ASTM F446-85(2004)e1
(Specification)Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Grab Bars and Accessories Installed in the Bathing Area
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Grab Bars and Accessories Installed in the Bathing Area
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 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.
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Designation: F 446 – 85 (Reapproved 2004)
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for
Grab Bars and Accessories Installed in the Bathing Area
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 446; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
e NOTE—Keywords were added editorially in August 2004.
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 ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuser
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
1.1 This consumer safety specification covers performance
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
requirements, test methods, and levels of performance to
tions prior to use.
ensure satisfactory functioning of the grab bars and accessory
items (not including plumbing controls) during reasonable use
2. Definitions
to assist a person entering, leaving, or moving within the
2.1 back wall—wall opposite the exit-entry side of a tub or
bathing area.
shower (see Figs. 1-4).
1.2 This consumer safety specification is intended to reduce
2.2 bathing area—bathing space that consists of a tub,
the number of accidents by specifying requirements for grab
tub-shower, or shower stall bounded by four walls, real or
bars and accessories designed to decrease the probability of
imaginary, extending vertically to the ceiling from the outside
slips and falls.
edge of the tub or stall (see Figs. 1-4).
1.3 This consumer safety specification does not address the
2.3 bathing area accessories—towel bars, towel rings, soap
specific need of gang showers, island tubs, peninsula tubs,
holders, towel utility shelves, and other similar devices that are
sunken tubs, or tubs 6 ft (1.8 m) or longer.
intended to be permanently affixed to surfaces and used in the
1.4 This consumer safety specification exempts shower
bathing area.
stalls with both interior dimensions of 34 in. (864 mm) or less.
2.4 critical support area—that portion of the back, service,
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the
or nonservice wall in which support would most likely be
test method portion, Section 7, of this specification. This
beneficial in four different bathing areas (see Figs. 1-4 for
standarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyproblems,
specific requirements in this area).
2.5 grab-bar—barorsimilardevicemadeforthepurposeof
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on
assisting a person in movement within the bathing area and for
Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.03 on
assistance in entering or exiting the bathing area. Sometimes
Safety Standards for Bathtub and Shower Structures.
referred to in the industry as hand holds.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2004. Published August 2004. Originally
approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as F 446 – 85 (1999).
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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F 446 – 85 (2004)
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 that does not contain plumbing service.
the tub or shower that serves as a back wall as well as the
2.7 plumbing controls—valves, spouts, and shower head or location of controls.
fittings, or both, that allow the user to control the water flow
2.11 service wall—wall within the bathing area upon which
and temperature.
the plumbing controls are located.
2.8 potential hazard area—any surface within the bathing
2.12 shower receptor—basin-like device in a shower that
area, including bathtub or shower receptor from tub or shower
catches the water and directs it into the drain.
floorupto66in.(1.7m),whichcouldbecontactedbythebody
2.13 shower stall—two- or three-wall enclosure with a
in a slip or fall situation.
shower receptor and plumbing controls for shower bathing.
2.9 recessed tub—bathtub enclosed by and attached to two
or three walls without shower facilities. 2.14 tub-shower—recessed tub with a shower head.
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F 446 – 85 (2004)
FIG. 3 Two-Wall Stall Shower Bathing Area
FIG. 4 Three-Wall Stall Shower Bathing Area
2.15 tub or shower entrance area—place where an indi- mm). Projecting soap dishes without rails or bars a
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