As many people in the hospitality industry (and others) already know, the new ADA pool lift regulations will be going into effect on March 15, 2012. These requirements state that pools more than 300 feet of linear pool wall must provide two means of assisted access, a transfer wall, transfer system, accessible stairs, sloped entry or a compliant pool lift. Click to read more about ADA pool lift regulations.
The process
Not surprisingly, there’s some confusion about pool lifts. While some locations scramble to find a lift to become compliant, they don’t realize that simply ordering a lift isn’t enough, they need to be installed as well. So there are multiple steps to this process.
- Find an ADA compliant pool lift (learn about the different types of pool lifts). There are a variety of manufacturers, including Global Lift Corp, SR Smith and Aquatic Access. Few manufacturers will sell directly, so whether you’re buying a singular lift for a property or you’re a property manager for multiple locations, you’re probably going to have to buy the lift through a reseller. Simply Googling pool lift or ADA compliant pool lift will give you plenty of options for online stores that will likely offer you the best prices available. Alternatively, you can find your local pool store/contractor and buy through them, though the pricing will likely be significantly higher on the unit itself.
- Once you’ve selected a lift and purchased it, you’re going to need someone to install it (yes, there’s more cost than just the unit itself). Typically, a pool contractor would be your best bet, but there may be other contractors who can assist you in installation as well. Local requirements may be different, so contact someone with the ADA or a local contractor licensing group to see if a pool contractor is required a general contractor can take care of your installation. As this article points out, Florida does not allow general contractors to do installations.
