Can a Shower Slide Bar Be an ADA-Compliant Grab Bar?

Standards

• Local building authorities base their building codes for the non-disabled on the International Residential Code for homes and the International Building Code for other structures. These are managed by the International Code Council, a nonprofit organization responsible for construction standards in the country. For showers accessible to the disabled, authorities turn to the rules mandated by the Americans With Disabilities Act, or ADA. This law bases its rules on the IRC and IBC, either verbatim or with modifications, so the disabled can use showers independently.

Answer

• Rule 608.6, “Shower Spray Unit and Water,” of the ADA Standards for Accessible Design states that handicapped-accessible shower compartments require a spray unit with a hose measuring at least 59 inches long. The unit must be usable in a fixed position or handheld. If it is mounted on a vertical slide bar, the bar “shall be installed so as not to obstruct the use of grab bars.” This makes it impossible to have a shower slide bar do double duty as an ADA-compliant grab bar.

Grab Bars

• Rule 609.4, “Position of Grab Bars,” states that grab bars must be installed in the horizontal position. This is another reason vertical slide bars cannot be used as grab bars. The ADA-compliant fixtures must be from 33 to 36 inches as measured from the finished floor to the top of the gripping surface. However, bars designed for children must be between 18 to 27 inches above the floor. All grab bars must be able to handle a force of up to 250 pounds at any point on the bar or its fasteners, mounting devices, or supporting structures. Shower slider bars cannot survive such stress.

Spacing

• The way in which the sprayer slides up and down a shower slide bar also prevents it from being ADA-compliant, since that feature interferes with required ADA spacing. Rule 609.3, “Spacing,” specifies a clearance of at least 1.5 inches between the wall and the grab bar. The space between the grab bar and any projecting objects below it and at its ends must be at least 1.5 inches. The space between it and any projecting objects above it must be at least 12 inches. Exceptions are other grab bars, shower controls and fittings, which can use a minimum space of 1.5 inches above.