PITTSBURGH, May 24, 2011 – As commercial and community pools across the nation prepare for summer, NSF International and the ACCU-TAB(R) system commercial pool water treatment group of PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) are working to inform aquatic health inspectors and pool owners and operators about the importance of using properly certified chlorine tablets with systems. They have co-published a free guide called “For Safety’s Sake” that explains how to spot improper operation and why substitute tablets can be dangerous.

“The start of pool season is a critical time for NSF and for health inspectors to educate pool owners and operators on the importance of using only chlorine tablets certified for use as part of an NSF-certified feeder system,” said Dave Purkiss, general manager of the water treatment and distribution products program at NSF International. “Failure to use tablets certified as part of an NSF Standard 50 chemical feeder system can not only put swimmers’ health at risk, but it can also place the pool out of compliance with state and local health codes that require NSF/ANSI Standard 50 certification.”

Substituting generic or “knock-off,” tablets may create health and safety risks for patrons that could lead to health code violations and shutdowns. It can result in the under- or over-chlorination of water due to varying delivery rates, and it can increase the potential for noxious fumes and even fire or explosion caused by mixing incompatible chemicals.

“The use of mismatched ‘knock-off’ tablets in a chlorinator system can not only void the manufacturer’s warranty and give uncontrolled delivery rates, but it can result in an inadvertent mixing of incompatible chemicals that may generate heat, release toxic gas and potentially cause a violent detonation in the feeder,” said Dr. Stan Pickens, PPG senior research associate for the Accu-Tab chlorination system.

The results can be catastrophic, as such explosions could both damage equipment and cause injuries to personnel nearby. As a result, it’s important not only for pool owners to be aware of the dangers, but also for health inspectors to be on the lookout for violations.

“The responsibility lies with pool operators to thoroughly understand and follow their chlorinator manufacturer’s product guidelines in order to prevent health and safety risks for patrons and operators,” Pickens said.

To download or order a copy of the free booklet, visit www.accu-tab.com/poolsafety. For more information about the Accu-Tab system, visit www.accu-tab.com.

About PPG
PPG Industries’ vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Founded in 1883, the company serves customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, PPG operates in more than 60 countries around the globe. Sales in 2010 were $13.4 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

–110524KnockOffTablets– Contact:
Brande Juart
PPG Commodity Chemicals
724-325-5203
juart@ppg.com