the company’s value proposition. The platform incorporates advanced analytics capabilities, IoT solutions and real-time data within an open and scalable architecture, in line with the company’s strategy to offer connected and sustainable solutions that maximize the efficiency of aquatic facilities and accelerate the transition towards smarter management models.

Datapool outfits aquatic facilities with digital twins, enabling pools to be managed using reliable, real-time data and replacing management models based on estimates or manual supervision.

In this way, the platform simulates the optimal operation of each facility and continuously compares it with variables such as energy consumption, occupancy, weather conditions and water quality, providing a comprehensive view that helps anticipate incidents, optimize resources and improve operational performance.

Thanks to this technology, operators can reduce operating costs by 10% to 25% by optimizing water and energy consumption without the need for construction works or invasive interventions; monitor and adjust key parameters such as temperature, water quality and occupancy in real time; automate management through predictive models that adapt climate control and operations to real demand; generate automatic reports with traceable data for audits, tenders or grant applications; and plan investments and improvements based on objective data.

“This acquisition marks a milestone in our digitalization strategy. Datapool allows us to accelerate the transition towards an intelligent pool management model, improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact and offering our customers data-driven tools to make better decisions,” said Thorsten Muck, Commercial Pool Director at Fluidra.

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Pool Industry Accelerates Digital Transformation with POOLCORP and JobTread as Tech Stacks Become More Connected

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Pool Industry Accelerates Digital Transformation with POOLCORP and JobTread as Tech Stacks Become More Connected

Dallas, TX — The pool and outdoor living industry is accelerating its digital transformation as more builders adopt connected tech stacks to increase efficiency across every phase of a project. The newly launched JobTread and POOLCORP integration signals this shift toward smarter, fully integrated construction workflows.

JobTread, a construction management platform trusted by more than 10,000 companies, today announced its new integration with POOLCORP, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies and outdoor living products. This integration helps contractors connect estimating, purchasing, and project management in one streamlined workflow.

Launched in 2021, JobTread’s rapid growth reflects how quickly contractors are embracing project management software. In just a few years, the platform has seen a meteoric rise in adoption. That momentum signals a larger industry shift away from legacy solutions and toward integrated systems.

“Pool builders are becoming more strategic in how they use technology,” said Eric Fortenberry, Founder and CEO of JobTread. “They want systems that work together. Launching this new integration with POOLCORP helps contractors order materials quickly and seamlessly while delivering a better customer experience.”

The integration gives contractors direct access to POOLCORP’s full product catalog—including inventory, pricing, and ordering—while managing projects within JobTread. This includes access to National Pool Trends (NPT), POOLCORP’s leading building materials brand, trusted by builders and subcontractors for new pool construction and complete remodels. By connecting estimating directly to ordering across materials, finishes, and equipment, the integration helps streamline workflows, reduce errors, and accelerate project timelines.

For POOLCORP, the collaboration represents continued investment in digital innovation. As contractor expectations evolve, distributors and software providers are working more closely to support modern, connected workflows.

“Technology is reshaping how pool professionals operate,” said Todd Marshall, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of POOLCORP. “Partnering with platforms like JobTread is part of our broader commitment to building a more connected ecosystem for our customers. We will continue investing in integrations that help simplify workflows, accelerate project execution, and enable our customers to run their businesses faster and more efficiently.”

About JobTread
JobTread provides construction management software designed to help contractors streamline operations, improve financial visibility, and deliver exceptional project experiences. Launched in 2021 and trusted by more than 10,000 construction companies, JobTread combines estimating, scheduling, communication, job costing, and reporting in a single system, giving contractors real-time financial visibility across every project. Learn more at www.jobtread.com.

About POOLCORP
POOLCORP is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related outdoor living products. Serving thousands of professionals across the industry, POOLCORP supports contractors with a broad product offering, including National Pool Trends (NPT), and a growing focus on digital innovation and connected customer experiences.

JobTread Contact:
Taylor Crosby
Director of Marketing
[email protected]

POOLCORP Contact:
Kendall Large
Vice President of Marketing
[email protected]

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SPS PoolCare Acquires Amenity Pool Services’ Operations in Six Sun Belt Markets

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SPS PoolCare

AUSTIN, Texas (May 21, 2026) — SPS PoolCare, the largest swimming pool services company in the United States, today announced it has acquired the majority of Amenity Pool Services’ pool service operations. The transaction, completed in two portions, spans Amenity’s commercial and residential operations in Phoenix, Tucson, and Jacksonville, Fla., as well as its residential operations in Orlando, Dallas, and Port Charlotte, Fla.

The Amenity transaction builds on SPS PoolCare’s January 2026 acquisition of Pool Troopers, which united the nation’s two largest pool service providers. Amenity Pool Services is ranked #3 on the 2025 PSN/Jandy Top 50 Service List, and together, these transactions reflect the company’s capacity to integrate large, complex operations while delivering the consistent, professional service experience that customers depend on every week.

“Amenity has outstanding team members, service standards, and customer relationships cultivated across key Sun Belt markets,” said Lance Martin, CEO of SPS PoolCare. “With this partnership, customers benefit from our expanded network of skilled technicians, advanced scheduling systems, and comprehensive service offerings that keep their pool in top condition year-round.”

SPS PoolCare, a portfolio company of Storr Group, has acquired more than 200 pool service companies since its inception in 2021. The company seeks to provide customers with continuity by preserving existing service schedules, technician relationships, and pricing structures during each transition onto ServiceTitan’s cloud-based platform. SPS PoolCare now serves more than 50,000 weekly recurring residential and commercial customers across 19 markets in five states.

“This transaction represents another significant step in executing the company’s long-term consolidation strategy and further strengthens the platform’s leadership position in the industry. We look forward to supporting the management team through the next phase of growth and integration,” added Fraser Ramseyer, founder of SPS PoolCare and founder and CEO of Storr Group. 

Nation’s largest pool services company acquires operations in Phoenix, Tucson, Dallas, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fla.,and Port Charlotte, Fla. 

  • Acquisition brings new customers, skilled technicians, and expanded market presence  
  • SPS PoolCare has acquired over 200 pool service companies since its inception in 2021.
  • SPS PoolCare now serves over 50,000 weekly recurring residential and commercial customers across 19 markets in five states.

About SPS PoolCare: 

As the #1 swimming-pool service company in the United States, SPS PoolCare is on track to perform over 2,000,000 weekly recurring pool services in 2026 and employs more than 1,000 staff across five states. Backed by Storr Group, the company is focused on growing its family of brands across the Sun Belt, as it continues to make owning a pool a joy. The company is committed to creating a world-class service experience for its customers and to being the employer-of-choice for its team members. Read more at spspoolcare.com

About Storr Group: 

Storr Group is an operationally focused lower-middle-market investment firm that backs, builds, and scales industry-leading platforms. With a rich background in business building, Storr combines world-class operators with strategic M&A, deep integration, and sophisticated technology to drive sustainable growth and long-term value. Storr Group has offices in West Palm Beach, New York City, and Austin. To partner today, visit storrgroup.com

For more information, contact: 

Madeleine Budge 

10 to 1 Public Relations 

[email protected]

(480) 514 – 1070

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