Grab Bar a Safety Device

Grab bars are safety devices designed to enable a person to maintain balance, lessen fatigue while standing, hold some of their weight. Grab bars are safety devices designed to enable a person to maintain balance, lessen fatigue while standing, hold some of their weight while maneuvering, or have something to grab onto in case of a slip or fall. A caregiver may use a grab bar to assist with transferring a patient from one place to another.

What Are Grab Bars? Grab bars are graspable bars to help someone maintain balance and lessen fatigue while standing. They are used to provide safety in the bathroom for seniors, people with disabilities, and those recovering from an injury or illness that impairs balance or mobility. A graspable bar attached to the wall in a shower or near a bathtub as an assistance to a bather in maintaining balance or getting in and out. Grab Bars, also known as safety rails, handrails, shower bars, etc., are secure rails, typically mounted on the wall, ceiling, or floor, to help weakened, disabled, or elderly individuals safely access and navigate rooms and facilities. For toilets in stalls and smaller bathrooms, grab bars have to be placed in specific areas to be ADA-compliant. There has to be a bar alongside the toilet on the closest wall, as well as a second bar behind it. Both types of bars have to be between 33 and 36 inches above the finished floor.

Grab bars prevent falls and potential injuries by allowing a person to “grab” them during an emergency or in case of dizziness or loss of balance. Getting up and down from the toilet seat or in and out of the shower can be a real challenge when age, balance, strength or a disability are an issue. Arab bars must be designed to have the ability to support 250 pounds of direct weight, and be installed by an experienced plumbing professional. The plumber must install the bar in such a way that it does not rotate or move, and provide continuous sturdy support for the individual that is using it.

The ADA Standards do not require a vertical grab bar at bathing fixtures. Vertical bars are helpful and provide support when stepping into bathtubs or showers. The International Building Code, requires an 18″ minimum vertical grab bar at transfer showers and bathtubs. Here are a few rules of thumb for where to place grab bars in your shower. The Vertical entrance bar should go close to the shower door jamb. The Horizontal bar should go along the side wall, 34-36 inches above the floor. The Vertical bar on the faucet end wall should go near the faucet handles. Mounting a grab bars on acrylic or fiberglass tub surrounds isn't very difficult. Standard drill bits can handle these materials as well as wood, drywall and plaster. But ceramic tile in showers or above tubs can't be drilled with regular bits. To bore these screw clearance holes, you need a masonry bit.

Installation Tips Of Grab Bar:-

Prepare the Site and Locate the Stud. Horizontal grab bars around toilets should be installed 33 to 36 inches from the floor. ...

Remove the Escutcheon. ...

Position the Grab Bar. ...

Mark the Mounting Hole. ...

Drill Holes into the Stud. ...

Install Grab Bar. ...

Complete Grab Bars Installation. ...

Grab Bar Placement.

Grab bars next to a toilet help people using a wheelchair transfer to the toilet seat and back to the wheelchair. They also assist people who have difficulty sitting down, have balance problems while seated, or need help rising from a seated position. Grab bar installation costs vary depending on how many pieces need to be installed, whether modifications are needed to provide adequate support, and your location.