ASTM F446-85(2009)

Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Grab Bars and Accessories Installed in the Bathing Area (Withdrawn 2018)

SCOPE
1.1 This consumer safety specification covers performance requirements, test methods, and levels of performance to ensure satisfactory functioning of the grab bars and accessory items (not including plumbing controls) during reasonable use to assist a person entering, leaving, or moving within the bathing area.
1.2 This consumer safety specification is intended to reduce the number of accidents by specifying requirements for grab bars and accessories designed to decrease the probability of slips and falls.
1.3 This consumer safety specification does not address the specific need of gang showers, island tubs, peninsula tubs, sunken tubs, or tubs 6 ft (1.8 m) or longer.
1.4 This consumer safety specification exempts shower stalls with both interior dimensions of 34 in. (864 mm) or less.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.6 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 7, of this specification. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This consumer safety specification covered performance requirements, test methods, and levels of performance to ensure satisfactory functioning of the grab bars and accessory items (not including plumbing controls) during reasonable use to assist a person entering, leaving, or moving within the bathing area.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee F15 on Consumer Products, this practice was withdrawn in July 2018 in accordance with section 10.6.3 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2009
• Withdrawal Date: 10-Jul-2018
• ICS: 91.140.70 - Sanitary installations
• Technical Committee: F15 - Consumer Products
• Drafting Committee: F15.03 - Safety Standards for Bathtub and Shower Structures

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F446-85(2004)e1 - Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Grab Bars and Accessories Installed in the Bathing Area
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:F446 −85 (Reapproved 2009)
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for
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Grab Bars and Accessories Installed in the Bathing Area
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF446;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
INTRODUCTION
This consumer safety specification addresses certain bathing area accidents that were identified by
the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), specifically those which might have been
prevented by the presence of adequate grab bars. This specification also addresses the safe
performance required of accessory items installed in the bathing area.
Available data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) were studied by
Abt Associates, Inc., with assistance from Researchitects Inc., and reported to the CPSC. This
information was made available to ASTM Task Group F15.03. It was reviewed along with other
information appropriate to the subject and became the basis for developing this specification.
The information reviewed indicated that slips and falls frequently occur while entering or leaving
the tub, while changing between a sitting or standing position, or while moving around in the bathing
area. This specification establishes parameters as to strength, location, and general requirements of
grab bars and accessories to assist movement and reduce hazards in the bathing area.
1. Scope 1.6 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the
test method portion, Section 7, of this specification. This
1.1 This consumer safety specification covers performance
standarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyproblems,
requirements, test methods, and levels of performance to
ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuser
ensure satisfactory functioning of the grab bars and accessory
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
items (not including plumbing controls) during reasonable use
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
to assist a person entering, leaving, or moving within the
tions prior to use.
bathing area.
2. Definitions
1.2 This consumer safety specification is intended to reduce
the number of accidents by specifying requirements for grab
2.1 back wall—wall opposite the exit-entry side of a tub or
bars and accessories designed to decrease the probability of
shower (see Figs. 1-4).
slips and falls.
2.2 bathing area—bathing space that consists of a tub,
1.3 This consumer safety specification does not address the
tub-shower, or shower stall bounded by four walls, real or
specific need of gang showers, island tubs, peninsula tubs,
imaginary, extending vertically to the ceiling from the outside
sunken tubs, or tubs 6 ft (1.8 m) or longer.
edge of the tub or stall (see Figs. 1-4).
1.4 This consumer safety specification exempts shower
2.3 bathing area accessories—towel bars, towel rings, soap
stalls with both interior dimensions of 34 in. (864 mm) or less.
holders, towel utility shelves, and other similar devices that are
intended to be permanently affixed to surfaces and used in the
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
bathing area.
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only 2.4 critical support area—that portion of the back, service,
and are not considered standard.
or nonservice wall in which support would most likely be
beneficial in four different bathing areas (see Figs. 1-4 for
specific requirements in this area).
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This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on
Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.03 on
2.5 grab-bar—bar or similar device made for the purpose of
Safety Standards for Bathtub and Shower Structures.
assisting a person in movement within the bathing area and for
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2009. Published September 2009. Originally
ε1
assistance in entering or exiting the bathing area. Sometimes
approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as F446 – 85 (2004) .
DOI: 10.1520/F0446-85R09. referred to in the industry as hand holds.
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F446−85 (2009)
FIG. 1 Recessed Tub Bathing Area
FIG. 2 Recessed Tub-Shower Bathing Area
2.6 nonservice wall—any wall excluding the back wall 2.10 service back wall—wall opposite the exit-entry side of
within the bathing area tha
...