ADA Compliance and Defense Lawyer Alert: ADA Pool Lift Deadline Extended

May 23, 12 | 12:03 am

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com

DOJ extends pool lift deadline

Today, the Department of Justice announced that it is extending the ADA pool lift deadline from May 21, 2012 to January 31, 2013.

Amendment to ADA regulations

This morning, the DOJ formally published an "Amendment of the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II and III Regulations to Extend Compliance Date for Certain Requirements Related to Existing Pools and Spas Provided by State and Local Governments and by Public Accommodations" (ADAAG Sections 242 and 1009 Standards for Accessible Design).

The new pool lift Compliance Date is January 31, 2013. The Amendment acknowledges that the DOJ's January 31, 2012 technical advisory caused "significant concerns and misunderstandings among a substantial number of pool owners and operators" with respect to the new technical requirements pool lift must .

Background to the extension

The DOJ recently received and carefully considered comments from pool owners, operators and various industry groups and clarified a number of popular misconceptions about the new requirements. At the end of the day, the DOJ seems to have heard the public outcry, in part.

In its Technical Advisory Document of January 31, 2012, the DOJ sent tsunami-sized waves through the hospitality and pool and spa industries when it announced, for the first time, its interpretation that pool and spa lifts are required to be "fixed" (as opposed to portable) next to the pool or spa at all times the facility is open, unless it is not "readily achievable," and they cannot be shared between water elements.

Fixed versus portable pool lifts

A fixed pool lift must be attached to the pool or spa deck. Since September 15, 2010 when the DOJ adopted the 2010 Standards, which included the first requirement for pool lifts which made no reference to "fixed" pool lifts, pool and spa equipment manufacturers began to scale portable pool lifts to meet the anticipated demand. Hotel owners and operators generally intended to purchase a single pool lift to be shared between water elements.

The DOJ sent the industry off the deep end when it announced on January 31, 2012 that portable pool lifts brought out upon a guest's request would not generally be permitted and that the fixed pool lifts could not be shared between pools and spas. A single pool lift may be used for a "cluster" of spas.

For now, anyway, the bad news is that fixed pool lifts still appear to be required.

Except for pool lifts, the 2010 ADA Standards are in effect now

One of the most important take always for hotel owners and operators, is that while the DOJ has extended the compliance date for Sections 242 and 1009 (pool lifts) all other provisions of the 2010 ADA Standards became mandatory March 15, 2012.

While the pool lift extension is very significant for the industry, you cannot lose sight of the fact that your properties, policies, practices and procedures must comply with the 2010 Standards unless you are protected by the "safe harbor."

About the Author

This is Jim Butler, author of www.HotelLawBlog.com and hotel lawyer, signing off. We've done more than $60 billion of hotel transactions and have developed innovative solutions to unlock value from hotels. Who's your hotel lawyer?

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Martin H. Orlick is one of the top ADA defense lawyers in the country, having helped clients with more almost 500 ADA cases for hotels and other businesses. He is also is a senior member of the law firm's Global Hospitality Group®, a partner in the real estate department, and a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL). For more information about ADA compliance and defense, contact Marty Orlick at 415.984.9667 or morlick@jmbm.com.

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Our Perspective. We represent hotel lenders, owners and investors. We have helped our clients find business and legal solutions for more than $60 billion of hotel transactions, involving more than 1,300 properties all over the world. For more information, please contact Jim Butler at jbutler@jmbm.com or +1 (310) 201-3526.

Jim Butler is a founding partner of JMBM, and Chairman of its Global Hospitality Group® and Chinese Investment Group_^TM. Jim is one of the top hospitality attorneys in the world. GOOGLE "hotel lawyer" and you will see why.

Jim and his team are more than "just" great hotel lawyers. They are also hospitality consultants and business advisors. They are deal makers. They can help find the right operator or capital provider. They know who to call and how to reach them.