March 15, 2012, is the deadline set by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for the new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II and III regulations that set a new level of accessibility standards for swimming pools, wading pools, and spas. 101 Mobility® can help you to meet this deadline and remain compliant with federal regulations.
Adopted on September 10, 2010, these new regulations are the first new set of scoping and technical standards for accessibility in nearly 20 years. The new 2010 Standards cover state and local government facilities as well as public and commercial facilities. Both existing and newly constructed swimming pools, spas, and wading pools are covered under the new regulations.
What’s Included in the New Regulations
The 2010 Regulations require any swimming pools with less than 300 linear feet of the pool wall to provide one means of access either by sloped entry or by the installation of a pool lift. Additionally, those pools with over 300 linear feet of pool wall must provide two means of access, which can by be any of the following:
- Pool lift
- Sloped entry
- Transfer wall
- Transfer system
- Accessible pool stairs
Wading pools must have sloped entry. Spas, whether in-ground or portable, must provide one means of entry in the form of a lift, transfer wall, or transfer system.
What It Means to You
The implications are clear. By March 15, 2012, most owners and operators will need to have retrofitted their existing pools and spas with a pool lift or some other means of accessible entry to accommodate those with disabilities. For more information on how the new ADA Title II and III regulations affect your business, please visit the ADA website. Click here to view the various PDF files for Standards of Accessible Design.
If your facility has a pool or spa on-site, let the experts at your local 101 Mobility® office help you to bring it into compliance with the new ADA regulations. Find and call your local 101 Mobility® location now!