ADA Grab Bars

California ADA Complyance

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California ADA

California – one of the most ADA compliant states in the nation – is also the most ADA litigious.  Under California law, any violation of the ADA is considered a civil rights violation and subject to a minimum statutory penalty of $4,000, plus attorney’s fees.

Any disabled person who encounters a building condition that does not meet the accessibility requirements of the ADA or the California Building Code (CBC) is entitled to file a lawsuit and receive a minimum of $4,000 in statutory damages plus attorney’s fees.

While the ADA laws were enacted to protect  the rights of the disabled, they have also led to an expensive flood of ADA lawsuits by individuals intent on taking advantage of the system.

It is estimated that over 20,000 ADA lawsuits have been filed in California courts since enactment of the ADA in 1992, and conservative estimates indicate that this litigation costs California businesses over $20 million each year.

ADA lawsuits are difficult to defend and typically result in minimum payouts of $4,000 – $6,000, even if the lawsuit is uncontested.  Fortunately, there is now an effective defense against such lawsuits.

Newly Available Protections Agents A Lawsuit

Recent California legislation provides essential protections for business and property owners from unwarranted ADA lawsuits.

Senate Bill 1608 enables business and property owners to have their facilities inspected for access compliance by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp).

A CASp inspection will:

  • Protect against unwarranted ADA lawsuits
  • Insure compliance with federal and state accessibility requirements
  • Identify “readily achievable” issues requiring correction
  • Provide reasonable time frames to make required corrections
  • Insure that your business is accessible to all potential customers, regardless of disability

Even if a building is not fully accessible, a CASp inspection provides a business owner with immediate protection by identifying “readily achievable” issues for correction and establishing an intent to address required accessibility issues.

Tax Benefits

Tax credits and deductions are available to help pay for inspection and construction costs. A tax credit of up to $5,000 is available for small businesses that incur expenses related to accessibility improvements.

A tax deduction of up to $15,000 per year is also available to all businesses for qualified accessibility expenses that are normally capitalized.

Check with your tax advisor regarding the applicability of these credits and deductions.

Protect yourself, your property and your pocketbook

The best protection against expensive and time-consuming ADA lawsuits is to have your business or property inspected, as soon as possible, for access compliance by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp).

This information comes from http://ada.ashdownarch.com

Best Places To Install Grab Bars In The Bathroom Or Around The Home

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Entry Grab Bar

The most common install would be a 16″ to 18″  A 24″ bar is great if a client is in a shower chair and needs more assistance at the lower position to help pull up on to get to a standing or seated position.” At the entry vertical to help the person step in and out of the bathtub or shower. This is the most important bar as most fall occurs at this point making the transfer form 2 different heights and well being wet.

“Install Note: make sure you are not installing the bar to close to a shower door railing on the wall where you would bump your hands against as this can cause bruising to the had or arm. I recommend 4″ to 6″ in towards the back wall from any shower door railing.”

Backwall Grab Bar

Along the back wall of the bathtub or shower, we like to see a 24″ to 36″ horizontally hung at 33″ to 36″ from the floor of the bathtub or shower.

“Install Note: If you are installing a bar less than 32″ shift the bar from the center towards the plumbing wall of the shower to give more usable bar to the user when standing under the water of the shower head.”

Toilet Grab bars

Having grab bars by the toilet is a great idea for anyone that is having any trouble sitting or getting up from the toilet. If possible having 2 grab bars one on each side of the toilet will stabilize the user when sitting or getting up form the toilet. We recommend a 16″ to 32″ grab bar hung horizontally at 33″ to 36″ from the floor to the top of the grab bar.

Other places to think about having grab bars installed

Take the towel bar down and have a grab bar installed in its place, You can still hang the towel over the grab bar and grab it as you step out of the shower area.

Any steps in the home along the wall to have a grip. Grab bars at a garage step.

ADA Requirements for Grab Bars In A Shower Stalls

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ADA Requirements for Grab Bars In A Shower Stalls.

Figure 37(a) 36 in by 36 inches (915 mm by 915 mm) Transfer Stall. The L-shaped shower seat shall be 18 inches (455 mm) above the floor measured at the entry. An L-shaped grab bar (or two single grab bars with the ends close together) shall be provided, located along the full depth of the control wall (opposite the seat) and halfway (18 inches (455 mm)) along the back wall. The grab bar(s) shall be mounted 33-36 inches (840-915 mm) above the shower floor measured at the entry.

The controls shall be placed in an area between 38-48 inches (965-1220 mm) above the floor. The controls and spray unit shall be within 18 inches (455 mm) of the front of the shower.

Figure 37(b) 30 in by 60 inches (760 mm by 1525 mm) Roll-in Stall. A U-shaped grab bar (or three separate grab bars) shall be provided. The grab bar (or bars) shall be 33-36 inches (840-915 mm) high. The controls shall be placed in an area between 38-48 inches (965 -1220 mm) above the floor. Controls shall be located on the back (long) wall 27 inches (685 mm) from the side wall. The shower head and control area may be located on the back wall or on either side wall. 

ADA Requirements for Grab Bars In A Shower Stalls

ADA Grab Bar high in Shower Stalls

Fig. 37
Grab Bars at Shower Stalls

Sourced from: http://www.ada.gov/reg3a.html – https://ocgrabbars.com/

ADA Height Requirements For Grab Bars By Toilet

ADA Grab Bars, OC Grab Bars Blog

ADA Height Requirements for Grab Bars By The Toilet.

  There is a lot to know about ADA Height Requirements for grab bars by the toilet. Keep in mind that the measurements should be taken from the top edge of the grab bar and to the centerline of the mounting flange. OC Grab Bars is a full-service installation service to install grab bars for you. If this is confusing to you and too much for you to handle on your own, please give us a call for a FREE quote to supply and install grab bars for you. Contact Us Now! 

Figure 29(a) Back Wall. A 36 inches (915 mm) minimum length grab bar, mounted 33-36 inches (840-915 mm) above the finish floor, is required behind the water closet. The grab bar must extend at least 12 inches (305 mm) from the centerline of the water closet toward the side wall and at least 24 inches (610 mm) from the centerline of the water closet toward the open side.

Figure 29(b) Side Wall. 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). The toilet paper dispenser shall be mounted below the grab bar at a minimum height of 19 inches (485 mm). The height of the toilet seat shall be 17 to 19 inches (430 – 485 mm) above the finished floor.

 

ADA Requirements For Grab Bars By Toilet

Fig. 29
Grab Bars at Water Closets

Figure A6. Wheelchair Transfers.

A6(a). Diagonal Approach. Shows a person using a wheelchair approaching a water closet or toilet (toilet) from the front and turning to the left to position the wheelchair at a diagonal to the water closet or toilet. The centerline toilet is shown as 18 inches (455 mm) from the closest side wall. The edge of the clear floor space on the opposite side of the toilet is shown as 18 – 30 inches (455 – 760 mm) from the edge of the clear floor space to the centerline of the toilet. Four illustrations show the transfer from the wheelchair to the seat of the toilet. In (1), the user takes a transfer position, swings footrest out of the way, and sets brakes. In (2), the user removes the armrest closest to the toilet, and transfers by pivoting counterclockwise and moving from the wheelchair seat towards the toilet seat. In (3), the user moves the wheelchair out of the way and changes position (some people fold chair or pivot it 90 degrees to the toilet). In (4), the user positions on toilet, and releases brake.

A6(b). Side Approach. Shows a person using a wheelchair positioned to one side of a toilet. The back of the wheelchair is facing the wall that is behind the toilet. In the figure, the toilet is to the left of the wheelchair user. The centerline toilet is shown as 18 inches (455 mm) from the closest side wall. The edge of the clear floor space on the opposite side of the toilet is shown as 42 inches (1065 mm) from the edge of the clear floor space to the centerline of the toilet. Three illustrations show the transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet. In (1), the user takes the transfer position adjacent to the toilet, removes the armrest closest to the toilet and sets brakes. In (2), the user transfers from the wheelchair to the seat of the toilet by sliding sideways from the wheelchair seat onto the toilet seat. In (3), the user positions on the toilet seat. The wheelchair remains positioned beside the toilet.

 

Wheelchair Transfers

Wheelchair Transfers

Fig. A6
Wheelchair Transfers

OC Grab Bars is a full-service installation service to install grab bars for you. If this is confusing to you and too much for you to handle on your own, please give us a call for a FREE quote to supply and install grab bars for you. Contact Us Now! 

Sourced from: https://www.ada.gov/reg3a.html – https://ocgrabbars.com/

ADA Requirements For Grab Bar Height In Bathtubs

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ADA Grab Bar High in Bathtubs.

Controls are required to be located in an area between the open edge and the midpoint of the tub (“offset”) and to be located at the foot of the tub.

Figure 34(a) With Seat in Tub. At the foot of the tub, the grab bar shall be 24 inches (610 mm) minimum in length measured from the outer edge of the tub. On the back wall, two grab bars are required. The grab bars mounted on the back (long) wall shall be a minimum 24 inches (610 mm) in length located 12 inches (305 mm) maximum from the foot of the tub and 24 inches (610 mm) maximum from the head of the tub. One grab bar on the back wall shall be located 9 inches (230 mm) above the rim of the tub. The other shall be 33 to 36 inches (840 mm to 915 mm) above the bathroom floor. At the head of the tub, the grab bar shall be a minimum of 12 inches (305 mm) in length measured from the outer edge of the tub.

Figure 34(b) With Seat at Head of Tub. At the foot of the tub, the grab bar shall be a minimum of 24 inches (610 mm) in length measured from the outer edge of the tub. On the back wall, two grab bars are required. The grab bars mounted on the back wall shall be a minimum of 48 inches (1220 mm) in length located a maximum of 12 inches (305 mm) from the foot of the tub and a maximum of 15 inches (380 mm) from the head of the tub. Heights of grab bars are as described above. No horizontal grab bar should be placed at the head of the tub.

ADA Requirements For Grab Bar Height In Bathtubs

ADA Requirements For Grab Bar Height In Bathtubs

Fig. 34
Grab Bars at Bathtubs

Sourced from: https://www.ada.gov/reg3a.html – https://ocgrabbars.com/