Table 10.1 - Final Guidelines: Swimming Pools, Wading Pools, and Spas
15.8.1 General
Section:  Application
Requirement:  Newly designed and constructed and altered swimming pools, wading pools, and spas must comply
with 15.8.
Section:  Exception - Diving Boards
Requirement:  Accessible route is not required to serve diving boards or diving  platforms.
15.8.2  Swimming Pools
Section:  Scoping
Requirement:  At least two accessible means of entry must be provided for each public use and common use
swimming pool.  Primary means must be pool lift or sloped entry.  Secondary means must be pool lift, slopped entry,
transfer wall, transfer system, or pool stairs.
Section:  Exception - Pools Less Than 300 Linear Feet
Requirement:  Swimming pools with less than 300 linear feet of wall must provide at least one accessible means of
entry.  Means must be pool lift or slopped entry.
Section:  Exception - Pools With Limited Access
Requirement:  Wave action pools, leisure rivers, sand bottom pools, and other pools where user access is limited to
one area must provide at least one accessible means of entry.  Means must be pool lift, slopped entry, or transfer
system.
Section:  Exception - Catch Pools
Requirement:  Catch pools must only be served by accessible route that connects to pool edge.
15.8.3  Wading Pools
Section:  Scoping
Requirement:  Wading pools must provide at least one slopped entry.
15.8.4 Spas
Section:  Scoping
Requirement:  Spas must provide at least one accessible means of entry.  Means must be pool lift, transfer wall, or
transfer system.
Section:  Exception - Spas in Cluster
Where spas are provided in cluster, at least 5 % in each cluster must provide at least one accessible means of entry.
15.8.5 Pool Lifts
Section:  Lift Location
Requirement:  Lift must be located where water level does not exceed 48 inches.  Where entire pool depth is greater
than 48 inches, requirement does not apply.  Where multiple pool lift locations are provided, only one is required to
be located where water level does not exceed 48 inches.
Section:  Seat Location
Requirement:  In raised location, centerline of seat must be located over deck and 16 inches minimum from pool
edge.  Deck surface between centerline of seat and pool edge must have slope not greater than 1:48
Section:  Clear Deck Space
Requirement:  On side of seat opposite water, clear deck space must be provided parallel with seat.  Space must be
36 inches wide minimum and extend forward 48 inches minimum from line located 12 inches behind rear edge of
seat.  Space must have slope not greater than 1:48.
Section:  Seat Height
Requirement:  Lift seat must be designed to stop at 16 inches to 19 inches maximum measured from deck to seat top
when in raised position.
Section:  Seat Width
Requirement:  Seat width must be 16 inches minimum.
Section:  Footrests and Armrests
Requirement:  Footrests must be provided and move with seat.  Footrests not required on lifts provided in spas.  If
provided, armrests positioned opposite water must be removable or fold clear of seat when seat in raised position.
Section:  Operation
Requirement:  Lift must be capable of unassisted operation from deck and water levels.  Controls and operating
mechanisms must be unobstructed when lift in use and comply with requirements for controls and operating
mechanisms.
Section:  Submerged Depth
Requirement:  Lift must be designed so that seat submerges to water depth of 18 inches minimum below stationary
water level.
Section:  Lifting Capacity
Requirement:  Single person lifts must have minimum weight capacity of 300 lbs. and be capable of sustaining static
load at least one and half times rated load.
15.8.6 Sloped Entries
Section:  Accessible Route
Requirement:  Sloped entries must comply with accessible route requirements, except surfaces are not required to be
slip resistant.
Section:  Submerged Depth
Requirement:  Sloped entries must extend to depth of 24 inches minimum to 30 inches maximum below stationary
water level.  Where landings are required, at least one landing must be located 24 inches to 30 inches maximum
below stationary water level.  In wading pools, slopped entry and landings must extend to deepest part of pool.
Section:  Handrails
Requirement:  Handrails must be provided on both sides of sloped entry and comply with handrail requirements.
Clear width between handrails must be 33 inches minimum and 38 inches maximum.  Handrail extensions are not
required at bottom landing.  Clear width between handrails does not apply to wave action pools, leisure rivers, sand
bottom pools, and other pools where user access is limited to one area.  Handrail requirements do not apply to
wading pools.
15.8.7 Transfer Walls
Section:  Clear Deck Space
Requirement:  Clear deck space must be provided at base of transfer wall.  Space must be 60 inches minimum by 60
inches minimum. Space must have slope not greater than 1:48.  Where one grab bar provided, space must be
centered on grab bar.  Where two grab bars provided, space must be centered on clearance between grab bars.
Section:  Height
Requirement:  Transfer wall height must be 16 inches minimum to 19 inches maximum measured from deck.
Section:  Wall Depth and Length
Requirement:  Transfer wall depth must be 12 inches minimum to 16 inches maximum.  Transfer wall length must be
60 inches minimum and centered on clear deck space.
Section:  Surface
Requirement:  Transfer wall surfaces must have rounded edges and not be sharp.
Section:  Grab Bars
Requirement:  At least one grab bar must be provided on transfer wall.  Grab bars must be perpendicular to pool wall
and extend full depth of transfer wall.  Top of gripping surface must be 4 inches minimum and 6 inches maximum
above transfer wall.  Where one grab bar provided, clearance must be 24 inches minimum on both sides of grab bar.
Where two grab bars provided, clearance must be 24 inches minimum between grab bars.  Grab bars must comply
with grab bar requirements.
15.8.8 Transfer Systems
Section:  Transfer Platform
Requirement:  Transfer platform must be provided at head of transfer system. Platform must be 19 inches minimum
clear depth by 24 inches minimum clear width.
Section:  Clear Deck Space
Requirement:  Clear deck space must be provided at base of transfer platform.  Space must be 60 inches minimum by
60 inches minimum. Space must have slope not greater than 1:48.  Space must be centered along 24 inch minimum
unobstructed side of platform.
Section:  Height
Requirement:  Transfer platform height must be 16 inches minimum to 19 inches maximum measured from deck.
Section:  Transfer Steps
Requirement:  Transfer step height must be 8 inches maximum. Tread clear depth must be 14 inches minimum and
17 inches maximum; and tread clear width must be 24 inches minimum.  Transfer steps must extend 18 inches
minimum below the stationary water level.
Section:  Surface
Requirement:  Transfer system surfaces must have rounded edges and not be sharp
Section:  Grab Bars
Requirement:  At least one grab bar on each transfer step and transfer platform, or continuous grab bar serving each
transfer step and transfer platform must be provided.  Top of gripping surface must be 4 inches minimum and 6
inches maximum above each step and transfer platform.  Where continuous grab bar provided, top of gripping
surface must be 4 inches minimum and 6 inches maximum above step nosing and transfer platform.  Grab bars must
be located on at least one side of transfer system.  Grab bar located at transfer platform must not obstruct transfer.
Grab bars must comply with grab bar requirements.
15.8.9  Pool Stairs
Section:  General
Requirement:  Pool stairs must comply with stairs requirements.
Section:  Handrails
Requirement:  Width between handrails must be 20 inches minimum and 24 inches maximum.  Handrail extensions
are not required at bottom landing serving pool stairs.
15.8.10  Water Play Components
Section:  General
Requirement:  Where water play components provided, play area requirements and accessible route requirements
apply.
Section:  Exception - Cross Slope, Running Slope, and Surface Requirements
Requirement:  Where surface of accessible route, clear floor or ground spaces, and maneuvering spaces serving
water play components is submerged in water, play area and accessible route requirements for cross slope, running
slope, and surface requirements do not apply.
Section:  Exception - Transfer Systems
Requirement:  Transfer systems permitted to be used in lieu of ramps to connect elevated play components.