For a residential in-ground pool, you’re primarily inspecting drains for entrapment risk, visible defects, and obvious non-compliance (without operating anything beyond normal controls or removing covers).

Scope and safety focus

  • The main concern is suction entrapment (body, hair, limb, mechanical, evisceration) at outlets connected to the circulation system.
  • The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB Act) directly regulates public and semi‑public pools, but its drain-cover standards and best practices are widely applied to residential installations because non-compliant covers cannot be imported or sold.
  • Your inspection is visual and non-invasive: you do not remove covers, do not dive the pool, and do not modify circulation equipment, consistent with typical pool/spa SOP language that limits inspectors to visual, accessible components.

Main drain and suction outlet inspection points

When the water is clear enough to see the floor, you can evaluate:

Presence and visibility

  • Verify that all submerged suction outlets (main drain, spa drains, wall suctions, equalizer lines) are present and visible; inability to clearly see the main drain from the deck is treated as an unsafe condition in many pool codes and health-department inspection checklists.

Cover condition

  • Confirm each outlet has a properly sized cover or grate; missing covers are a critical hazard because open suction outlets dramatically increase entrapment risk.
  • Look for cracks, broken ribs, warping, excessive wear, or deformation; any damaged or loose cover should be called out for immediate replacement and for the pool to remain out of service until corrected.
  • Note corrosion of screws or obvious incompatibility (e.g., wrong cover type or size for the sump/frame).

Secure attachment

  • Check that covers appear firmly attached and not rocking or shifting; guidance to pool owners is to verify covers are securely fastened because loose covers are a known cause of entrapment incidents.
  • If you see missing screws, mismatched screws, or any sign the cover could come free, this is a significant safety defect requiring immediate professional correction before use.

VGB-compliant cover markings (as visible)

  • VGB-compliant covers carry molded markings indicating compliance with ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 or its successor ANSI/APSP‑16 standard.
  • From the deck you may or may not be able to read the markings, but you can document whether a modern, domed anti-entrapment style cover appears present versus an obviously old flat grate or improvised cover.
  • If you cannot confirm the cover type or compliance, best-practice guidance to owners is replacement with a listed VGB-compliant cover when in doubt.

Number and spacing of main drains

  • Safer systems use at least two fully submerged suction outlets per pump, with centers at least 3 feet (36 inches) apart; this configuration reduces the likelihood a single body can block all suction.
  • An “unblockable” drain is defined (ANSI/APSP‑7) by geometry such that it is too large to be fully blocked by the body (commonly at least 31 inches in one dimension and 3 inches in the other).
  • If you see a single, small, blockable main drain, or two drains apparently closer than about 3 feet on center, that is a notable entrapment concern and should be reported with a recommendation for evaluation and upgrade by a qualified pool professional.

Other anti-entrapment systems (as observed, not tested)

  • Public-pool-oriented guidance recommends additional protective devices on single-drain systems such as Safety Vacuum Release Systems (SVRS), which detect a blockage and shut or vent the pump.
  • In a residential setting, you may only be able to note the presence of SVRS-labeled valves or pump add-ons, without verifying performance.

Typical high-risk conditions to call out

Conditions widely recognized as serious hazards that you should describe clearly and defer to a pool specialist:

  • Missing, broken, loose, undersized, or obviously non-pool drain covers on any suction outlet.
  • Single, blockable main drain with no apparent secondary protection (no visible second drain, no visible “channel” unblockable drain, or no visible SVRS device).
  • Water so cloudy that the main drain is not clearly visible from the deck, which many jurisdictions treat as unsafe for swimming.
  • Children’s play patterns that increase risk (toys tied to grates, ropes or long hair noted around drains) should be addressed in your narrative as educational comments, referencing known entrapment categories (body, hair, limb, mechanical, evisceration).