In modern society, great attention is paid to people with disabilities. Even the most familiar things for a he althy person sometimes become a test for a sick person. To facilitate daily hygiene procedures, you can install special bath rails.
Pros and cons
According to the law, all social facilities (hospitals, sanatoriums, boarding schools, etc.) must be equipped with handrails. In shopping and entertainment centers, at gas stations, food stations, cabins for the disabled and inactive people are equipped. And in private houses and apartments in which a sick person lives, such devices are simply necessary for his comfortable life.
The main benefits of handicapped and elderly bathroom grab bars are:
- Easy operation, no need to install bulky, intricate structures.
- Independence. With handrailsand other assistive devices, disabled and elderly people can take care of themselves.
- Sustainability. Regardless of the method of fastening to the wall or floor, the design holds the weight of a person up to 150 kg.
- Versatility. Modern production allows you to choose a model from various materials, for left-handers or right-handers, in any price category.
- Durability. Quality products are not affected by water, corrosion, etc.
If we talk about the disadvantages of bath rails, it is worth noting some difficulty in their installation. Depending on the design, during installation, it is necessary to observe certain standards: the angle of inclination, height, distance from the wall, and so on. Despite their compactness, most often the fixtures do not fit into the interior of the room, but are a necessary measure.
Fixed devices
This design is an angled or straight wall rail. As a rule, they are installed above the bathroom for the disabled and overweight people. They are quite reliable.
Floor stationary fixtures are mounted only in bathrooms with a large area.
Flip and turn
Designs with such a mechanism, on the contrary, are equipped with small bathrooms. They allow sedentary people to move around in a limited space and, if necessary, recline them independently.
Flip-up and swivel bath rails for the elderly anddisabled people can be additionally equipped with a hook and a shelf for toiletries. One of the main advantages of such products is the possibility of free access to household and sanitary items. In addition, cleaning the room is not hindered by any obstacles. The design folds compactly and is easy to install when needed.
Steps
Older people find it increasingly difficult to take a bath with age, especially if they have problems with their backs, joints, poor coordination of movements. In such cases, the use of special steps-handrails is recommended. They make it easier to get in and out of the bath, allowing you to serve yourself without much physical effort. Typically, the design consists of one or two steps with a bathroom support rail, which is mounted on the wall above or near it.
There are side varieties. One of them can be seen in the photo below.
Two-step handrails are more stable and taller, but are heavier than single-step handrails. The design can be used temporarily for people during the rehabilitation period after fractures or other injuries that restrict movement.
Suction cups
This type of fixture is made of high-strength plastic and equipped with suction cups. The design is mobile, you can always rearrange it to a new place, take it with you in case of a trip or remove it after hygiene procedures.
As disadvantages of such bath rails, they note insufficient reliability, a hand may slip off the soapy surface, suction cups may not be attached well enough, or the support will not withstand the weight of the weight, which will lead to a fall of a person. Even the best designs cause older people to fear injury. What's more, the suction cups wear out quickly and you should always have a spare set on hand.
Rigid fixation rails
This variant resembles fixed fixtures, with the difference in their increased strength, which is achieved due to the simultaneous double fastening. Fixing such handrails for the bathroom to the wall and to the floor is able to withstand even very heavy loads. They can be installed both along the wall, sink or bath, and perpendicularly near the toilet, shower.
The disadvantages include the massiveness of the handrails, due to which the free space of the room is significantly reduced, and the inability to fold or move them.
Installation requirements
Based on the regulatory legal act numbered 59.13330.2012 “On the accessibility of buildings and structures for sedentary groups of the population”, there are prescribed requirements for the installation of handrails. Disabled people and people with disabilities should be provided with unhindered access to rooms for various purposes.
If a person lives in the house who needs suchdevices, installation work is best left to specialists. Improper installation of handrails in a bathroom for the elderly can lead to injury or render the structure completely useless. When selecting devices, it is better to consult with the seller. Depending on the size of the room, the condition of the patient, individual needs and other factors, he will advise the best option that meets all requirements.
Equipment of public places with handrails must be carried out by a team of specialists. Otherwise, the expert commission for the acceptance of buildings may not allow the facility to be put into operation if the work is not performed in accordance with SNiP.
As a rule, wall-mounted bathtub rails come with all necessary fittings, fixtures and instructions for assembly and installation. In rare cases, it may be necessary to purchase additional decorative elements. Installation in your own living space is carried out in accordance with the individual characteristics of a person (height, build). Some diseases lead to impaired motor skills of the upper limbs (stroke, paralysis, etc.), in this case, during installation, you need to focus on a he althy hand.
Materials for making
The most commonly used materials for handrails are:
- steel;
- chrome;
- brass;
- reinforced plastic.
Steel structures are the most durable, usually it is from this material that stationary handrails for a rigid fixation bath are made. They may be enameled or otherwisesprayed for an aesthetically pleasing look. Steel handrails harmoniously fit into the interior of the room, they are easy to care for, including with the help of disinfectants.
Chrome products are recommended for use in bathrooms with excessive moisture. Thanks to this coating, you can be sure that the hand does not slip off and firmly holds the support.
Brass has high anti-corrosion properties. Handrails made of this material can hold a person's weight up to 160 kg, which indicates their strength and reliability.
High-impact plastic is used to produce small structures that can be used in small spaces.
Features of installation, recommendations of experts
In order to avoid troubles, some nuances should be taken into account when installing handrails:
- it is desirable to fix the structure to the load-bearing wall. If it is not provided in the bathroom, it is necessary to strengthen one of the surfaces, especially if the patient's weight is more than 100 kg, and only then attach the handrails;
- next to the toilet, it is better to install devices on both sides;
- for safety reasons, it is worth giving preference to the design with rubberized nozzles;
- near the bath, the handrail must be fixed horizontally along the wall to which it adjoins;
- it is better to choose a U-shaped design for the sink to provide unhindered access from any angle. At the same time, the distance between the sink and the handrail should not exceed 10 cm;
- the door to the bathroom should open"to myself". Ideal - no threshold;
- any design is selected based on the dimensions of the room.
Handrails allow you to make the life of a sick person more independent. They also make it easier for loved ones to care for the elderly and disabled.
