ADA/TAS Recommendations for Residential Grab Bar Installation

1) Size

• Height: Mount horizontal grab bars 33″–36″ above finished floor (measured to the top of the gripping surface). (ADA §609.4 / TAS §609.4 — Access Board)
• Length — Toilets (for reference):
• Side wall bar: 42″ min, located ≤12″ from the rear wall and extending ≥54″ from the rear wall. (ADA §604.5.1 / TAS §604.5.1 — Access Board)
• Rear wall bar: 36″ min, extending 12″ to one side and 24″ to the other from the toilet centerline. (ADA §604.5.2 / TAS §604.5.2 — Access Board)

2) Placement

Toilets

• Side-wall and rear-wall bar placements per the lengths above keep the handholds where transfers happen. (ADA/TAS §604.5 — Access Board)

Showers & Tubs

• Transfer showers: bars on two walls (control wall + back wall). (ADA/TAS §608.3.1 — Texas Licensing and Regulation)
• Standard roll-in showers: with a seat—bars on back wall + side wall opposite the seat; without a seat—three walls. Bars installed ≤6″ from adjacent walls and at the same height. (ADA/TAS §608.3.2 — Texas Licensing and Regulation · Access Board)
• Alternate roll-in showers: bars on back wall + side wall farthest from entry (no bar above the seat). (ADA/TAS §608.3.3 — Texas Licensing and Regulation)
• Bathtubs: bars on the back and control-end walls; use configurations matching whether a seat is present. (ADA/TAS §607.4 — ada-compliance.com)

3) Diameter & Grip

• Circular bars: 1¼″–2″ outside diameter. (ADA/TAS §609.2.1 — Access Board)
• Non-circular bars: ≤2″ max cross-section; 4″–4.8″ perimeter. (ADA/TAS §609.2.2 — Access Board)
• Wall clearance: 1½″ between wall and bar; keep 12″ clear above bars (with specific allowances). (ADA/TAS §609.3 — Access Board)

4) Mounting & Strength

• Bars must not rotate in fittings and should resist a 250 lb force at any point (bar, fastener, or supporting structure). (ADA/TAS §609.6, §609.8 — Access Board)

5) Additional Residential Considerations

• Studs & reinforcement: Fasten into studs or rated backing; use proper anchors for tile/stone. (Intent in §609 & §604 advisories — Texas Licensing and Regulation)
• Locations: Near toilets, inside showers, and along tubs where transfers occur. (ADA/TAS overview §§604–608 — ADA.gov)
• Vertical assists: A vertical bar at shower/tub entry can aid stepping in/out (best practice; not required by ADA/TAS).
• Personalization: Adjust within ADA/TAS ranges for user height/reach—e.g., favor 33–34″ for shorter users, 35–36″ for taller.

Official References

• 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design — Chapter 6: §§604 (water closets), 607 (bathtubs), 608 (showers), 609 (grab bars). ADA.gov · Access Board
• Texas Accessibility Standards (2012 TAS) — Chapter 6: §§604, 607, 608, 609 (online index + full PDF). Texas Licensing and Regulation · Full PDF