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Designing an accessible shower involves creating a space that is safe and convenient for individuals with mobility challenges. Here are some key considerations:
1. Size and layout: Ensure the shower is spacious enough to accommodate a wheelchair or mobility aid. Consider a roll-in shower design with no thresholds for easy entry.
2. Grab bars: Install sturdy grab bars in strategic locations to provide support and stability while entering, exiting, and using the shower.
3. Non-slip flooring: Use slip-resistant tiles or mats to minimize the risk of falls. Avoid high-gloss finishes that can be slippery when wet.
4. Adjustable showerheads: Install showerheads that can be easily adjusted to accommodate different heights or preferences.
5. Seating: Incorporate a stable and comfortable shower seat to allow individuals to sit while showering.
6. Lighting and color contrast: Ensure adequate lighting and use color contrast between the walls, floors, and grab bars to aid individuals with visual impairments.
By considering these factors, you can create an accessible shower that promotes independence and safety for all users.
There may come a time when you need to create an accessible shower that meets the guidelines set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This may be due to an elderly family member requiring more assistance or a sudden disability caused by an accident or illness. Regardless of the circumstances, you can design an attractive accessible shower if you have the time, or opt for a more basic prefab model if you’re in a hurry. However, you’ll need to plan for a bathroom remodel, as an accessible shower requires more space than a standard one.
Space Requirements for an ADA Shower
The ADA outlines two design options for an accessible shower. A transfer shower, which allows for wheelchair approach but not entry, must have a minimum interior floor space of 36 by 36 inches. A roll-in shower intended for wheelchair entry has a minimum floor space of 30 by 60 inches. You should be able to scribe a circle with a diameter of 30 inches on the shower floor.
The shower needs additional clearance in front of it, depending on the type of shower. For a transfer shower, you need to provide a 48-inch-long space measured from the shower control wall, which should extend at least 36 inches out from the shower entrance. For a roll-in shower, the clearance must be 60 inches long and extend out a distance of 30 inches.
Image Credit:
Sanford Creative
Shower Floor Options
If you’re using a prefab shower, the low-profile shower base will be built to ADA specifications, but custom accessible showers require more consideration. The floor must be slip-resistant, easy to clean, and have a low threshold. The maximum allowable threshold for a roll-in, wheelchair-accessible shower is only 1/2 inch. It’s the same for a transfer shower, but the guidelines allow you to make a 2-inch curb if providing a smoother transition would upset the floor reinforcement.
You can install a low-profile fiberglass shower base even if you make the walls from another material, but you can also choose a solid-surface shower pan, which is more stain-resistant, or you can tile the shower floor. If you’re doing a complete bathroom remodel, the most efficient option is to use the same nonslip floor covering for the entire bathroom, including the shower, and eliminate the threshold altogether. If a 1/2-inch threshold is unavoidable, plan on including extension ramps to make a smooth transition for wheelchairs.
Designing the Shower Interior
You can include a seat in the shower, and if you do, you don’t have to settle for molded plastic. There are designer seats available made from teak, metal, and other materials that are more attractive than plastic. The shower seat must be either rectangular or L-shaped, must be the folding type in roll-in showers, and must conform to the dimensions and location requirements in the ADA guidelines. This generally calls for it to be placed on the side wall adjacent to the controls.
ADA-Compliant Showers: What You Need to Know
When it comes to ADA-compliant showers, the grab bars must meet specific guidelines, but they don’t have to look institutional. Decorative options like bronze, brushed nickel, and matte black are available while still conforming to ADA regulations. You need one grab bar on the back wall and one on each side wall that doesn’t have a seat.
In a roll-in or walk-in shower without a seat, you can place the showerhead and faucet anywhere, but the controls must be on the wall adjacent to the seat in a transfer shower or a roll-in shower with a seat. Although it’s beneficial to place them close to the shower entrance, they must be within 27 inches of the seat wall. A hand-held showerhead is often preferable, but for maximum comfort and ease of use, Innovate Building Solutions recommends an overhead rain showerhead.
ADA-Compliant Shower Doors
The size of the shower doorway depends on the type of stall. A transfer stall requires a 36-inch doorway, which is the same size required for a four-sided roll-in shower. If the shower has only three walls, the doorway must be 60 inches wide.
You can cover the door opening with a shower curtain or install a door. However, if you install a door, it must open outward and have no hinges or hardware that reduce the doorway clearance. Frameless glass doors are the most common choice, but doors with 3/8-inch glass and beveled edges are sturdy, easy to clean, and a better option.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When designing an accessible shower, it’s easy to overlook one or more requirements. Some of the more common design mistakes include installing a permanent shower head that doesn’t direct water toward the seat, forgetting to install controls within easy reach of someone sitting on the seat, neglecting to include shelves and storage space for soap and shampoo, failing to leave enough space in front of the shower for a wheelchair to turn around, and choosing faucet controls that are difficult to operate. Other common mistakes are choosing a floor covering that is too slippery, neglecting to provide overhead lighting, and not taking into account the specific needs of the primary user of the shower.
The Convenient Option
A prefabricated shower stall is the ideal option when you need to construct a shower quickly, have a limited budget, or simply want to avoid the hassle of building a walk-in shower from scratch. There are numerous sources for ADA showers, and they can be shipped anywhere in the country. However, a prefab shower still requires some new construction because you need to create a space for it, and you may need to modify your bathroom to provide the necessary clearance.
You may choose to purchase a one-piece prefab accessible shower unit, but it may be difficult to fit it through the bathroom door. In such cases, a multiple-piece unit is the better choice. This usually includes three walls and the shower base. The walls come with molded shelves, and a fold-up seat, grab bars, and a door are often included. All you have to do is assemble it in place and hook up the plumbing.
Although installation requires less work, it still necessitates stripping the walls and flooring of the area where you plan to install the shower. You may also need to relocate the drain and water supply lines. Typically, the installation of prefab ADA showers follows the steps below:
Installing a Prefab Shower Kit
Step 1: Unpack the Shower Kit and Read the Instructions
Check each piece for damage and contact the manufacturer if necessary. After confirming that everything is intact, read the instruction booklet to know the exact dimensions of the alcove and materials required for assembly. The booklet will also guide you through the installation process.
Step 2: Reinforce and Level the Subfloor
To prevent cracking, the shower pan must rest on a solid and level surface. Add extra floor joists or plywood as needed to fix any flexing, apply a layer of latex-modified thinset mortar, and level it with a trowel. The bubble on your level should remain centered regardless of where you place it on the subfloor that will be under the shower pan. Allow the thinset to cure as instructed.
Image Credit:
Stephen Paul for Hunker
Step 3: Construct and Plumb the Walls
Construct the shower alcove walls according to the dimensions given in the instructions. Use a plumb bob or 6-foot level to ensure the studs are straight. Any stud that is out of plumb by even 1/8 inch from top to bottom will interfere with the assembly of the shower walls. Rectify any out-of-plumb studs in existing walls by resetting them or shimming at the bottom or notching at the top.
Step 4: Install the Drain
Temporarily place the shower pan, mark the drain opening location on the subfloor, remove the shower pan, and cut a hole in the floor for the drain pipe. Install the rough-in drain piping and extend the drain about 2 or 3 inches above the floor. Before bonding the drain pan to the floor, screw in the drain assembly supplied with the kit into the hole in the drain pan.
Step 5: Installing the Shower Pan
Apply a fresh coat of latex-modified thinset on the subfloor and put the drain pan in place. Check the level on all sides and use leveling strips if necessary to support the pan at low points. Once the pan is level, attach it to every available stud using stainless steel screws and place two or three 5-gallon buckets filled with water on top to press it into the mortar until it hardens, which usually takes around four hours.
Step 6: Finishing the Drain Assembly
Follow the instructions provided in your kit to install the drain strainer. You will need an inside pipe cutting tool to cut the stubout to the length specified in the instructions. Then, install a rubber gasket and pop in the strainer.
Step 7: Installing the Walls
Each shower wall may come in one or two pieces. Before installing any piece, you should use silicone caulk to seal the inside joints of the pieces underneath and to the sides of it to create a water seal. Each piece should be screwed to the wall studs using stainless steel screws of the specified length in the instructions.
The plumbing for the faucet and shower head should be completed before installing the control wall, which is typically the first to go up. Mark the locations of the holes for the shower controls and the shower head and drill appropriately sized holes for each. Use masking tape before cutting to prevent chipping from the hole saw or spade bit.
Step 8: Installing the Seat and Grab Bars
Use the mounting hardware provided with the seat and grab bars to attach them in the required locations. Remember that they must all be secured to the studs behind the enclosure, not just the enclosure walls. Finish by installing the door or shower curtain.