Grab Bar Information:

Transcription

1 Grab Bar Information: Falls are the greatest source of injury and accidental death around the home, so it's no wonder more and more people are requesting grab bars to make their bathrooms safer. But doing the job right takes a bit of planning and care; otherwise the bar may pull loose at the first good tug. There are two major types of grab bars: tub safety bars, which clamp to the side of the tub, and wall-mounted grab bars, which screw into the shower wall. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Tub-mounted safety bars are the easiest to install. Some models require only 10 minutes, a socket wrench and a screwdriver to tighten the clamps. Also, you can remove one of these safety bars later without leaving permanent marks on the tub. Keep in mind that many tub safety bars aren't designed to support a heavy weight and don't meet safety codes for people with disabilities. Consider them strictly as an assist. Also, many tub safety bars only attach well on smooth, parallel tub sides. If you install them on a tub with a tapered profile or textured surface, the support brackets won't clamp as securely as they should, and the bars may give way when you apply a load. Wall-mounted grab bars not only handle heavier loads (as much as 1,000 pounds for single-piece tubular bars), they can be installed anywhere you need them: in tub and shower areas, next to a toilet or sink; even near doorsills and steps in other parts of the house. These bars are your best choice if you're outfitting a bathroom for a disabled person. To get the advertised support, however, you must screw the grab bars into wall studs or into blocking additional 2-by-4s that you nail in between the studs. Positioning a Wall-mounted Grab Bar Wall-mounted grab bars come in several lengths. Deciding which length to install depends on how the bar will be used. For example, if you're putting a main grab bar on the sidewall of a tub enclosure, the National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends using a bar at least 24 inches long. If you're adding a second bar for support on the showerhead wall, it should be at least 12 inches long. You always want to install grab bars either horizontally or at an angle. Horizontal bars offer better leverage to a person trying to get out of a tub, but a bar placed at a 45-degree angle to the tub's rim is easier for people of differing heights to reach.

2 Another advantage to angled bars: a 24-inch bar installed at a 45-degree angle will exactly span wall studs spaced 16 inches apart, and you can screw into the studs on each end for maximum support, with no need for blocking. Horizontal bars should be located 33 to 36 inches above the floor of the tub and close enough to the showerhead wall to support a person adjusting water temperature. In most cases, this means the bar will be screwed to the first and second studs. If the drywall above your tub enclosure is exposed, you can use any of the standard techniques for locating the studs. But if the studs are buried behind a tiled wall, you'll need to use a few tricks of the trade to find them. Step by Step Instructions: Step 1: Layout the location Install a vertical grab bar inside a shower inches from the showerhead end for safe entry and exit. Inside a bathtub enclosure, position a grab bar horizontally, approximately 36- inches from the bottom of the tub so a bather can use the bar to help raise them from sitting in the tub. For stepping into and out of a tub, consider installing a vertical bar at the tub edge as a convenient handhold as well. If you're installing a grab bar for someone with an injury or disability, get input from that person to decide the best location for the bars. The WingIts grab bar comes in various lengths and finishes and includes a fastener at each end. The 1 1/4-inch mounting holes must be located so the center of the grab bar fastener slides into the holes. To find the center to center distance for any WingIts(R) grab bar, measure from the inside of one bar flange to the outside of the other. This is the center-tocenter distance or the distance the 1 1/4-inch mounting holes should be spaced apart. Step 2: Drill the pilot holes Clean the wall surface where the bar will be installed. Then mark the location of the mounting holes on the tile with a felt tipped pen. Use a masonry bit to drill a 1/8-inch pilot hole through the tile at these marks. Then hold the grab bar with fasteners attached up to the wall to check that the pilot holes align with the center of the fasteners. Adjust if necessary then use a 1 1/4- inch hole saw to enlarge the pilot holes. If you hit a wall stud while drilling the holes, you can mount the grab bar directly to the wall stud with 2 1/2-inch long #12 stainless steel screws instead of the fastener. Step 3: Temporarily install the bar The fastener comes with the mounting bolt fully threaded into the body of the fastener. Use a screwdriver to back out the bolt until the end of the bolt is flush with the nut at the opposite end of the fitting. Temporarily install the fasteners to the ends of the grab bar with the stainless steel screws provided with the fitting. Wipe the wall surface around these holes with rubbing alcohol so the tape will adhere. Remove the paper covering the adhesive on the faceplate. Insert the fasteners into the holes in the wall while they are attached to

3 the grab bar. Then press the grab bar tightly toward the wall for a moment so the fasteners can adhere to the wall in the correct position. Step 4: Tighten the bolts Remove the grab bar from the fasteners. Then, with a screwdriver, firmly and quickly punch the head of the bolt toward the faceplate or hit the screw gently but firmly with a rubber mallet or hammer. Pull on the bolt and tighten it by hand at the same time. Use a screwdriver to tighten the bolt very tightly. Then attach the grab bar to the fasteners with the stainless steel screw. BASIC TOOLS AND MATERIALS NEEDED FOR GRAB BAR INSTALLATION: Figure 1 A fully tiled wall Bit set Carbide glass and tile bit set Here are the key steps for installing a wall-mounted 24-inch bar at a 45-degree angle on 1/8-inch masonry drill bit or carbide-tip glass and tile bit Awl Wood Fine-point marker Stainless steel screws Tape measure Variable-speed drill Screwdriver Grab bar Electronic stud finder Silicone caulk Socket wrench Stiff wire Step-by-Step 1. Locate the wall studs. Using one of these techniques, find the studs you'll attach the grab bar to: Run an electronic stud finder along the wall until it detects a stud, and then mark the location with a fine-point permanent marker. If the grout line between the tiles is more than 1/8 inch wide, use a metal tape measure to mark off 16-inch increments from the nearest perpendicular wall. Then, at one of these points, make a hole in the grout line using a variable-speed drill with a 1/8-inch masonry bit or glass and tile bit. If you don't hit a stud on the first try, bend a piece of stiff wire and insert it in the

4 hole. Spin the wire left and right until it contacts a stud. Redrill in the new spot, and you should hit the stud. Measure 16 inches from this point to find the second stud. (To patch a hole, shoot in a dab of silicone caulk, flatten it so it doesn't protrude into the grout channel, and give it two to three hours to dry. If you're using powdered grout instead of premixed, mix up a small amount in the lid of a jar. A Popsicle stick makes a good touch-up applicator its rounded edge nicely matches the concave shape of most grout lines. You can spare the tile if you have access to the other side of the wall if it's part of a common wall between the bathroom and a bedroom, for example. Use a stud finder to locate studs on the other side of the wall, measure the distance to the nearest perpendicular wall, and then transfer the measurements to the tiled wall. 2. Mark the screw locations. Measure up from the base of the tub and mark the height where you want to install the grab bar. Then, hold the grab bar against the tile with each end over a stud, and mark the locations of the holes in the mounting brackets. 3. Drill mounting holes. If you try to drill through tile without first marking a starting point, the bit may skate over the slick surface. So, before you drill, scribe the tile to create a starting point for the drill bit. Use a sharp awl or the tip of a carbide glass and tile drill bit or masonry bit; twist the tool to grind a slight impression into the surface. Don't use a center punch you're likely to crack the tile. Drill holes through the tile with a glass and tile drill bit. If you have to use a masonry bit, go slowly and put tape over the tile to help prevent shattering. To avoid fracturing the tile when you turn the mounting screws, leave a little clearance as you drill the holes. (This won't prevent the screws from holding; the studs will hold them in, not the tile.) How? Use a bit that's at least 1/32 inch wider than your mounting screws. Mount the bit in a variable-speed drill and start the bit at slow speed to keep it from sliding off your mark. Apply light, even pressure as you drill so you don't crack the tile. Drill only through the tile and its backing. Then switch to a wood bit that's 1/16 inch narrower than your screws, and drill pilot holes in the studs. 4. Mount the bar. Apply silicone caulk to the holes before you mount the brackets. This keeps water from leaking behind the screws and damaging the backing board under the tile. 5. Screw the grab bar to the wall. If it comes with plain steel or chrome-plated screws, replace them with stainless steel screws. Common steel and even chrome-plated screws will rust over time. Tighten the screws firmly, but don't over tighten, or you could crack the tiles.

5 WingIts Systems In the past, the only way to retrofit a wall with a grab bar was to locate the studs behind the wall to provide the strength and stability to hold the weight of a bather. A new blind fastener, the WingIts system, can install directly into wallboard without needing an attachment to structural support. The fastener should be installed only on a sound wall made of 5/8-inch thick wallboard or tile over plaster, cement board or 1/2-inch wallboard. You can buy the kit for $60 by calling (877) or by visiting For tools you need a 1-1/4-inch carbide-grit tile hole saw with a pilot bit for drilling tile, screwdriver and rubber mallet or hammer. Materials Grab bar and 2 WingIts Silicone caulk, rubbing alcohol Tools Electronic stud finder Drill w/masonry or twist drill bits Carpenter's level Screwdriver Rubber mallet or hammer Before you begin This installation is for a grab bar using WingIts(R), a blind fastening system that can be installed directly into any sturdy wall such as 5/8-inch thick wallboard or tile, acrylic or fiberglass tub surrounds backed up by at least 1/2- inch thick cement board or drywall. The system exceeds all building code and ADA (American with Disability Act) specifications.

6 Grab Bar Wingits Pinnacle Innovations introduced the WingIt grab bar blind fastening system. The WingIt is the only fastening system that can install directly into the wall board, not needing an attachment to the structural support, and surpass American with Disability Act (ADA) and all building code requirements. The adjoining pictures show an ASTM F-462 approved grab bar bending under immense load while the WingIt is not affected. The WingIt grab bar fastening system allows for the installation of grab bars in all commercial building wall substrates in ten to fifteen minutes. Drill two holes per standard grab bar and install the WingIts. There are no special tools or skills required. The Grab Bar begins to bend as more then 800 pounds of force is applied 3 Inches off the wall surface. The WingIts and wall are not affected. The WingIt exceeds all building code and ADA specifications. Back view of Grab Bar installed with two WingIts in a sample wall. The WingIt can reduce the cost of retrofitting a grab bar up to 70% while allowing for freedom of placement in both new and existing construction. Dry wall, tile, and acrylic or fiberglass tub surrounds are some of the walls that the WingIt can be utilized. Picture - Two WingIts installed into a wall substrate consisting of builder grade wall tile adhered to 5/8" drywall. The ASTM F-462 approved grab bar is bending under a load of more than 800 pounds. The WingIt grab bar fastening system is not affected and has not damaged the wall. Reduces costs of retrofitting grab bars: Installing a standard grab bar with structural reinforcement is a multiple day operation, with an average cost of $537 according to the

7 Industry/Labor Council. Installing the same grab bar with two WingIts will take twenty minutes and reduce the total cost by 70%. Installs in hollow walls in twenty minutes 1. The ONLY blind fastener capable of exceeding the load requirements for ANSI and ADA Grab Bar Installations without interacting with the wall structure or studs! 2. Eliminates the need to tear apart existing walls or create structural reinforcements. 3. Exceeds weight criteria for commercial construction throughout AMERICA including drywall, drywall with tub surrounds, and all types of board used with tile. 4. Grab bar installation can now happen anytime during the construction process. No blocking or reinforcing required Fully building code compliant: the WingIts grab bar fastening system exceeds all applicable federal regulations and national building codes. WingIts meet all the requirements and guidelines of the ADA, (Sec. 4.26), F446-85, BOCA, the Fair Housing Act, the ICC, and the Rehabilitation Act of Verified by independent testing at the NAHB Research Center (ASTM F446-85). Attendees at a recent series of testing at the NAHB Research Center included Building Owners and Management Association International (BOMA), government officials from HUD and the Access Board, consultants to the DOJ and American Hotel &Motel Association (AH&MA). Use in all types of walls: WingIts minimize torque and utilize dramatic force efficiencies inherent in the patented technology. WingIts can extract adequate stability from 5/8" drywall to exceed the structural requirements of grab bars, without needing to interact with the framing members. Complete integration with the wall: when installed, the WingIts become part of the wall structure. Grab bars can be installed and removed at will without affecting the integrity of the WingIts fastening system. The WingIts become a structure onto themselves -- once installed, that area of the wall is actually structurally superior to the rest of the wall. Freedom of design: WingIts allow for grab bar installation to occur at any time during the building process. Architectural changes or lack of communication between the building trades will not affect the grab bar installation process. There is not any reinforcement to miss,

8 installation of the WingIts can be done after the bathroom fixture has been set. Structurally Sound: WingIts are made in the United States from high quality stainless steel. When properly installed the WingIts system will not damage wall tile, tub surrounds or other wall substrates and has been designed to last for many years. Grab bars work best in pairs and multiples of three. For example, in a toilet area, one behind the toilet and another to one side of it provide support whatever your position. For tubs and showers, three bars are appropriate one at the back wall and one at each end wall. Bathers tend to like grab bars at about 3 feet above the floor, and folks who shower prefer a height of 4 feet. Grab bars are designed to be mounted horizontally. This is because such a mounting provides more area to latch onto should you begin to fall. A grab bar usually comes with its own mounting screws. These are screws that are recommended by the manufacturer to ensure a proper and safe installation. Use them, as opposed to substitute ones, to be certain that the bar doesn't fall in the event you do. Be sure to check the manufacturer's installation instructions. In some instances he will tell you how deep the mounting screw must penetrate into solid wood. If you have thick tile-on-mortar shower walls, longer screws might be needed than are required for a thin solid surface material, like Corian. In any case, grab-bar mounting screws MUST be attached to solid wood. This often means removing wallboard so that wood blocking can be added to the inside of the wall cavity. And although removing wallboard at a toilet might not be costly, it could be expensive to remove and replace tile at a shower. Many showers back up to walls that can be accessed at less expense via an adjacent closet or bedroom. Look into that possibility. Once you have created an opening in the wall, attach solid wood blocks at the shower side of the cavity. Almost any size block can be used from 2x6 to 2x10, or larger. Three 16d box nails are normally used at each end of each block to ensure a secure connection to the wall studs. However, the use of 3-inch long drywall screws will provide as strong a connection, and will not risk damage to an adjacent ceramic tile. Once blocks are in place and wall surfaces have been patched, the next step is the easiest part of the project attaching the grab bar to the wall. If tile happens to be the wall surface, pre-drilling will be necessary. Most

9 folks don't realize that tile is just as easy to drill as wood. Use a sharp object such as an awl to nick the glaze on the tile. This will provide a pilot point that will help to steady the masonry drill bit. Last, be sure to fill all holes with silicone caulk BEFORE mounting the grab bar. This will make for a waterproof connection. Use alcohol to remove excess silicone caulking.

10 Phone # to order Directly: Grab Bar WingIts Ordering Information When ordering the WingIts System please give the following information: 1. Account # TM Associates Management Acct. # Billing Address: TM Associates Management, Inc Piccard Drive, Suite 150 Rockville, MD Attn: Paula Hoke Ph. # , ext Shipping Address: Property Name, Property #, Address, Contact name and Phone number you are placing the order for. Order must be shipped to the Property Not to the Rockville Office. All Grab Bar WingIts are shipped with 4 screws for wall substrates up to 1 ½ thick. Wall thickness needs to be specified when larger that 1 ½. Standard Grab Bar WingIts (GBW40) can be used in 2x4 or larger framed walls. Reverse Grab Bar WingIts (RGBW40) can be used in 2x3 or larger framed walls and cannot be used with solid nylon grab bars. Set Screw Grab Bar WingIts (SSGBW40) can only be used with grab bars having a welded flange cover and a separate mounting plate. These WingIts are also available in Reverse for 2x3 wall framing. Generic Commercial WingIts (GCW40) have a 1.9 x thick faceplate that remains room-side. WingIts Product Ordering Codes: Item # Description Contractor Price GBW40 Standard Grab Bar WingIts $19.99-$24.99 SRGBW40 Reverse Grab Bar WingIts $19.99-$24.99 SSGBW40 Side Set Screw Grab Bar WingIts $13.49 GCW40 Generic Commercial WingIts $9.99 WGB5SS24 WingIts Grab Bar, 5 $17.56 Sample when ordering WingIts: GBW40 Grab Bar WingIts with a 4.0 screw Sample when ordering Grab Bars: WGB5SS24 WingIts Grab Bar, 5 (5/4-1 ¼ diameter), Satin Stainless, 24 length

11 Mandatory for all Maintenance Personnel: Please print this page. All maintenance personnel must read, sign and return this form, acknowledging receiving and reading the instructions and information provide regarding Grab Bars. Return this page to Payroll at the main office by mail or by fax, I acknowledge receiving and reading the (Print Name) Grab Bars Installation Instructions. Mark One: I understand the Grab Bar Installation Instructions. OR I do not understand the Grab Bar Installation Instructions. I would like to have additional training. Maintenance Personnel Signature Property Name Date