Based on the findings of the review of literature and three research studies, the following recommendations were presented:
General
1.1. At least one accessible means of water entry/exit shall be provided for each swimming pool and shall be located on an accessible route.
1.2. Swimming pools with more than 300 linear feet of pool wall shall provide at least two accessible means of water entry/exit located on accessible routes.
1.3. When only one accessible means of water entry is provided, it shall be a swimming pool lift, wet ramp, or zero depth entry.
1.4. When a second accessible means of water entry/exit is provided, it shall be a transfer wall, transfer steps, movable floor, stairs, swimming pool lift, wet ramp, or zero depth entry. Lifts, wet ramps, and zero depth entry may not be used as a second accessible means of water entry/exit if the same means is used as the first accessible means of water entry/exit.
1.5. When a second accessible means of water entry/exit is provided, it must be located so that in combination with the first accessible means of water entry/exit to serve both ends and sides of the pool.
Ramps
When pool ramps are provided, they should meet the following specifications:
2.1. Surface: The surface of pool ramps must be firm, stable, and slip resistant.
2.2. Slope: The least possible slope should be used for a pool ramp. The maximum slope of a pool ramp shall be 1:12.
2.3. The maximum rise for any run shall be 30 inches.
2.4. The minimum clear width of a pool ramp shall be 36 inches.
2.5. Landings: Level landings must be located at the bottom and top of each ramp and each ramp run. At least one level landing must be located between 24 inches and 30 inches below the stationary water level. The landings must:
2.5.1. be at least as wide as the ramp run leading to it;
2.5.2. have a minimum length of 60 inches clear;
2.5.3. have a minimum of size of 60 inches by 60 inches if the ramp changes direction.
2.6. Handrails: Handrails should be required on all ramps. Ramp handrails should include the following:
2.6.1. Two handrails shall be provided and located 32 to 36 inches apart.
2.6.2. In addition to a top handrail gripping surface mounted at 34 inches to 38 inches above the ramp surface, a second handrail should be mounted between es and 26 inches.
2.6.3. Handrails should not be required to extend beyond the base of stairs or the base of a ramp where such would protrude into a lane or otherwise programmable area.
2.6.4. Handrails must be affixed so as to not allow movement in any direction.
2.6.5. Handrail diameter should be 1.25 inches to 1.5 inches.
2.6.6. If handrails are mounted adjacent to the pool wall, the space between the wall and the handrail shall be 1.5 inches.
2.7. Aquatic chairs: Facilities that provide ramps must also provide an aquatic chair that meets recommendations 12.1 to 12.5.
Pool Lifts
When provided, pool lifts should meet the following specifications:
3.1. Pool lifts shall facilitate unassisted operation.
3.2. Clear space: A minimum clear deck space of at least 60 x 56 inches to one side and to the front of the lift seat must be provided. The space under the lift seat could be included as part of the clear space as long as the area is unobstructed.
3.3. Seat location: In the raised position the lift seat edge used for transfers must be located over the pool deck at least 12 inches inside the deck edge.
3.4. Seat height: Lift seats should be located 17 inches from the deck to the top of the seat surface.
3.5. Seat width: The lift seat width should be a minimum of 19 inches wide.
3.6. Footrest: A footrest should be attached to the lift seat.
3.7. Armrests should be located on both sides of the lift seat. The armrest located next to the clear deck space should be capable of moving away from the transfer area.
3.8. Controls and operating mechanisms: Controls and operating mechanisms at both the deck level and water level positions should be operable from the front edge of the lift seat and unobstructed by any other component of the lift. Controls and operating mechanisms shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate controls shall be no greater than 5 lbf (22.2 N).
3.9. Lifts shall be operable from both the deck level and water level.
3.10. Vertical travel: The vertical travel of the lift should allow the lift seat to be submerged 18 inches to 20 inches below the water level.
3.11. Minimum lifting capacity: A minimum weight of 300 lbs. is required for all single person lifts. The lift should also be capable of sustaining a static load of at least three times the rated load.
Zero Depth Entry (Beach Entry)
When zero depth entry is provided it should meet the following specifications:
4.1. Surface: The surface shall be firm, stable and slip resistant.
4.2. Slope: Zero depth entry pools are typically designed with very slight slopes. The maximum slope of a zero depth entry should not exceed 1:12 continuing to a minimum depth of 30 inches. For pools less than 30 inches deep, the slope should continue to the depth of the pool. Whenever the slope exceeds 1:20, it shall be considered a ramp and all recommendations for a ramp would apply.
4.3. Vertical rise: Whenever a zero depth entry slope exceeds 1:20, a maximum rise for any run should be 30 inches.
4.4. Landings: For zero depth entry slopes that exceed 1:20, at least one level landing must be located between 24 inches and 30 inches below the stationary water level. The landings must have a minimum length of 60 inches and a minimum width of 36 inches
4.5. Handrails: Whenever the slope of a zero depth entry exceeds 1:20, two handrails should be required 36 inches apart.
4.6. Whenever the slope of a zero depth entry exceeds 1:20, handrails shall have a top handrail gripping surface mounted at 34 inches to 38 inches and a second handrail mounted between 16 inches and 26 inches.
4.7. Handrails must be affixed so as to not allow movement in any direction.
4.8. Aquatic chairs: Facilities that provide zero depth entry must provide an aquatic chair that meets recommendations 12.1 to 12.5.
Transfer Wall
When a transfer wall is provided, it should meet the following specifications:
5.1. Clear deck space: Clear deck space of 60 inches by 60 inches should be required at the transfer wall.
5.2. Wall height: The wall height should be 17 inches above the pool deck.
5.3. Wall depth: The transfer wall should be 12 inches to 15 inches deep.
5.4. Wall surface: The transfer wall surface must be non-abrasive and without any sharp edges.
5.5. Handrails: A minimum of one handrail should be located perpendicular to the pool wall, 4 to 6 inches above the transfer wall and with a minimum of 22 inches clearance on either side of the handrail.
5.6. Dry ramp: If a dry ramp is used to achieve the transfer wall, all of the requirements of ADAAG 4.8.5 will apply to the ramp.
Movable Floors
When a movable floor is provided, it should meet the following specifications:
6.1. Pool coping: Changes in level in the pool coping should be no greater than one-half inch and be beveled with a slope no greater than 1:2.
6.2. Aquatic chairs: Facilities that provide a movable floor as an accessible means of water entry/exit shall provide an aquatic chair that meets recommendations 12.1 to 12.5.
Transfer Steps
When provided, transfer steps should meet the following specifications:
7.1. Clear deck space: Clear deck space of 60 by 60 inches should be required adjacent to the surface of the transfer steps.
7.2. Transfer surface: The transfer surface of the highest step should be 17 inches above the pool deck.
7.3. Surface: The surfaces should be firm, have no sharp edges, and should not be abrasive in texture.
7.4. Step risers: The risers of transfer steps should be 5 to 7 inches in height. The last step in the water should be at least 18 inches below the water surface.
7.5. Step surface: Transfer steps should have a minimum of 12 inches of tread depth and a minimum of 22 inches tread width.
7.6. Handrails: One handrail should be provided at the side of the transfer step opposite the clear deck space. The handrail should be between 4 inches and 6 inches above the step surface.
7.7. Handrail diameter should be 1.25 inches to 1.5 inches.
Stairs
If stairs are provided as an accessible means of water entry/exit, they should meet the following specifications:
8.1. Surface: The surface of pool stairs must be firm, stable, and slip resistant.
8.2. The minimum clear width of pool stairs shall be 36 inches.
8.3. All steps shall have uniform riser heights and uniform tread widths. Stair treads shall be no less than 11 inches wide.
8.4. Two handrails shall be provided and located 32 to 36 inches apart.
8.5. In addition to a top handrail gripping surface mounted at 34 inches to 38 inches above the ramp surface, a second handrail should be mounted between 16 inches and 26 inches.
8.6. Handrails should not be required to extend beyond the base of stairs or the base of a ramp where such would protrude into a lane or otherwise programmable area.
8.7. Handrails must be affixed so as to not allow movement in any direction.
8.8. Handrail diameter should be 1.25 inches to 1.5 inches.
8.9. If handrails are mounted adjacent to the pool wall, the space between the wall and the handrail shall be 1.5 inches.
Wading Pools
9.1. A minimum of one accessible means of water entry/exit shall be provided for each wading pool and shall be located on an accessible route.
9.2. An accessible means of water entry to wading pools shall be one of the following: transfer wall, transfer steps, pool lift, a wet ramp, or a zero depth entry, provided the means of entry/exit meets each of the recommendations for that means of entry/exit.
Spas
10.1. A minimum of one accessible means of water entry/exit shall be provided for each spa and shall be located on an accessible route.
10.2. An accessible means of water entry to spas shall be one of the following: transfer wall, transfer steps, or lift, provided the means of entry/exit meets all recommendations that apply to the selected means of entry/exit.
10.3 An accessible spa that is unattended shall have a means of emergency notification that is adjacent to the accessible means of egress, within reach of someone seated in the spa, and operable at all times.
10.4. Controls and operating mechanisms shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate controls shall be no greater than 5 lbf (22.2 N).
Removable Designs & Devices
11.1. A removable device must remain in place until all users of the device have exited the pool tank.
11.2. Removable devices shall be on-site, readily available, maintained and operable at all times. Whenever possible, removable devices should be in place.
11.3. Signage: Whenever devices are removable and not in place at all times, signs must be posted to instruct users as to how the designs/devices can be requested.
Aquatic Chairs
12.1. Whenever a ramp, zero depth entry, or movable floor is used as an accessible means of water entry/exit, an aquatic chair with push rims must be provided.
12.2. At least one aquatic chair with a top surface of the seat at 17 inches above the deck shall be provided.
12.3. Seat width: The aquatic chair seat width should be a minimum of 19 inches wide.
12.4. Footrest: Footrests should be provided on the aquatic chair.
12.5. Armrests should be located on both sides of the aquatic chair seat. At least one armrest should be capable of moving away from the side of the chair.
