3.11.3.3 — Access into Public Pools

(1) Where barrier-free access for entry into and egress from the water of a public pool is provided by a ramp as required by Clause 3.11.3.3. (1)(a), the pool shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Sentences (2) to (4). (2) A ramp shall have, (a) along each side a handrail that, (i) has a height of not less than 865 mm and not more than 965 mm, and (ii) runs parallel to the slope of the ramp, (b) a width of at least 1 100 mm, (c) a curb or other means to prevent a wheelchair from falling off the side of the ramp, (d) surface finishes capable of being kept clean, sanitary and free from slipperiness, and (e) a landing at the bottom at least 1 500 mm in length and the same width as the ramp. (3) Where a ramp that is not submerged is adjacent to the pool wall and is used for access to the water, the pool shall be constructed so that, (a) the landing at the bottom of the ramp is at least 450 mm but not more than 550 mm below the top of the wall separating the ramp from the pool, (b) the landing is equipped with a floor drain at its lowest point, (c) the top of the wall between the pool and the ramp is at least 250 mm and not more than 300 mm in width, (d) the pool deck is capable of accommodating a movable barrier separating the deck from the ramp, (e) the water depth at the landing is accurately and clearly marked at the landing in figures at least 100 mm high on the top of the wall separating the pool from the ramp, and (f) the ramp has a slope not exceeding 1 in 12. (4) Where a submerged ramp is adjacent to the pool wall and is used for access to the water, the pool shall be constructed so that, (a) the water depth at the bottom of the ramp is at least 600 mm and not greater than 900 mm, (b) a hard-surfaced area that is at least 750 mm wide is contiguous to the entire length of the part of the submerged ramp that pierces any part of the deck, (c) the area described in Clause (b) is capable of accommodating a movable barrier separating the area from the deck, (d) the finishes in submerged portions of the ramps and curbs are different in colour or shade from each other and from that of the pool walls and bottom, and (e) the submerged ramp has a slope not exceeding 1 in 9.

(1) Despite Sentences 3.11.3.1. (4) and (8) and Clause 3.11.3.1. (9)(a), where a public pool is constructed in a building containing a Group B, Division 2 or 3 major occupancy and has a water depth not exceeding 1 500 mm and a water surface area not exceeding 100 m2, the pool deck contiguous to not more than 50% of the total perimeter of the pool may be replaced by one or more ramps that will permit a bather seated in a wheelchair to enter the water with or without the wheelchair. (2) Despite Sentence 3.11.3.1. (25), a warning notice, on which are printed in letters at least 150 mm high the words CAUTION — NO DIVING, shall be posted conspicuously on each wall or fence line enclosing a pool described in Sentence (1). (3) There shall be a curb along the perimeter of a pool described in Sentence (1) except at steps, ladders and ramp entrances. (4) The curb required by Sentence (3) shall have, (a) a height of 50 mm, (b) rounded edges, (c) a coved base, and (d) a raised nosing at the top to serve as a fingerhold for a bather in the water.

(1) Except as permitted by Sentence (3), a barrier-free path of travel from the entrances required by Sentences 3.8.1.2. (1) and (3) to be barrier-free shall be provided, (a) throughout the entrance storey, (b) except as permitted by Sentence (2), to and throughout all normally occupied floor areas and rooftop amenity spaces, and (c) throughout all normally occupied floor areas and rooftop amenity spaces that, (i) are exempt from the application of Clause (b), and (ii) are served by a passenger elevator, escalator, inclined moving walk, or other platform equipped passenger elevating device. (2) A barrier-free path of travel described in Clause (1)(b) is not required to extend, (a) to floor areas or portions of floor areas containing a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy that are not required by Article 3.5.2.1. to be connected by a ramp or served by an elevator, (b) to Group C or Group D occupancies that are in floor areas in a building that, (i) is three or fewer storeys in building height, and (ii) has a building area not exceeding 600 m2, (c) to Group F, Division 2 or 3 occupancies that are not required by Sentence 3.8.2.2. (1) to be served by an elevator, (d) to portions of restaurants and licensed beverage establishments where the same amenities and uses are provided on other floor areas that have a barrier-free path of travel, or (e) to portions of child care facilities that have all entrance doors at floor levels that do not have a barrier-free path of travel. (3) A barrier-free path of travel described in Sentence (1) is not required to extend, (a) into service rooms, (b) into elevator machine rooms, (c) into janitors’ rooms, (d) into service spaces, (e) into crawl spaces, (f) into attic or roof spaces, (g) into high hazard industrial occupancies, (h) to portions of a floor area with fixed seats in an assembly occupancy where these portions are not part of the barrier-free path of travel to, (i) spaces designated for wheelchair use, (ii) seats designated for adaptable seating, or (iii) spaces for the storage of wheelchairs and mobility assistive devices, (i )to suites of residential occupancy that are in storeys other than the entrance storey and that have all entrance doors at floor levels that are not required to have a barrier-free path of travel, (j) except as required by Sentence (5), on the inside of a suite of residential occupancy, or (k) to portions of a floor area that are not at the same level as the entry level, provided amenities and uses provided on any raised or sunken level are accessible on the entry level by means of a barrier-free path of travel. (4) In an assembly occupancy with fixed seats, the minimum number of spaces designated for wheelchair use and the minimum number of fixed seats designated for adaptable seating shall conform to Table 3.8.2.1. (5) In a Group C major occupancy apartment building, not less than 15% of all suites of residential occupancy shall be provided with a barrier-free path of travel from the suite entrance door into the following rooms and spaces that shall be located at the same level as the barrier-free path of travel: (a) at least one bedroom, (b) at least one bathroom conforming to Sentence (6), (c) a kitchen or kitchen space, and (d) a living room or space. (6) Bathrooms required by Clause (5)(b) shall, (a) contain a lavatory, (b) contain a water closet, (c) contain a bathtub or a shower, (d) have wall reinforcement installed in conformance with Sentence 3.3.4.9. (1), and (e) be designed to permit a wheelchair to turn in an open space not less than 1 500 mm in diameter. (7) The number of suites described in Sentence (5) having 1, 2 or 3 or more bedrooms shall be in proportion to the number of suites of residential occupancy having 1, 2 or 3 or more bedrooms in the remainder of the building. (8) The suites described in Sentence (5) shall be distributed among storeys that are required by Article 3.8.2.1. to have a barrier-free path of travel, having regard to the height of the suite above grade.