Company Profile

Rev. 10/14/14

Company History

The Nolan family, who owns Aquatic Access Inc., has been providing access to those entering tubs, pools, and spas for over 50 years. In 1962 founder John Nolan invented the first water-powered bathtub chair, which became well-known as the Nolan Tublift. Over the years, a half-dozen companies in the U.S. and Canada have copied this product. In 1980, he invented the first water-powered swimming pool lift. It became known as the Nolan Poolift.

With his daughter, Linda, and wife, Ruth, a physical therapist, John established Aquatic Access in 1987. Linda served as president, and later son David Nolan joined the company as Vice-President and Chief Engineer. David holds the patent on the versatile IGAT-180 design, which set a new standard for the pool lift industry, and continues to lead the way in providing environmentally-safe access to the widest variety of swimming pool and spa designs. David Nolan became CEO of Aquatic Access in 2012.

All of the IGAT-180 models meet or exceed the ADA, ADA and CBC guidelines for public swimming pool access. All of these lifts work with water pressure, and there are no electricity, expensive batteries, or complicated machinery and electronics involved. The renewable, earth-friendly power of water is readily available in homes and commercial properties around the world.

Since the ADA guidelines for pool accesibility by March 2012 became law for all public pools, Aquatic Access continues to provide the most economical and practical products to meet the requirements.

Aquatic Access offers a full line of water-powered lifts for in-ground pools and spas, above-ground pools and spas, portable spas, swim spas, and for most whirlpool, therapy, or rehabilitation tubs and pools, including those with six-foot walls. We also build lifts for boats, for docks, and for cruise ships to provide access to pools and spas. Among the innovative Aquatic Access lifts is the Model IGAT-180AD -- a user-operable lift for in-ground pools which is entirely above the deck to accommodate pools with covers, an automatic lift -- Model IGAT 180/135 -- for spas and pools with built-in seats. Recently the company has perfected heavy-duty versions of most lift models, and a special two-piece seat for people who require a wider seat. These designs make it easy for a larger person to maintain, and improve, good health through aquatic exercise.

It is our ability to create lifts for unique situations that has made Aquatic Access an integral part of several projects for the popular, Emmy Award-winning program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in 2004, 2006,and in 2008. Because our customers are unique and offer a unique set of challenges to an engineer, we work closely with every customer to be certain each lift perfectly fits the pool where it is to be installed. Often these customers become lifelong friends of Aquatic Access and its employees.

In the summer of 2008, Aquatic Access provided a new IGAT-180 pool lift to Camp Cedar Ridge in Kentucky to enable easy access to the pool for MDA campers. It was our privilege to visit the camp and watch the campers enjoy the pool. Click here to share our day at camp.

See our Products page for more information on each model. If you would like to know more about our company, please send your inquiries to us via email.

Ask for a copy of our free DVD showing all of our various models in action. Just give us a call or send an e-mail.