Guidelines for Building Codes for Bathroom Railings

Codes

• Most local and state jurisdictions in the U.S. base their building codes on the International Residential Code, which is managed by the International Code Council, a nonprofit organization founded in 1994. These rules work for able-bodied people. The Americans with Disabilities Act, which was passed in 1990, ensures that people with disabilities can live their lives as independently as possible. The ADA bases its codes on the IRC, but modifies them as needed to apply to its target constituents.

Size

• Handrails, also known as grab bars, with a circular cross-section must measure 1 1/4 to 2 inches on the outside diameter. Those with non-circular cross-sections need a cross-section of 2 inches maximum, with a perimeter measuring 4 to 4.8 inches. The bar must be 1 1/2 inches from the wall, and at least that amount from any projecting objects below and at the ends of the bar. The handrail must be at least 12 inches from any projections above it. The distance from shower valves, fittings or any such controls above are an exception. That distance should be a minimum of 1 1/2 inches.

Positions

• Handrails must be horizontal, at a distance of 33 to 36 inches when measured from the top of the finished floor surface to the top of the gripping surface. However, in areas designed for children, the bar must measure from 18 to 22 inches from the top of the gripping surface to the finished floor. Bathtubs need a second grab bar installed at 8 to 10 inches above the rim of the bathtub. Each of these bars must not be more than 15 inches from the head end wall, nor be more than 12 inches from the wall with the controls.

Specs

• Grab bars must be fixed within their fittings, and must be free of any sharp or abrasive elements on their surfaces or adjacent walls. They require rounded edges and can be installed in any way, as long as the gripping surface remains available, and does not block the required clear floor space. They must be able to withstand a horizontal force of up to 250 lbs. that is applied at any point on the rail, fastener, mount or support.