Control Wall Horizontal Grab Bar:
Is this grab bar placement mandatory?
How many do I need?
What is the standard grab bar length?
- Utilize a 30″ or 36″ straight grab bar OR combine the horizontal control wall grab bar and the horizontal back wall grab bar into one two wall horizontal grab bar.
- Utilizing separate straight grab bars is far more common than utilizing the two wall horizontal grab bar.
- If utilizing the separate straight grab bars, they must be at the same height above the finished floor and must extend as close as possible to the adjacent wall.
- Both straight grab bars and the two wall horizontal grab bar can be purchased on our shower grab bars page.
What are the ADA grab bar placement requirements?
- The grab bar shall span the full depth of the control wall. (The ADA language is rather vague and does not state an exact length other than stating that this must be the “full length” of the control wall, which shall measure 36″ in depth). Generally, we see people utilize a straight grab bar that is 30″ or 36″.
- The grab bar shall be 33 to 36 inches (840 mm to 915 mm) above the shower floor.
Control Wall Vertical Grab Bar:
Is this grab bar placement mandatory?
- This is not required by ADA but it is required by ANSI, which depends on local building code! Read more below.
How many do I need?
What is the standard grab bar length?
- Standard grab bar lengths utilized are 18″, 24″, or 30″. These can be purchased on our shower grab bars page.
What are the grab bar placement requirements?
- The grab bar mounted vertically on the control wall shall be a minimum 18 inches (455 mm) in length.
- The horizontal centerline of the grab bar bottom flange shall be 36 to 39 inches (915 mm to 1065 mm) above the shower floor.
- The horizontal centerline of the grab bar bottom flange shall be 3 to 6 inches (75 mm to 150 mm) above the horizontal centerline of the horizontal grab bar beneath it.
- The vertical centerline of the grab bar shall be 4 inches (102 mm) maximum from the outside edge of the shower.
When is this grab bar placement required?
- The ADA requires a horizontal grab bar on the control wall, but it DOES NOT specify a vertical grab bar. However, oftentimes, you will also see a vertical grab bar on the control wall in the accessible shower stall. The vertical grab bar is only specified in the ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, which is another accessibility code standard.
- Some architects/designers will specify the vertical grab bar on their drawings just to ensure that they do not receive a comment from the city or because they are unsure of local building code and include it just to cover their butt. Also, this vertical bar is very helpful for people with disabilities and it is not an expensive addition to the overall budget of the project.
- If you are unclear if your local building code requires the side wall vertical grab bar, go ahead and install it just to be safe!
Back Wall Horizontal Grab Bar:
Is this grab bar placement mandatory?
How many do I need?
What is the standard grab bar length?
- Utilize a 16″ or 18″ straight grab bar OR combine the horizontal back wall grab bar and the horizontal control wall grab bar into one two wall horizontal grab bar.
- Utilizing separate straight grab bars is far more common than utilizing the two wall horizontal grab bar.
- If utilizing the separate straight grab bars, they must be at the same height above the finished floor and must extend as close as possible to the adjacent wall.
- Both straight grab bars and the two wall horizontal grab bar can be purchased on our shower grab bars page.
What are the ADA grab bar placement requirements?
- The grab bar shall extend 18″ (455 mm) from the control wall.
- The grab bar shall be 33 to 36 inches (840 mm to 915 mm) above the shower floor.
Seat Wall:
- This wall has an ADA folding shower seat and does not require a grab bar placement.
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