| Grab Bars |
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Excerpt: Older Americans: For Americans 65 and older, falls and fires are the two leading causes of unintentional injuries and deaths.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excerpt: According to a survey last year of homeowners, 60 percent of 30,000 consumers said they planned to remodel their home. And the two rooms that were cited most often were the kitchen and the bathroom. In a model home built in Anaheim, Calif., last fall, Home Depot invited visitors to think about renovating a home, with an eye toward their own future, when they may not be as spry… Health care professionals recommend homeowners install a minimum of three grab bars: one along the back wall of the shower stall or bathtub, one along the showerhead wall and at least one near the toilet. Source: Hessling-Goetz, Dana. “Think about designing or remodeling a home for the long term: Sliding drawers, better lighting, grab bars and dual railings will make a difference for seniors in their ‘golden years’.” Telegram & Gazette 29 Apr. 2007, ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry, ProQuest. University of Texas at San Antonio, John Peace Library, San Antonio, TX. 29 Jul 2009 Excerpt: Grab bars were not always as trendy as they are today. Ten years ago, you could only find them in hospitals and nursing homes. They all looked alike. And, if truth be told, they were all pretty ugly. You can move others out of the way when you're done with them. And grab bars now come in enough colors to satisfy every decorator. The Three Types of Grab Bars
Will it Hold You? A grab bar won't be much use if it doesn't hold you up when you need it most. Don't buy a bar unless it will hold up to 250 pounds. And be sure you install the bar correctly so it can do its job… Source: http://www.aarp.org/families/home_design/bath/a2004-03-02-b-grabbars.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excerpt: Grab bars aren’t just safety devices for hospitals and public restrooms. In your own home, a strategically placed and solidly anchored grab bar can mean the difference between a relaxing bath and a trip to the emergency room. If you’re installing the bars for a person with a disability or injury, have this person help you decide which location will be most helpful. A physical therapist or an occupational therapist also can help with this decision. While you’re at it, consider installing grab bars in other key locations. A vertical or angled bar mounted on the wall to the side of the toilet or a vertical bar installed on the side wall in front of the toilet helps getting up or down. The expert we talked to recommended mounting a vertical bar beside the entry door from an attached garage. Usually there isn’t a handrail, and negotiating two or three steps with a bag of groceries under your arm is a lot easier and safer with a grab bar to hang on to. Look around and you’ll find other spots where grab bars would make everyday tasks safer and easier… Source: http://www.rd.com/how-to-install-bathroom-grab-bars/article18089-1.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excerpt: Before beginning the installation process of your grab bars for bathroom installation, it is important to know what type of tub or shower you have. The type of shower determines the installation method and products needed to have a successful installation. In most cases, additional wood or structural material needs to be added to the shower walls such as installing plywood between the shower unit and wall studs, or solid wood blocking between the wall studs. If you install a grab bar into an existing bathroom wall without providing the proper support, the grab bar installation will not secure properly. This could cause you great harm in the event you are relying on the grab bar for support and it pulls off the wall… As far as grab bar size and styles, a variety of grab bars is available on the market. They come in different diameters and clearances to the wall, various lengths, shapes and finishes. You need to find a grab bar that has a 1-1/4 inch to 1-1/2 inch diameter (whichever fits your hand size best) and when mounted on the wall, provides a clearance no greater than 1-1/2 inches. If the clearance to the wall is greater than 1-1/2 inches, there is a safety concern. If you were to lose your balance your arm could slide between the wall and grab bar. You could get “wedged” between the wall and grab bar or even break your arm. Though at first glance grab bars by different manufacturers appear to be comparable, the quality varies. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine if you can use a less expensive grab bar or need a higher quality grab bar:
Source: http://www.disaboom.com/Living/accessiblehomearticles/grab-bars-what-you-should-know-before-installation.aspx ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excerpt: Designing for the future is smart, but unfortunately, it isn’t always fashionable. Choosing universal-design accessories like grab bars and door pulls often means settling for mismatched finishes and utilitarian design. But Jaclo’s line of luxury grab bars offers something you’ll want to hold on to. Each of the hefty models (the 12-in. bar weighs about 5 lb.) is available in 18 finishes; the finish also can be customized to match existing hardware. The bars attach to the wall with stainless-steel screws fastened to studs or solid blocking. New grab bars can be ordered with enlarged flanges to replace existing fixtures without tile or wall touch-ups. When installed correctly, Jaclo’s grab bars support up to 400 lb. and meet ADA and ANSI guidelines. Source: http://www.finehomebuilding.com/design/departments/fixtures-and-materials/elegant-bathroom-grab-bars-universal-design.aspx ASTM Grab Bar Recommended Mounting Techniques |
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