Integrating access strategies into pool and spa design

by Samantha Ashenhurst | September 14, 2018 9:27 am

By David Monk

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In the past, accessible pool and spa design (along with the related access products) sometimes had a sterile, institutionalized appearance. To some, providing accessibility at these pools and spas may have seemed more like an afterthought. Today, however, this is all changing, as pools and spas at resorts, hotels, city-run facilities, and universities are being designed and built with inclusivity and beauty in mind. Accessible design (entry/exit ramps) and pool/spa lifts are now being integrated to co-ordinate with an aquatic facility’s esthetic appearance.

In fact, some aquatic facility designers and builders are able to create accessible pool and spa environments using colour co-ordinated rails and lifts that are compliant with the city of Ottawa’s Accessibility Design Standards (ADS), which were developed under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA), the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA), the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B651-12, Accessible Design for the Built Environment, and the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards.

Starting with rails

The ‘beautification’ movement for aquatic facilities got its start with pool rails. It began when designers put together impressive pool and spa plans, but were limited to using institutional-looking rails and ladders. This was the main complaint echoed by architects and engineers as their modern facility designs looked disjointed when using outdated handrails and ladders.

This quickly became the starting point for the development of designer rails and ladders. The first step in the evolution of new rails was shape, followed by colour. In fact, some designers use materials that are either powder-coated or have a thermoplastic-coating to create a matching colour scheme throughout an aquatic facility. In most cases, the colour is determined by the materials used to finish the pool deck. Many builders and designers throughout Canada and the U.S. were immediately receptive of the powder-coated colour options in granite grey and tan that complement the coping stone and deck colour treatments being used in today’s aquatic facility designs. These rail coatings provide other benefits such as being less hot to the touch (at outdoor facilities) and offer additional grip for those using the rails to enter and exit the pool and/or spa.

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Shortly after the rise of colour co-ordinated rails, manufacturers started offering ‘designer’ rails with interesting curves and profiles that are visually appealing. These rails fit into standard anchors, making it easy to give a facility a quick face-lift by simply replacing all of the old rails and ladders.

These are perfect for aquatic facilities with rusted pool and spa rails, as they can be easily upgraded to enhance the look of the venue. At the same time, builders can also take the time to examine and enhance accessibility by adding rails to other areas of the pool and/or spa. Accessibility standards, whether national, provincial/state, and/or local, require rails and ladders to be placed in specific locations.

The more important development in recent years was the introduction of ‘designer rails’ for pools and spas. These rails combine the functionality required of the rails and ladders, but are stylish in their design, making them immediately more attractive. These rails received and overwhelmingly positive response, especially by architects and engineers looking for an attractive rail option to beautify their aquatic facilities. In some cases, installing chic designer rails can be one of the fastest ways to transform the appearance and accessibility of a pool and/or spa. Not only do they provide a modern look, but they are also just as functional and safe as traditional rails. The rail goods specified today are created to enhance the look of the pool, making accessibility stylish as well as functional.

Custom ramp and stair rails

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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.

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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.

Access lifts

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Access lifts have seen dramatic changes in the last 10 to 15 years— not only to comply with updated accessibility requirements, but also to meet the esthetic goals of aquatic facility designers.

Similar to rails, some designers want lifts to be an integral component of the pool that simply blends in to co-ordinate with the facility’s design. Manufacturers have listened in this regard, as designers can specify and pool builders and facility owners can select access lifts made of roto-moulded plastic in colours (e.g. granite tan and grey) which match the materials used to build today’s aquatic facilities.

Rob Staples with Cimaron Circle builders in Tucson, Ariz., recently renovated a Hilton Hotel Resort pool in which the project incorporated the latest designer rails and ladders, as well as an access lift in a colour that co-ordinated with the pool.

“We chose a colour scheme for the pool that matched the natural tones of the materials used to construct the facility and its surrounding environment,” said Staples. “We did not want the deck equipment to interrupt the line of sight, so we installed rail goods with a tan-granite, powder-coated finish along with a matching access lift that co-ordinated with the pool’s coping stone and deck, which helped to blend everything together.”

Over the years, many different types of access lifts have been developed to provide a means of entry/exit for all pool/spa users. The various options that have been made available are all a reflection of what the CSA and ADA standards have required. However, these standards have changed over time and, in some cases, have created some confusion for facility operators with respect to what type of lift they can use, how many they need to have, and where they need to be placed. Today, these answers are different than they were 10 years ago.

The location of a pool lift is determined primarily by ADS and ADA standards which state it must be in a position where the water level does not exceed 1.2 m (4 ft). If there are multiple lifts in place, only one needs to be installed in an area where the water level has a maximum depth of 1.2 m (4 ft). The amount of clear deck space required for the lift must be an area to the side of the seat that measure 0.9-m wide x 1.2-m long (3-ft wide x 4-ft long). The length needs to be measured from 305 mm (12 in.) behind the seat. Additionally, the slope of the deck in the ‘clear space’ cannot exceed more than 1:48 (two per cent).

The lift must be able to be operated by users without assistance from both the deck and water levels. That said, those facilities that are equipped with older access lifts, which may not be self-operable, need to be upgraded. This presents an ideal opportunity to replace older access lifts with those that co-ordinate with the facility’s design—especially if there are multiple lifts on the pool/spa deck. When choosing a new access lift, it should be third-party tested and verified, constructed of 304/304L stainless steel, which can be powder-coated to match the surrounding décor, and have a warranty that covers the electronics, specifically the battery, which is now a requirement for self-operable lifts.

According to the updated ADA standards, previously approved portable access lifts can no longer be used/shared for more than one body of water (i.e. pool/spa), nor can they be stored and pulled out for use upon request. In fact, the ADS encourage existing facilities without ramps to secure a fixed access lift to support client needs.

The standards grandfathered existing portable lifts, which most manufacturers now offer a way to attach these units to the pool deck.

[6]David Monk is the director of commercial sales and marketing at ICA Aquatics, a division of Inter-Fab. He has spent more than nine years specializing in the commercial aquatic industry having worked the past two years at Inter-Fab. Monk has a master’s degree in business administration from Florida Gulf Coast University. He can be reached via e-mail at dmonk@inter-fab.com[7].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/features/integrating-access-strategies-pool-spa-design/

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