Safety railing
Slips and falls are the number two cause of accidental death and disability, following automobile accidents. The leading cause of emergency room visits and the third greatest cause for injuries at the workplace, slips and falls in bathrooms can be prevented by installing bathroom railings that meet the requirements set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990. The ADA provides specific guidelines for installing bathroom railings that will ensure safety.
Fasteners and Bolts
Hardware securing bathroom railings into place should withstand a maximum 250 lbs. of stress or force before breaking or bending. It is easier to drill hardware directly into the wall studs for optimum stability, but placement for these in retrofit applications may be difficult, because the studs are not always located near the desired railing location. Self-locking screws that tap into many surfaces make hanging in any location easier.
Location and Length
Bathroom handrails should be mounted on the sidewall nearest the toilet and the wall directly behind the toilet. Side railing must measure 40 to 42 inches in length and be hung a maximum of 12 inches from the rear wall. The rear grab rail should be 36 inches long and mounted with 12 inches to the right of the toilet's centerline and a length of 24 inches to the left of the centerline, according to the ADA.
Height
While residential requirements for height placement for bathroom railings can be adjusted to fit individuals of a specific size with disabilities or movement restrictions, businesses and restaurants have stricter guidelines. For businesses, the ADA requires that bathroom railings measure 33 to 36 inches from the finished floor. Supportive railings in shower and bathtub areas measure 18 to 28 centimeters from the finished rim of the bathtub. For rooms designed for children or small persons, the ADA suggests handrails should measure 18 to 27 inches from the floor. To ensure safety, move the railings as the child grows.
Width
Because many of the elderly and disabled use their forearms to support their weight during movement, the ADA has set guidelines that require that all hand railings measure at least 1 1/2 inch in diameter and are spaced only 1 1/2 inch from the surface of a finished wall. This prevents people from slipping through the space between the railing and the wall, while allowing a broad enough surface for grasping.
Custom grab bars with textured surfaces for better grip are available. These come in several designs and finishes to complement existing decor. According to the ADA, all grab bars and handrails should have rounded edges with a minimum radius of 1/8 inch to prevent injuries from sharp edges.
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