ADA Compliance

Does your swimming pool comply with the new ADA requirements for accessibility?

The following two links lead to brand-new information just released by the US Department of Justice. They address some areas of common confusion and further explain reason behind the ADA Regulations.

If you are a Title II (Public Industry - School District, Municipality, City, County) or Title III (Private Industry - Lodging, Recreation, Education, etc.) entity with a pool, you are required to provide "accessible means of entry for pools."

  • Any pool with under 300 linear feet of pool wall must provide one means of access, and that means must be either a pool lift or a sloped entry.
  • Any pool with over 300 linear feet of pool wall must provide two means of access, one of which must be either a pool lift or sloped entry. The second means of access for large pools can be any of the five designated means of access, which are: pool lifts, sloped entries, transfer walls, transfer systems, or accessible pool stairs.
  • Wave action, leisure river, and other pools where user entry is limited to one area require either a sloped entry, lift, or transfer system.
  • Wading pools require a sloped entry.
  • Spas require either a lift, transfer wall or transfer system.

The Department of Justice clarified some issues in early 2012.
  • Each body of water needs its own form of access
  • Each form of access needs to be at poolside and ready to use during operating hours
  • If a portable lift is used, it must be fixed to the pool deck or apron during operating hours
  • A portable lift that is 'fixed' must require tools to be removed from its fixed location
  • The use of a non-fixed portable lift is allowed when installation of a fixed unit is not readily achievable

The law implementing the new ADA standards went into effect March 15, 2011. Compliance with ADA standards has been required since January 31, 2013.

Please contact us to discuss what the ADA requirements mean for your facility. We can help you select the best products for your unique set of circumstances.

To learn more about the ADA requirements and what they mean to you, browse the links listed below.

Shop our selection of Aquatic Lifts here: Access Lifts