How do I size a Shower Grab Bar?

Are there specific size requirements for safety & ADA compliance?

Here are some other considerations to keep in mind when you’re sizing a potential grab bar. In my experience:

•Weight can be a deal-breaker. Many shower grab bars will hold at least 250 pounds, but if yours must endure more than that amount, you need to search out a bar that is sturdier. Check out a full line of grab bars at places like http://harneyhardware.com Don’t just assume that the one you’re purchasing is ideal. Actually look at the specifications.
•Take a look at the ADA accessibility guidelines by visiting: http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm.
•Grab bars are measured from center to center. The variations you’ll likely find are in tube and flange size. Browse a good selection at www.harneyhardware.com to get a solid idea regarding which bars are correct for your particular use.
•Discover any building codes you’re required to meet, and make sure the grab bar is compliant. If it poses a barrier threat, it may be more hindrance than help.
•Measure the studs. You’ll need to install the shower grab bar into them. Never screw a bar into sheetrock or tile.
•Clearance from the wall should measure 1 and a half inches.
•Some grab bars offer better leverage than others. Consider how you’ll use the grab bar before you purchase it.
•The barrier issue demands careful attention. If you install a bar incorrectly, you can take an ADA-compliant piece of hardware and make it into a safety threat.
•Tips aside, it’s a good idea to hire a professional to install this implement. You can purchase the hardware yourself and then let an expert handle the challenge.

Medline Bathtub Bar, Locks to Side of Tub $10.88 The bathtub bar that locks to the side of your tub allows for you to get in and out of your tub. It has a crank-style, locking device that attaches to tub walls up to 6 inches wide. The unit is 6 inches wide. It is equipped with rubber pads to protect the tub walls and weighs only 12 pounds. 250 pound weight capacity. All coated steel design for durability….

Safety First 5616 1-1/2-Inch by 16-Inch Concealed Mounting Grab Bar, Stainless Steel $17.98 …

Medline 24 Inch Grab Bar, Knurled Chrome $12.19 Chrome grab bars help prevent falls in the shower. Shower bars are a great safety measure for any shower. 1 1/2″ knurled chrome diameter, chrome-finished bars may be used horizontally or vertically….

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Moen R8718PB Polished Brass 18-Inch Grab Bar $40.97 Moen R8718PB Polished brass 18″ grab bar polished brass finish offers a bright, highly reflective look for timeless style ADA compliant limited lifetime warranty concealed screw…

Moen YG5424ORB Kingsley 24-Inch Grab Bar, Oil Rubbed Bronze $58.34 Moen YG5424ORB Oil rubbed bronze 24″ grab bar oil rubbed bronze finish delivers a rich, dark brown, old world finish with striking light and dark accents ADA compliant limited lifetime warranty…

Design Innovations for Aging and Alzheimer’s $85.79 As our understanding of aging and Alzheimer’s, and the cultural changes related to these phenomena, grows so do the implications for interior design. Focus on recent innovations in care environments for the aging with a resource dedicated to this topic. This comprehensive book features: Coverage of the emerging building types of adult day care and hospice and the increased use of gardens and outdo…

Universal Kitchen and Bathroom Planning: Design That Adapts to People $79.95 This text’s premise is that rooms should be designed or remodelled to suit the needs of all users through their lifecycle – kitchens and bathrooms that can be used by children, people with disabilities, and people who are aging are important for success in today’s marketplace….

Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention: A Practical Handbook, Second Edition $88.92 More than one million people suffer from a slip, trip, or fall each year and 17,700 died as a result of falls in 2005. They are the number one preventable cause of loss in the workplace and the leading cause of injury in public places. Completely revised, Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention: A Practical Handbook, Second Edition demonstrates how, with proper design and maintenance, many of these events…

Moen 8732 Home Care 32-Inch Grab Bar, Stainless $20.41 Offering assurance, contentment, and peace of mind; that’s what has been arranged into the Moen Home Care line of products. You can be sure that when you select Moen, you are getting a product that not only meets the ADA’s exacting standards, but yours as well….