Table of Contents
How should grab bars be installed?
Always mount grab bars into a stud that sits behind the wall. Or, if the stud can’t be located, use an anchoring device. Be sure there is adequate room within the hollow area behind the wall so an anchoring device will work. Grab bars can be placed vertically, horizontally or diagonally depending on your needs.
Can grab bars be installed on drywall?
Grab bars can be installed on surfaces like drywall, tile, fiberglass, stone, concrete and wood paneling. For the most support, grab bars should be attached directly to the studs inside a wall.
Where should grab bars be placed in a tub?
Grab bars can be installed on the back wall and control wall of the shower stall. The ADA recommends that two bars be installed on the back wall, one 8 to 10 inches from the rim of the tub and the other parallel to it 33 to 36 inches from the base of the tub.
Should grab bars be vertical or horizontal?
For placing grab bars in your bath tub or bathtub shower combination, use these tips. Vertical entrance bar should be installed on the wall opposite the faucet. Horizontal bar should be attached to the side wall and should be as long as possible. It should be about 30 inches up from the tub floor.
How many grab bars should be in a shower?
There should be a minimum of 3 grab bars in a standard shower stall. They should be position in the following spots: On the wall at the entrance to the shower stall. This is normally a small grab bar positioned vertically.
How high should a grab bar be next to a toilet?
The ADA says that grab bars should be installed horizontally between 33 inches and 36 inches maximum above the finished floor to the top of the gripping surface (section 609.4). This is likely due to average height and common usage.
Can you use toggle bolts for grab bars?
Our solution, which we recommend, is to use toggle bolts to attach the grab bars. Toggle bolts have wings that open inside a hollow wall. They are commonly used to hang heavy objects on drywall where setting a screw or nail in a stud isn’t possible. Grab bars are attached by three fasteners on each side.
Are grab bars required in showers?
2. In residential dwelling units, grab bars shall not be required to be installed in showers located in bathing facilities provided that reinforcement has been installed in walls and located so as to permit the installation of grab bars complying with 608.3.
Are vertical grab bars required?
ANSI requires 18″ (455 mm) minimum vertical grab bars in addition to the horizontal bars required in accessible toilet or shower stalls. Shower controls must require less than 5 lb of pressure with no grasping.
Will a stud finder work through tile?
Tile isn’t secured by metal fasteners, but its cement board substrate often is. Magnetic stud finders are highly effective at finding studs behind drywall but far less effective at finding anything under the many layers of tile and tile substrate. You may be able to detect a fastener if you are patient and slow.
What type of drill bit is needed for ceramic tile?
What is the Best Drill Bit for Tile? A carbide-tipped masonry bit is the best drill bit to use for bathroom ceramic tile. Regular twist-drill bits can’t cut through the fire-hardened glaze.
What makes a grab bar ADA compliant?
According to ADA standards, grab bars are required in all accessible toilet stalls. Sidewall grab bars should be located a maximum of 12 inches from the rear wall and extend at least 54 inches from the rear wall. A grab bar at least 36 inches long should also be installed behind the toilet on the rear wall.
What is a transfer shower?
Transfer Showers Transfer type showers are a very specific type of shower defined by the 2010 ADA code as a 36″ by 36″ shower with a seat and grab bars and more specifically adhering to the following: Must be 36” from center points of opposing sides-no construction tolerance is stated in the code.
What are two requirements when installing grab rails in a bathroom?
Two back wall grab bars are required. One must be 8-10 inches from the top of the bath tub’s rim, while the second must be parallel to it between 33 and 36 inches above the height of the floor.
Can a grab bar be used as a towel bar?
A common error that many people make in bathroom design is attempting to use towel bars in place of grab bars. Grab bars, when properly installed, can handle several hundred pounds without breaking or ripping out of the wall.
What is the minimum turn around space for a toilet?
Most codes require at least 15 inches (measured from the center of the toilet) from any side wall or obstruction and not closer than 30 inches center to center to any other sanitary fixture. (The NKBA actually recommends 32 inches.).
Do shower grab bars have to be installed in studs?
Grab bars are highly recommended to be installed into wall studs to ensure the security of the bar. Wall anchors can be used in place and will provide a secure grounding for the installation, even with tile walls. Often elderly individuals or those with a disability need an extra hand in these private situations.
Can you use toggle bolts on cement board?
As for medium-weight objects like shelving or medicine cabinets, the TOGGLER Plastic Toggle Anchor is good for all types of walls including drywall, gypsum board, concrete, or brick.
What is ADA bathroom?
The ADA is the Americans with Disability Act, a civil rights law passed in 1990 passed by the 101st U.S. Congress. With that in mind, any restroom in a place of public accommodation or a commercial facility that needs to be accessed by disabled people must adhere to ADA compliance standards.
