The Access Board (www.access-board.gov) has very recently published new guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) which requires access to facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with federal government funds. Plumbing guidelines: #PLUMBING

“The ADA recognizes and protects the civil rights of people with disabilities and is modeled after earlier landmark laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race and gender. To ensure that buildings and facilities are accessible to and usable by people with disabilities, the ADA establishes accessibility requirements for State and local government facilities under Title II and places of public accommodation and commercial facilities under Title III. The law requires that the Board issue mi8nimum guidelines to assist the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) in establishing accessibility standards under these titles. Those standards must be consistent with the Access Board’s guidelines.”

“The ABA requires access to facilities designed, built, altered or leased with U.S. Federal funds. Similar to its responsibilities under the ADA, the Board is charged with developing and maintaining minimum guidelines for accessible facilities that serve as the basis for enforceable standards by four standard-setting agencies. The standard-setting agencies are:

United States Department of Defense (DOD)
United States General Service Agency (GSA)
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
United States Postal Service (USPS)”

PBA Bath Safety Products Exceed All ADA and ABA Guidelines

The following PBA products are ADA Compliant and exceed all ADA and ABA Guidelines:

• Nylon Grab Bars
• Nylon Safety Bars
• Stainless Steel Grab Bars
• Stainless Steel Safety Bars
• Nylon Toilet Safety Bars
• Nylon Bath Safety Bars
• Stainless Steel Bath Safety Bars
• Nylon Shower Safety Bars
• Stainless Steel Shower Safety Bars
• Nylon Wall-Mounted Fold-up Shower Seats
• Stainless Steel & Nylon fold-up Shower Seats
• L-Shaped Nylon Fold-up Shower Seats

The following are products for which there are no ADA or ABA guidelines. While not required for compliance, they are acceptable:

• Nylon Fold-up Grab Bars
• Stainless Steel and Nylon Fold-up Grab Bars
• Nylon Rotating Fold-up Safety Bars
• Stainless Rotating Fold-up Safety Bars

PBA Products Exceed The Strength Test

In August 2002, randomly selected samples of PBA products were strength tested in accordance with ASTM 446 by

NAHB Research Center, Inc.
400 Prince George Boulevard
Upper Marlboro, MD. 20774

ADAAG requires that Grab Bars, Bath Seats, and Shower Seats meet the following guidelines:

609.8 Structural Strength (for Grab Bars). Allowable stresses shall not be exceeded for materials used when a vertical or horizontal force of 250 pounds (1112 N) is applied at any point on the grab bar, fastener, mounting device, or supporting structure.
610.4 Structural Strength (for Bath Seats and Shower Seats.. Allowable stresses shall not be exceeded for materials used when a vertical or horizontal force of 250 pounds (1112 N) is applied at any point on the seat, fastener, mounting device, or supporting structure.

The NAHB Research Center strength-tested the following representative PBA products according to ASTM 446 entitled “Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Grab Bars and Accessories Installed in the Bathing Area.”
Model 440 Nylon over Aluminum Core Red color Stationary Grab Bar
Model 445 Nylon over Aluminum Core White color Flip-up Grab Bar
Model 447 Nylon Wall Mounted Flip-up Shower Seat White