{"id":106,"date":"2012-03-27T22:59:23","date_gmt":"2012-03-28T02:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/?p=106"},"modified":"2012-03-27T22:59:23","modified_gmt":"2012-03-28T02:59:23","slug":"selecting-and-installing-a-pool-lift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/selecting-and-installing-a-pool-lift\/","title":{"rendered":"Selecting and Installing a Pool Lift"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Experts discuss how to select and \u00a0 install pool and spa lifts to meet the Americans With Disabilities Act.<\/p>\n

Last \u00a0 year, the Americans with Disabilities Act <\/a>was codified \u00a0 to spell out exactly what requirements public pools and spas need to meet in \u00a0 order to become compliant with the law.<\/p>\n

The act applies to all public pools, new and existing. This includes nearly \u00a0 all commercial pools and spas, with the primary exception being apartment and \u00a0 condominium pools, which are governed by the Fair Housing Act, and registered \u00a0 landmarks. pools must come into compliance by March 15, 2012.<\/p>\n

The ADA mandates that most vessels have at least one primary form of access \u2014 \u00a0 for pools, a lift or sloped entry; for spas, a lift, transfer wall or \u00a0 transfer system. Pools measuring more than 300 perimeter feet must have a \u00a0 second means of access, which can include a lift, ramp, transfer wall, \u00a0 transfer system or stairs. (There are a few exceptions, noted in the ADA \u00a0 standard. Click here for a link to the law<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

For many, adding a lift will be the simplest way to comply. Read on to find \u00a0 out how to best select and install these products on existing commercial \u00a0 pools and spas to make them ADA-compliant.<\/p>\n

Menu of options<\/strong>
\nWhen helping the client select a lift, the decision should be guided by \u00a0 budget and how the unit will be used. Property owners can choose between \u00a0 three basic models: portable, removable and permanent. Lifts can be fueled by \u00a0 water or a battery and each has its benefits and drawbacks.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Portable \u00a0 lifts can be wheeled to various locations. When in use, the unit is steadied \u00a0 by a system of brakes and weights to counter the user\u2019s mass. There is no \u00a0 installation other than minor assembly, which makes these models the quickest \u00a0 and easiest to get going. They are, however, the most expensive to purchase, \u00a0 and they weigh several hundred pounds, so it takes a fairly strong person to \u00a0 move one alone.<\/p>\n

Removable lifts can be pulled out of a sleeve embedded in the deck. This \u00a0 allows some versatility, as the chair can be moved out of the way when \u00a0 operators know it will not be used; or it can be taken to another sleeve for \u00a0 use at a different spot in the pool or a different vessel altogether.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have swim competitions, for instance, you\u2019re not going to want \u00a0 something permanently mounted in the deck and in the way,\u201d says Craig Sears, \u00a0 owner of Sears Pool Management Consultants Inc. in Sandy Springs, Ga. \u201cYou \u00a0 may have a referee who needs to be walking up and down the deck.\u201d<\/p>\n

A cap covers the sleeve and sits flush with the deck so it doesn\u2019t present an \u00a0 obstruction.<\/p>\n

By contrast, a permanent lift stays in place once it\u2019s set, often attached to \u00a0 an anchor buried in the deck. This is most appealing when the unit will be \u00a0 used often or if the client is trying to save money, as they are the least \u00a0 expensive.<\/p>\n

However, both removable and permanent lifts require installation of an anchor \u00a0 or sleeve in the deck, which adds cost. \u201cOn paver decks, you have to pour \u00a0 quite a substantial concrete ballast,\u201d says Alvaro Mendoza, president of \u00a0 Commercial Energy Specialists in Jupiter, Fla. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t just be an \u00a0 anchor, it would be almost a concrete substructure. That does bring the cost \u00a0 a lot closer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each power-source option also has its own benefits and drawbacks. For those \u00a0 who want a portable model, there is no choice \u2014 it must be battery-powered. \u00a0 When considering a removable or permanent unit, facilities owners must weigh \u00a0 the choices.<\/p>\n

Water-powered lifts rely on hydraulic pressure to move the chair up and down. \u00a0 Some like the reliability \u2014 all that must be maintained is proper water \u00a0 pressure, and there is no threat of batteries dying. This may also be the \u00a0 choice for those who prefer to keep electricity away from the pool whenever \u00a0 possible.<\/p>\n

However, getting water to these lifts requires either running a garden hose \u00a0 across the deck or installing permanent lines. A booster pump may also be \u00a0 added to maintain the needed level of pressure. Historically, many owners \u00a0 have opted for the hose, but some advise against it, citing a tripping \u00a0 hazard. \u201cHere, the health department doesn\u2019t allow obstructions on the pool \u00a0 deck, so you couldn\u2019t just run a hose across the deck,\u201d Mendoza says. Some \u00a0 codes also require that excess water released from these systems be piped \u00a0 away from the pool, he adds.<\/p>\n

Battery-powered lifts run off a 24-volt, rechargeable unit that manufacturers \u00a0 say will last four to five years with proper maintenance. They don\u2019t require \u00a0 as much drilling into the existing deck \u2014 however, some professionals would \u00a0 rather keep electricity away from the water, and others don\u2019t like the idea \u00a0 of having the battery die.<\/p>\n

Installation<\/strong>
\nWhen it comes to installation, portable lifts, as expected, are the most \u00a0 simple. The product is basically pre-assembled by the manufacturer, and the \u00a0 contractor only needs to set the brake and place the counter weights to \u00a0 steady the unit.<\/p>\n

Installing either type of lift takes more time, but it isn\u2019t difficult for \u00a0 those who have experience with other products attached to the deck, like \u00a0 starting platforms and ladders. The main requirement is knowing how to embed \u00a0 the anchor or sleeve into the concrete.<\/p>\n

The anchor or sleeve must be positioned so that the chair will clear the \u00a0 coping or gutter \u2014 manufacturers can advise on exact placement. Also, the \u00a0 deck should be at least 4 inches thick, to provide proper support and \u00a0 accommodate the anchors, which are generally that long. \u201cOtherwise, it\u2019s \u00a0 really not enough to stabilize the lift,\u201d says Richard Pentoney, Florida \u00a0 distribution representative for Aqua Creek Products in Missoula, Mont.<\/p>\n

(If the deck measures less than 4 inches thick, use the guidelines \u00a0 outlined here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

There are two ways to set anchors and sleeves: dual epoxy or cement. Be sure \u00a0 to consult the manufacturer\u2019s instructions to see if one is more appropriate \u00a0 than the other.<\/p>\n

To follow the epoxy method, core drill a hole just large enough for the anchor \u00a0 or sleeve to slip through while maintaining the tightest fit possible. \u201cYou \u00a0 can\u2019t use epoxy if you\u2019re making a 2-inch hole for a 1-1\/2-inch anchor,\u201d \u00a0 Pentoney says. \u201cThat\u2019s too much space. It needs to be a tight fit for the \u00a0 epoxy to hold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stop drilling as soon as the bit has gone through the concrete. Otherwise, \u00a0 the drill may damage plumbing lines hidden beneath the deck.<\/p>\n

Be sure the hole is plumb. Put some epoxy in the hole and on the anchor. \u00a0 Place the anchor in the hole, ensuring it is level with the deck. Pentoney \u00a0 likes to place a bolt inside the anchor to help handle it and push it all the \u00a0 way down. Hold it in place for a few seconds, allowing the epoxy to begin \u00a0 hardening.<\/p>\n

Once the material is applied, there is a limited window of time to complete installing \u00a0 the anchor before the epoxy sets. In Pentoney\u2019s area, installers generally \u00a0 have about eight minutes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Cemented \u00a0 in place<\/strong>
\nOthers prefer to concrete the anchor or sleeve into place. To do this, drill \u00a0 the hole so it\u2019s a few inches larger in diameter than the anchor or sleeve. \u00a0 \u201cThe [sleeves I install] are usually about 2 inches in diameter,\u201d says \u00a0 Richard Robert, president of Knorr Systems in Santa Ana, Calif. \u201cYou have to \u00a0 drill about a 6- or 7-inch hole to get the [sleeve] to set properly.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hole may need to be flared out at the bottom to accommodate a flange at \u00a0 the bottom of the sleeve or anchor and provide a thicker footing. \u201cImagine a \u00a0 side view of an old school bell,\u201d Robert says. \u201cThat\u2019s basically what you\u2019re \u00a0 trying to duplicate. It provides for a more secure base of concrete going in \u00a0 to secure this little anchor.\u201d<\/p>\n

When installing a battery-powered lift, it\u2019s also important at this stage to \u00a0 address bonding in states and municipalities that require it. (Even if not \u00a0 required by law, it\u2019s a good idea.) This can prove tricky. \u201cIt\u2019s a bit of an \u00a0 unknown when you dig or cut through the deck where you\u2019re going to find part \u00a0 of the bonding around the pool to pick up on,\u201d Sears says. \u201cThat could be a \u00a0 challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

If a piece of rebar can\u2019t be located, the contractor must find something else \u00a0 to bond to, such as a screen enclosure or metal water pipe.<\/p>\n

Fasten the bonding wire to the rebar or rod, then set the anchor in place \u00a0 making sure it is absolutely plumb. Otherwise, the lift will tip to one side.<\/p>\n

Then, backfill around the anchor with concrete or epoxy grout. \u201cObviously the \u00a0 anchor has to be plumb,\u201d says John Caden, director of pool lifts for \u00a0 manufacturer S.R. Smith, based in Canby, Ore. \u201cIt can\u2019t be slanted or the \u00a0 lift will be slanted.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the anchor in place, begin assembling the lift according to the \u00a0 manufacturer\u2019s instructions.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Source: Rebecca Robledo- Pool and Spa News | 4.15.2011<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Experts discuss how to select and \u00a0 install pool and spa lifts to meet the Americans With Disabilities Act. Last \u00a0 year, the Americans with Disabilities Act was codified \u00a0 to spell out exactly what requirements public pools and spas … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiberglass-pool-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107,"href":"https:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106\/revisions\/107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expertpoolbuilders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}