Gregory’s Deep Dive into Pool Safety Earns Him Code Council’s 2024 PMG Leadership Award

During the International Code Council’s 2024 Annual Conference in Long Beach, Calif., Kenneth Gregory, compliance and safety manager for Pentair Water Quality Systems, with more than 40 years of experience in the design, sales, construction management and maintenance of residential and commercial pools, was honored with the 2024 PMG Leadership Award.

The Code Council’s PMG Leadership Award honors an individual or organization for exceptional service to the plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas and swimming pool (PMG) industry. The award recognizes the contributions, growth and enhancement of PMG codes and standards, advocacy in state and local code adoptions, and advancement of PMG knowledge through training, education and more.

Gregory was honored with the 2024 award thanks to his longtime dedication to reducing swimming pool accidents resulting in death or serious injuries.

“Most of these accidents could be avoided,” said Gregory. “If a swimming pool is constructed and the equipment is installed as per our codes, then the record shows a dramatic reduction in equipment and drowning accidents due to unsupervised access to a swimming pool.”

Gregory said the record sadly shows most of the accidents occur in existing pools that have been poorly maintained—including faulty electrical systems, barriers that have inoperative gates and other items that have been neglected.

“It would also be helpful if states with poor or non-existent codes would adopt the Code Council’s International Codes® to improve safety,” said Gregory.

Preventing Pool-Related Tragedies Through Standards Development

Driven by a commitment to improve overall safety, Gregory has served on numerous Code Council committees and councils, including the PMG Membership Council, and has held several key appointed roles.

He has worked with many national industry organizations including the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) to write and revise standards.

Gregory expressed that the aspect of his work he is most proud of is his contribution to developing the PHTA/ICC/ANSI 7 Entrapment Standard. He reflected on the tragic incident involving Virginia Graeme Baker, who lost her life in 2002 due to a pool suction-drain injury, underscoring the critical importance of this standard.

“At that time there wasn’t the entrapment standard,” said Gregory, who was active in producing the standard and served as chairman of the 2020 writing committee for the current version.

PHTA/ICC/ANSI 7 Entrapment Standard has eliminated most suction entrapments; however, hair entrapment has become the number one type of entrapment accident.

“These accidents can be eliminated if the present version of the standard is complied with,” said Gregory. “This would require builders to calculate the hydraulic system, ‘Totally Dynamic Head Loss,’ and the building departments must verify those calculations using a pressure and vacuum gauge. PHTA has announced that the PHTC/ICC/ANSI 7 Entrapment Standard will be updated this year.”

Gregory shared how he hopes to serve on the new writing committee to improve the language that will help improve compliance in this area.

“After a serious accident, a prevention solution is obvious,” said Gregory. “I want to search for prevention solutions before any accident. We must look for improvements in our codes and standards prior to an accident. Continuous improvement must be our driving motivation in accident prevention and overall safety.”

Writing the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code

As a longtime leader in the code development and standards process, Gregory said his most rewarding achievements include being selected to the original writing committee for the 2012 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code® (ISPSC).

“At that time few, if any, states had a swimming pool code of any kind,” explained Gregory. “If they had a code, it was weak and did not address all the needed areas to regulate. Even within a state, local building departments had different versions and enforced different items.”

Gregory has served on every code development committee since 2012.

“I was just on the 2027 committee as we met in Long Beach for the second hearing for the 2027 version, and there is no doubt the ISPSC has saved countless lives since the first version in 2012,” said Gregory. “The Code Council’s staff continues to work hard to gain acceptance in more states each year to save even more lives – I am very proud to be part of this effort!”

Swimming Pool Safety is a Team Effort

Gregory said he accepts the Code Council’s PMG Leadership Award not only on his own behalf, but on behalf of his company team, Engineering Services.

“This team ensures that all the equipment we produce meets and exceeds all required standards and codes worldwide,” he said.

He also shares the honors with Pentair’s Training Team, whose goal is to teach their customers how to install, operate and repair their equipment safely and to ensure compliance with all required standards and codes. 

“Most of all, I am proud that the Code Council has recognized the swimming pool industry as a very important part of building safety,” he said. “It means that I have made a difference in improving safety and the Code Council has recognized that effort. I am humbled by this award, and this will only drive me to do even more for our industry to improve overall building safety!”

Beyond Building Safety

Outside of his work, Gregory is also a private pilot. Although he does not fly as much now, one of his most memorable flights was when he relocated his airplane from Florida to Utah.

“Flying a single-engine aircraft on a journey of this magnitude was a trip of a lifetime,” he said. “I am still wondering how I pulled if off successfully. I am certain that God helped me many times during the trip. It was an experience I will never forget.”

To learn more about the Code Council’s Annual Awards, click here.  To stay updated on the latest PMG industry news, subscribe to the Code Council’s PMG newsletter here.