"ADA compliant" gets printed on a lot of packaging. Here's what the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design actually require, so you can tell a real ADA grab bar from a decorative one.
Gripping surface
- Diameter: 1-1/4 to 2 inches for a round bar. LiveWell bars are 1-1/4 inch, the most common commercial size.
- Wall clearance: 1-1/2 inches between the bar and the wall, so a hand can wrap fully around it without getting trapped.
- Surface: no sharp edges or abrasive elements. Peened, smooth, and rubber-gripped bars are all acceptable.
Height
33 to 36 inches above the finished floor, measured to the top of the gripping surface.
Length and placement
- Toilet side wall: at least 42 inches long, starting no more than 12 inches from the rear wall.
- Toilet rear wall: at least 36 inches long.
- Bathtub back wall: two bars, 24 inches minimum, one at standard height and one 8 to 10 inches above the tub rim.
- Roll-in shower: bars on the back wall and both side walls.
- Transfer shower: bars on the control wall and the back wall.
Load
The bar and its mounting must resist a 250 lb force in any direction without failing. That's a minimum. Well-installed LiveWell bars test far above it, and the exact rating for each model is on its spec sheet.
Does a home have to follow the ADA?
No. The ADA applies to public accommodations and commercial facilities. Homes, including most senior housing, are not required to comply, but the standards are a well-tested starting point. Our standard ADA grab bars are the same bars specified for commercial restrooms, and our decorative grab bars meet the same gripping-surface requirements in finishes that look at home in a private bathroom.
Questions about your bathroom? Call LiveWell at (440) 499-7221 or email info@livewellhs.com. We ship grab bars from Ohio to homes, contractors, and senior living communities nationwide.