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Industry News |
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Web News Roundup
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Sneak Peek
Be the first to read an article that will be appearing in the next issue of Pool & Spa News:
 Playing It Safe
While it’s no surprise that most customers don’t know much about VGB, thousands of builders and techs across the country also remain unaware of the regulations.
An exclusive survey by Pool & Spa News, which evaluated the state of safety awareness throughout the industry, revealed that the road to safety compliance is far more complex than it appears at first glance.
Moreover, consumer interest in safety products varies widely. Whether it’s a cover, a fence or an alarm, it’s rare to hear a specific request from a homeowner, though our study did discover a few exceptions.
Here’s a look at that data, and what it may mean for safety compliance throughout the industry.
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MOD Design Tip
 What great design concept are you working on?
With the economy the way it is, we’re selling a lot more upper-end pools, competing with gunite builders rather than vinyl-liner or fiberglass guys, because we can do the more custom jobs.
How does it work?
Over the past few years, we’ve been trying to perfect our negative-edge pools. In the past, we’ve built a small bond beam around the pool so that the negative edge spills out over the top of the fiberglass coping, and then we tile over the top of that coping to seal up and bury that ugly fiberglass lip. Because we’ve had issues with water seepage, we’re looking at working with manufacturers who will cut that lip down where we want the negative edge to be and put in a nice fiberglass coping, or even cutting it down custom on the job site and then building the backside with concrete.
We’re also developing a process for creating beach entries in fiberglass pools. The actual beach section of the pool has to join with a cut-out section of the main body of water, then those joints need to be covered with something that will make it look like one piece, not patched together. It would take a lot of tile work. A few details need to be worked out yet, but once we start doing beach entries, it’s going to blow the competition out of the water.
— Tom McNelis, president, Signature Pools & Spas, Chicago
Pool & Spa News Masters of Design — 2009 Fiberglass Pool Winner
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Field-Tested Tips
 Creating a Disaster Plan
Do you and your employees know what to do if faced with a fire, flood, chemical spill or other disaster? Creating a disaster plan for your business will not only help you manage an emergency, but it will also allow you to resume normal operations more quickly after an incident occurs. Here are guidelines for creating a solid disaster plan:
• Appoint people to be in charge during and after the disaster.
They should know any necessary evacuation routes, where to take cover and procedures for accounting for all employees. (You need at least two in charge in case one person is absent or is hurt.) You will also want to create an investigative team to record a timeline of events, make a report, and propose and implement recommendations (to help prevent the disaster from happening again).
• Address employee concerns.
Create a phone tree to make sure lines of communication stay open during the crisis. Make a work schedule that outlines procedures for employees who must remain to control critical operations, if necessary.
• Back up vital records.
This will allow you to get your business going as quickly as possible after a disaster occurs. Ready.gov advises businesses to back up computer software, insurance policies, lists of inventory and equipment, lists of vendors and contractors, bank account records, site maps and copies of the emergency plan. In the disaster plan, make note of the location of these records.
For more info on disaster plans, turn to the National Federation of Independent Business.
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Trade Show News
Hot Tub Power Panel
Register to attend the Hot Tub Power Panel at the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo. Three leading industry experts will share their experiences, best practices, ideas, problems and triumphs gleaned from years in the hot tub industry. Attendees will gain new ideas on how to improve their businesses.
Moderating the discussion is Steve Gorlin, owner of Gorlin Pools & Spas. Panelists include:
• Sue Rogers, Oregon Hot Tub
• Danielle Lavallee Wasson, Bullfrog Spas
During this fast-paced, interactive session, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear the panel offer real solutions for tackling today’s toughest issues. Bring your entire team to strengthen your operation.
A new show feature for 2010, the Hot Tub Power Panel will be held 9:45-10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3, just prior to the opening of the show. This exciting Power Panel is absolutely free, but registration is required so register now!
Questions? Visit www.PoolSpaPatio.com; contact Info@PoolSpaPatio.com; or call 972.536.6350.
 2010 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo
Exhibits: Nov. 3-5
Conference: Oct. 31 - Nov. 5
Mandalay Bay Convention Center | Bayside Halls
Las Vegas, Nevada USA
972.536.6350
www.PoolSpaPatio.com | info@PoolSpaPatio.com
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Manslaughter Trial Set for Pool Builder