Custom ramp and stair rails
There has also been an increase in the use of custom designer rails on access ramps. As per accessibility standards, aquatic facilities must offer every individual equal opportunity to use the pool and/or spa. Additionally, these potential bathers must be able to access the pool and/or spa independently, without the need to ask for assistance.
Today, many pools are, in fact, being built for communities with an aging population. This presents the need to make the entrance/exit easy and gradual for all bathers, which is what makes access ramps a particularly good option.
When it comes to designing new aquatic facilities, a ramp-rail entrance is one of the best options when it comes to compliance with accessibility standards. These ramps not only provide the means for those with disabilities to easily access the water, but also allow individuals with decreased mobility to get in and out of the pool or spa. However, the ability to install these access ramps is highly dependent on the available space within the pool and surrounding pool deck.
Many pools and spas in retirement communities are used by residents for physical therapy and designers of these facilities are placing a great deal of importance on ramps-rail access. These new construction projects focus specially on how to design the ramps in an attractive yet functional manner. To prevent these ramps from looking like an afterthought, the rails must be integral to the design. For instance, the radius of the rail should match that of the pool wall. Also, the legs (or posts) of the rails do not need to be straight. In fact, curved posts or legs can make a custom rail look particularly attractive. It can even make the ramp rail a point of interest on the pool.
Although the height of ramp rails is dictated by the standards, manufacturers have started to offer creative custom treatments for the posts and the curve of the rail. Aquatic facility designers are now asking manufacturers to match the curve of the pool, in addition to the curve of the ramp. Oftentimes, space is at a premium in an aquatic facility and cost is always a factor when designing and creating ramp rails, as it can be a long and involved process.
In many cases, ramp rails can take up a significant portion of one end of the pool and often have one or more turns. As a result, rail manufacturers are taking the creative lead and designing custom ramp rails that follow the contours of the pool to create an interesting look.
When designing an aquatic facility along with a pool and/or spa access ramp, it is important to work within the parameters of the sloped entry requirements. For example, the ramp’s running slope cannot be greater than 1:12 (eight per cent), unless existing space is limited, and the cross slope cannot be greater than 1:48 (two per cent). Further, any openings in the ramp’s floor cannot permit the passage of a 13-mm (0.5-in.) sphere, and any elongated openings must be placed so the long dimension is perpendicular to the dominant direction of travel.
Designing in zones
Aquatic facility designers and builders are now approaching pool design by creating water activity zones. Each zone is built for how the pool might be used in a particular section. For instance, retirement community pools might include shallow areas for classes such as water aerobics and water sports. Adding an in-deck basketball hoop or volleyball net is now also considered an important enhancement in these specific pools—even for bathers with limited physical abilities.
Retirement and resort communities have a growing population of active, aging adults who use the pool for exercise and need easy access to and from the water. It is important for these pools to have shallow ‘play’ areas, as well as several lap lanes. These areas also need to be close to an accessible point of entry/exit. Having a ramp in the pool’s shallow end and an access lift in the deep end (nearby the lap lanes), helps improve access throughout the various zones in the pool. Finally, to make the pool a true gathering place for the community, it is important that it includes zones for socializing. These areas also must be located near an accessible entrance/exit.
The type of access system, and where it will be incorporated in the pool design, is often determined by the volume of bathers that will be using the pool, as well as their specific needs. Further, the number of pools a particular facility has will also affect what types of ‘zones’ should be incorporated into the different pools/spas. For instance, pool and/or spa access in a rehabilitation centre, retirement community, or YMCA facility, where the majority of bathers use the pool/spa for daily physical therapy, cannot be limited to one access lift. This accessibility method would not suffice simply based on the number of people who would use these facilities. On the other hand, accessibility options for hotel and motel pools/spas, which typically see fewer bathers, might be planned differently.
