Who Can Enter the Competition?

All entrants in the competition must be members of the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (Region 3) and are current with their dues.  If you are interested in becoming a member, click here.  The competition is open to pool/spa or hot tub builders/ installers, designers, retailers or service companies that receive payment for the installation being submitted.

Important Dates

Dates to Submit Entries:  The competition opens on October 15, 2011. Entry form(s) and payment must be completed no later than 11:59 p.m. CT on Friday, January 20, 2012.   NO EXCEPTIONS.  APSP Region 3 will acknowledge that your entry has been processed by an automatic e-mail response.  This information will NOT be given out over the phone, so please use your current email on the entry form.

Award Notification:  Entrants will be notified by e-mail, whether or not they have won awards.  Results will NOT be given out over the phone, so please use your correct e-mail on the entry form.  Award notification will be AFTER the Southwest Pool and Spa Show room block closes at the Marriott River Center (2/16/2012).  We suggest making hotel reservations early. 

Awards Program:  The APSP Region 3 Design Award recipients will be formally honored during the APSP Region 3 Design Awards banquet held on Saturday, March 3, 2012 in conjunction with the Southwest Pool and Spa Show.  The banquet will be held at the host hotel, the Marriott River Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Winners not able to pick-up their award(s) at the Design Awards Gala, may request the awards be shipped to addresses within APSP Region 3.  A shipping and handling fee of $25.00 for the first award and $20.00 per each additional award will be charged. The shipping and handling fee must be paid in advance.  Awards will not be shipped before the Design Awards gala.

Entry Fees

 A non-refundable entry fee in the amount of $95.00 U.S. dollars per entry must accompany each entry form submitted before Wednesday January 4, 2012.  An entry fee of $120.00 U.S. dollars per entry is required for entries submitted between Wednesday, January 4, 2012 and Friday, January 20 2012.  Payment can be made by credit card (we accept only VISA & MasterCard) or by check.  Payment by check must be received prior to the deadline, to be an eligible submission.

How Do I Enter?

Click here to log in to the competition.

1. Create a user id and the password, and then click Log In.

2. The next page, which is the Entrant Page, has all your company information.  Be sure to update it and make any corrections necessary.  Once you have finished with that page, you are ready to submit entries at your leisure.

3. Step 2 will bring you to the ADD Entry Page, in which you will be allowed to add the details of the project.  Please note that the description box on this page is limited to 50 words or less.  Also, you will not be allowed to upload pictures until after you have clicked “Save.”

4. After you have uploaded your pictures and clicked “Save,” you will be ready to either return to Step 2 and enter more entries, go to Step 3 and edit an existing entry, or go on to Step 4 to make a payment.

5. Once you hit the “Submit” button, your entries are processed (i.e., all information is checked for accurate and complete information, numbered, and recorded).

Entry Rules and Regulations

Each entry must contain the following:

1) Each photo is to be between 1-4 MB in size, landscape in orientation, and must be in high resolution (300 pixels per inch (ppi) or higher) and at least 6.5inches (16.5cm) by 10 inches (25cm), in high-quality JPG format.  Digital cameras can be set up to automatically take pictures at this size and resolution.  If you are scanning a photo print, or using a photo that has been saved in another format select Save As: JPG, and select the highest image quality (largest file) available.  Each photo must show a different view of the installation.

2) For entry categories that are NOT renovations, Upload up to 3 JPG image photos that best highlight your project below. (2 required, 3 maximum) You must save and name your JPGS as follows:

Customer last name + date of construction (month xx date xx year xx) + photo sequence number

first photo, b second photo or c for third photo.

Johnson_120809_a

Johnson_120809_b

Johnson_120809_c

(This means Customer Name: Johnson, Date: December 8, 2009 and it was the first photo). The entry system will automatically add your entry ID# to the beginning of the file name.

3) For entry categories that are renovations or technical engineering achievement:  Please upload three before renovation photos and three after renovation photos to assist with the judging process. You must save and name your JPGS as follows:

Before or After + customer name + photo sequence number (a=first photo, b=second photo or c=third photo).  The entry system will automatically add your entry ID# to the beginning of the file name.

Before_customer name_a

Before_customer name_b

Before_customer name_c

After_customer name_a

After_customer name_b

After_customer name_c

4) For entries to be considered by the Design Award Committee, they must meet the following criteria:

• Installations must have been completed during the five (5)-year period prior to entry deadline.

• An installation may be resubmitted in subsequent competitions if it meets the above eligibility and has not won a    medal (i.e., gold, silver, or bronze) in a previous year. (An entry can be resubmitted if it won an Award of Merit in a previous year.)

• An installation may NOT be entered in more than one category in any given year.

No awards will be given to any entries obviously not in compliance with applicable APSP/ANSI standards. Any entry that does not adhere to the rules and regulations of the competition may be disqualified. Entries depicting use of any alcoholic beverages are not eligible for any award. Entrants will not be notified if an entry is disqualified, nor will entry fees be refunded.

Limitations/Hold Harmless

 By virtue of making application, all entrants agree to observe completely the “Guidelines for the Use of the APSP Region 3 Design Award.”  All entrants recognize that the APSP Region 3 Design Award Competition is essentially an aesthetic and technical competition, and agree that they will make no assertion or indicate that design soundness or safety considerations in the Competition are evaluated in any manner.  APSP Region 3 makes no affirmations or certifications nor does it render any opinion with respect to the design soundness or safety of any entries or award winners, nor as to whether any entry or award-winning installation conforms in any respect with any APSP/ANSI standard or any other applicable government code or regulation.  All entrants recognize that the only affirmations of compliance with any standard, code or regulations are those made by entrants themselves, and entrants or winners will make no representations to the contrary.  By virtue of making application, all entrants agree to waive any right of action against APSP Region 3 for any loss that might be related directly to participation in the APSP Region 3 Design Award Competition, or denial thereof.  Further, entrants agree to hold APSP harmless as to any loss that might be related directly to participation in the Competition, or denial thereof.

Winners not able to pick-up their award(s) at the Design Awards Gala, may request the awards be shipped to addresses within APSP Region 3.   A shipping and handling fee of $25.00 for the first award and $20.00 per each additional award will be charged.  The shipping and handling fee must be paid in advance.  Awards will not be shipped before the Design Awards gala.

Click here  for additional information on the APSP Region 3 Design competition