They say everything is bigger in Texas, and the pool
industry is no exception. Texas
consistently ranks as one of
the top three states for residential
inground pool construction, residential
aboveground pool installation,
commercial pool installation, and
hot tub sales. But for such a large
state with such a diverse workforce
and a high level of jurisdictional
independence, it is more important
than ever that the Texas pool and hot
tub industry has a unified voice.
That’s where the Texas Pool &
Spa Coalition (TPSC) comes in.
Originally formed as the Aquatic
Professionals Education Council
(APEC), the organization joined the
Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) in
2019 as part of the larger merger
between the Association of Pool & Spa
Professionals (APSP) and the National
Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF).
Since then, TPSC has taken an active
role in promoting and protecting the
pool and hot tub industry throughout
the state. “TPSC has the government’s
attention,” explains TPSC Chairman
Rick Hagan, national sales for Outdoor
Living Products for POOLCORP.
“We have more and more legislators
reaching out to us for our thoughts.”
During the 2023 Texas Regular
Legislative Session, for example, TPSC
tracked and engaged on 12 industry-related
pieces of legislation, and more
than half went TPSC’s way.
Here are some of TPSC’s biggest
wins in recent years.
ESSENTIAL SERVICE
When the COVID-19 stay-at-home
orders went into effect in early
2020, TPSC worked to ensure pool
professionals were considered
“essential” and able to keep working.
Each municipality was responsible
for its own regulations, so Hagan and
other TPSC members would spend
hours every day speaking to city
councils. “We explained that it was a
sanitary issue,” says Hagan. If pools
across the state were left untreated,
that could lead to bacteria, viruses, and
other waterborne issues.
“Eventually, with help from our
lobbyists and the Governor’s group,
we got a letter that specifically said
pool guys were an essential service
throughout the state,” explains Hagan. This helped keep the industry afloat
during the pandemic.
From the Capitol Rotunda, L-R: Andrew Ragland, Rick Hagan, Addam Barrow, Texas State Senator Donna Campbell, Charlie Claffey and Jason Davidson.
CODE ADOPTION
Shortly after TPSC became part of PHTA,
there was a big push for statewide
adoption of the 2018 International
Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC).
However, there was a lack of funding as
well as a lack of administrative oversight.
TPSC was able to raise some donations
from pool builders in the state, but it was
not enough. When PHTA stepped in with
its government relations team to support
TPSC’s efforts, it made a huge difference.
As of July 2023, various versions of
the ISPSC have been adopted by 216
jurisdictions throughout Texas. In fact,
Texas leads the country in jurisdictional
adoption. “You can’t argue with the
success TPSC has had with PHTA
backing and support,” Hagan says.
Additionally, TPSC is working across
the state to raise awareness of ANSI/
APSP/ICC-13 2017 American National
Standard for Water Conservation
Efficiency in Pools, Spas, Portable Spas
and Swim Spas as it relates to drought.
This standard covers methods and
technologies that increase the efficient
use and conservation of water for both
residential and public pools and spas.
When adopted by a jurisdiction or
state, the standard has the force of law.
LICENSURE
All Texas pool and spa service
technicians are required to have a
Residential Appliance Installer License
(RAIL). This includes anyone who
performs electrical work on a pool,
including pumps, lights, blowers,
heaters, and control systems. Those
performing electrical work without
a RAIL are subject to fines starting
at $2,000. The Texas Department of
Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) is the
agency that oversees this license.
In 2023, TPSC partnered with TDLR
on a two-part awareness campaign
about RAIL. “Having licensed
professionals keeps the integrity in the
industry,” Hagan says. The industry-facing
campaign reminded pool
professionals that they need to get
licensed and offered resources on how
to prepare for the exam and how to
renew. The consumer-facing campaign
explained to pool owners the importance
of hiring licensed professionals.
In the Texas Chamber, L-R: Rick Hagan, Addam Barrow, Andrew Ragland and Charlie Claffey.
FEDERAL PROGRAMMING
Last year, the U.S. Department of
Energy issued guidance for state
implementation of the Home Energy
Rebate Programs included within the
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). PHTA has
been closely monitoring this program in
which certain energy-efficient appliances
would qualify for the rebates. Because
there are so many pool owners in
Texas, TPSC encouraged its members
to contact the Texas State Energy
Conservation Office to ask for swimming
pool pumps and replacement pump
motors, pool controls and timers, and
heat pump pool heaters to qualify for
rebates in this program. This could
lead to great cost savings for Texas pool
owners, create greater demand for pool
equipment upgrades, and, in turn, lead
to a reduction of millions of metric tons
of carbon dioxide.
UNIFYING BUILDERS AND
CODE OFFICIALS
In the last several years, TPSC
has developed close partnerships
with both the Building Officials
Association of Texas (BOAT) and the
Texas Association of Builders (TAB).
Working with both organizations has
led to better alignment of laws and
regulations regarding homebuilding
and residential pool building as well as
more consistent enforcement. TPSC is
now a member of BOAT and TAB and
has attended their annual conferences
the last two years. In addition to
having a booth at both shows, TPSC
and PHTA have offered educational
sessions on proper pool construction
taught by GENESIS Engineering
Faculty Chair Terry Brannon, P.E., as
well as classes on the ISPSC.
DROUGHT
In 2022, TPSC and PHTA launched the
“Let’s Pool Together” Texas campaign,
based on a similar drought campaign
PHTA and the California Pool &
Spa Association (CPSA) developed
in California. “Let’s Pool Together”
offers resources for both pool owners
and industry professionals on how
proper pool and hot tub usage and
maintenance can conserve water in
times of drought.
During TPSC’s last visit to the
Texas Capitol in Austin, members met
with the state’s drought committee
to discuss concerns with the water
supply. Austin, in particular, does not
have the water it needs to take care of
its current population, and the city is
only expected to continue growing over
the next 10 years.
TPSC also drafted letters to
government officials that TPSC
members could personalize and send
to their local representatives to oppose
limits on pool building and filling
during times of drought.
ONE INDUSTRY, ONE VOICE
Hagan believes that the most
important role TPSC plays is
representing the diverse industry
as a unified voice. In addition to
TPSC, there are three regional PHTA
Chapters in the state: Central Texas
(Greater Austin), Greater Houston,
and North Texas. One representative
from each chapter sits on the TPSC
Board. It is also important to Hagan
that the TPSC Board has members
from all facets of the industry: builders,
service technicians, manufacturers,
retailers and distributors.
TPSC meets virtually once a month,
to give the board and members an
opportunity to discuss the latest
industry-related happenings across
the state. It is an open meeting and
the public is invited to attend. When
there is an upcoming election or an
important piece of legislation coming
through, state representatives and
senators also attend the meetings to
share updates from the legislative side.
TPSC also works closely with PHTA
to drive membership, education, and
certification. The 2023 PHTA Chairman
of the Board, Charlie Claffey, has
also been a longtime TPSC member.
According to Hagan, Claffey “realized
what TPSC needed to do and that we
needed to grow. He showed TPSC
members the value of being committed
to PHTA.” Claffey — who, according to
Hagan, hasn’t missed a monthly TPSC
meeting in three years — played an
important part in explaining how PHTA
at the national level is also helping
TPSC at the state level.
Because TPSC is part of PHTA,
all TPSC members receive the full
benefits of PHTA membership. Texas
currently has the largest number of
PHTA members by state, but Hagan is
hopeful to expand that lead. His goal is
to reach a total of 500 PHTA member
companies in Texas this year.
To learn more about TPSC and get
involved in local advocacy efforts, visittxpsc.org.