subject: Key Features of ADA Shower Units [print this page] Products designed for physically challenged individuals focus on providing safety and ease-of-use. These products address the special needs of individuals whose free movements are restricted by their physical disabilities. They are designed to assist the physically handicapped as well as the aged in daily activities such as showering. In 1990, Americans with Disability Act or ADA prescribed the prerequisites of a product to qualify for ADA standards in the US. Handicap-accessible product features and specification standards were set for manufacturers to follow when designing such units. One such handicap-accessible product which offers users an independent showering experience is an ADA shower. Here are some of the key features of such shower units.
Floor and walls
The floor of the shower stall is made of a non-slip material to eliminate risk of skids and falls. The walls should not be cluttered with items that can get in the user's way. If there is a shelf or storage built into the enclosure wall, then it should be fixed at a location which does not impede the movement of the wheelchair or come in the way of the shower seat.
No accessories with projections or sharp ends
Sometimes these units come with holders and other accessories. The accessories should not have sharp ends or project out prominently, interfering in the showering process. It is best to keep the shower stall as minimalistic as possible, keeping only those items that are absolutely necessary within the enclosure.
Shower Seat
All ADA shower units must be fitted with a seat and have a detachable shower head. ADA guideline states that the seat must be 17 to 19 inches above the base of the floor. It also states that the shower head should be detachable and fitted to a hose which should be no less than 60 inches in length.
The size of the seat is yet another aspect to consider. The shape of the seat should look like the alphabet L.' The maximum extension of its thick bottom portion should be 23 inches while the thin portion should be 16 inches. The width of the seat should be the same as the width of the shower unit.
Grab Bar
Another important ADA requirement is the grab bar. According to ADA specifications, there must be at least one grab bar opposite the shower seat and one attached to the back wall. An enclosure being used by a wheelchair-bound individual should have three bars fitted to the three walls of the shower stall.
Faucets
The faucets of the shower units must be easy to operate. Single handled faucets that control both temperature and flow are preferable to multi handled ones. If you are ready to shed some extra money, you may choose hi tech faucets that operate digitally.
Space Availability
The enclosure must allow enough room for a disabled individual to move comfortably. According to ADA norms, the faucet should be fixed 38 inches above the floor of the enclosure. This provides easy accessibility to the faucet and enhanced safety. The ADA shower unit should be spacious enough for the wheelchair-bound user to comfortably rotate his/her wheelchair at an angle of 360 degrees within the shower stall.
