Key Takeaways
The role of grab bars in bathrooms:- Safety and Stability: Essential for supporting balance and preventing slips.
- ADA Compliance: Necessary for meeting accessibility standards in commercial spaces.
- Versatile Installation: Used in various bathroom areas for enhanced user security.
Grab bars in bathrooms are required in all commercial ADA restroom stalls to pass inspections.
Restrooms with over 6 stalls also require a crutch stall: 1 – 42″ grab bar on each side of the stall and 1 – 18″ stall on each side.
What Is a Bathroom Grab Bar?
A bathroom grab bar is a pole installed on the bathroom wall to provide stability and help someone maintain balance as they move from one spot to another or change positions, like sitting in a tub to standing.
Grab bars come in different sizes, and what you need depends on the use. If it’s going to be used as a grip to steady yourself as you step out of the shower, you probably don’t need a long grab bar but more like a handgrip. Standard dimensions of grab bars installed horizontally are between 24 and 36 inches. One that’s between 12 and 16 inches would work.
Grab Bars in Commercial Washroom Stalls
36″ and 42″ horizontal bars and 18″ vertical bars…
Grab Bars in Commercial Shower Stalls and Tubs
In commercial shower stalls, grab bars are often positioned across the back or wall across the seat but not above it. This should be at least 18 inches from the control wall in transfer showers. If there are no seats, the grab bars should be put on all three walls. In single-occupant showers in private offices or spas, grab bars are not required but are an excellent option for users’ safety.
In commercial tubs that don’t have permanent seats, there should be two grab bars on the back wall that are at most 24 inches from the head-end wall and 12 inches from the control end. Also, a grab bar should be installed on the control end wall facing the bathtub’s front edge.
Grab bars in bathrooms are vital for aged care home facilities and hospitals where the bathrooms’ balance may not be as stable or are compromised.
Note that grab bars in bathrooms are also required to meet ADA accessibility standards.
Conclusion
Grab bars in bathrooms are installed in different ways for different functionalities. Whether it’s to help you brace yourself when you stand or to serve as something to grab if you’re slipping, a grab bar is indeed a necessary addition to your bathroom. After all, safety is of utmost importance in a room where slipping and falling are more frequent than in any other room in a house or facility.
SBI Contracting provides customers with grab bars and other types of commercial washroom accessories. Contact us today to learn more about our products!