QA

Quick Answer: How To Install Grab Bars

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.

Do shower grab bars need 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.

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 high should vertical grab bars be installed?

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.

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.

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.

Can grab bars be installed in a fiberglass shower?

Molded fiberglass showers are not the easiest place to install a grab bar, they have space between the shower itself and the wall frame. Once secured the mounting assembly attaches directly to the stud leaving a surface to which a standard grab bars can be attached.

Why are grab bars installed at an angle?

Different Angles Vertical grab bars help if you have limited balance and are easier to grip. Because they are vertical, they provide less wall covering when a person is walking than diagonal or horizontal grab bars.

What is the standard height for a grab bar by the toilet?

The length and location of grab bars are now universal for toilet stalls and individual bathrooms. The requirements for ADA grab bar height state that all grab bars shall be installed horizontally 33-36 inches above the finished floor as measured to the top of the bar (not the centerline).

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.

Will Wingits work with Moen grab bars?

The Wing-its were easier to use, with two smaller holes, and no chance of loss on installation. Both were very sturdy in supporting the grab bar. see less I used them with both Moen and Glacier grab bars, and they are compatible with both.

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 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.

Do ambulatory stalls need grab bars?

Ambulatory Accessible Toilet Compartments An Ambulatory Toilet Compartment is required in restrooms with six or more stalls and urinals combined. The design must include grab bars on both sides of the toilet. As with the Wheelchair Accessible stall, doors must not swing into the minimum clearance area.

What is ADA code for grab bars?

A 42 inches (1065 mm) minimum length grab bar is required on the side wall, spaced a maximum of 12 inches (305 mm) from the back wall and extending a minimum of 54 inches (1370 mm) from the back wall at a height of 33-36 inches (840-915 mm).