Requirement 6

Reinforced Walls for Grab Bars

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 Requirement 6

• Grab bars aren’t required to be

installed
• Reinforcing IS required to be
installed
• Reinforcing needs to be sufficiently
strong
• Reinforcing around toilet, tub,
shower stall, and shower seat

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 Requirement 6

• Safety for everyone is greatly

increased
– Review ANSI A117.1 (1986)
– State & Local Building Code
– Fair Housing Accessibility
Guidelines
– Fair Housing Act Design
Manual
– Fair Housing Approved Safe
Harbors

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Minimum Reinforcing Behind Toilets

Minimum area
18” of reinforcing

12” 12”
min min

32” max

38” min

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Minimum Reinforcing at Side of Toilets

12” 24”
max min

32” max

38” min

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 Reinforcing at Toilets

• Reinforcing at least 6
inches wide by 24
inches long
• Adapted from the
1986 ANSI A117.1
Standard
• Best practice to
install reinforcing
both longer and wider

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Fold-Down and Floor Mounted
Grab Bars

The Guidelines permit the installation of

folding wall-mounted, floor-mounted, or wall
and floor-mounted grab bars.

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 Fold-Down Grab Bars

Fold down
Wall reinforcing grab bar

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Fold-Down Grab Bars

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Floor to Wall Mounted Bars

Grab bar
Wall reinforcing

Floor reinforced

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 Fold-Down and Floor Mounted
Grab Bars

• It is recommended that reinforcing for

all types of folding and fixed floor-
mounted grab bars be done strictly as
recommended by manufacturers.

• Advance planning will be necessary to

determine on which side of the toilet a
folding or fixed floor mounted grab bar
will be placed

• Fixed floor-mounted grab bars may

encroach on clear floor space and
interfere with wheelchair maneuvering.

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Minimum Reinforcing at Bathtubs

6” max

6” max
24”
48” min

32” max
38” min
38” min

Back wall Head

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Reinforcing at Bathtubs

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Grab Bars at Non-Conventional
Bathtubs

• The Guidelines do not limit the size or

proportion of bathtubs to the
configurations shown.

• Bathtubs may have shelves or benches

at either end or may be installed without
surrounding walls, provided alternative
methods for mounting grab bars are
made.

• Reinforced areas are recommended in

both walls and the tub deck and
additional reinforcing in the floor may
be necessary if there is a step at the
tub.

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Grab Bars at Non-Conventional
Bathtubs

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 Minimum Reinforcing at Showers
38” min

38” min
32” max

32” max
Side Back

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Reinforcing at Showers

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Reinforcing for a Wall-Hung Seat

Seat reinforcing in Seat and grab bar in

36”x36” shower 36”x36” shower
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Reinforcing Methods

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Reinforcing Methods

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Molded Tub/Shower Reinforcing

reinforcing for later installation of grab bars-

site installed may be problematic
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Molded Tub/Shower Reinforcing

reinforcing for later installation of grab bars –

factory installed available
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