Pool Fittings

CPSC Recall #97-059 — January 15, 1997

Recall Summary

Recall Number97-059
Recall DateJanuary 15, 1997
Remedy Type
Units Affected Over 135,000

Product

Pool Fittings

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Sta-Rite Industries Inc. of Delavan, Wis., is announcing a recall to retrofit model 08417 floor inlet fittings in gunnite and concrete pools and spas. Over 135,000 model 08417 floor inlet fittings have been manufactured for use in these pools and spas during the past 25 years. This inlet fitting is not used in above ground or vinyl-lined pools.Sta-Rite's model 08417 floor inlet fitting is designed to be used to cover pipes carrying water into a pool or spa. When the inlet fitting is improperly installed as an equalizer or suction fitting to cover pipes carrying water out of a pool or spa, a bather's hair may be drawn toward the cover and become entangled in the fitting, holding the bather's head under water. Sta-Rite is aware of two drownings resulting from hair getting trapped in the inlet fitting that was used on an equalizer pipe line in a swimming pool and a spa.Consumers should check with their pool or spa contractor to determine whether this floor inlet fitting is installed in their gunnite or concrete pools and spas. If the floor inlet fitting is installed as an equalizer or suction fitting, call Sta-Rite at (262) 728-5551 to receive a free replacement part.In June 1996, Sta-Rite began asking pool operators, builders and, suppliers to inspect all suction fittings installed in their pools and their customers' pools to determine whether Sta-Rite's model 08417 floor inlet fitting was being used as an equalizer or suction fitting.

Hazard

When the inlet fitting is improperly installed as an equalizer or suction fitting to cover pipes carrying water out of a pool or spa, a bather's hair may be drawn toward the cover and become entangled in the fitting, holding the bather's head under water.

Incidents & Injuries

Sta-Rite is aware of two drownings resulting from hair getting trapped in the inlet fitting that was used on an equalizer pipe line in a swimming pool and a spa.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should check with their pool or spa contractor to determine whether this floor inlet fitting is installed in their gunnite or concrete pools and spas. If the floor inlet fitting is installed as an equalizer or suction fitting, call Sta-Rite at (262) 728-5551 to receive a free replacement part.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a remedy at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (refund, replacement, or repair) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.