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Note: This document or portion of document references a state or local code that is stricter than the 2010 ADA Standards requires.

11B-604.5.1 Side wall.

The side wall grab bar shall be 42 inches (1067 mm) long minimum, located 12 inches (305 mm)  maximum from the rear wall and extending 54 inches (1372 mm) minimum from the rear wall with the front end positioned 24 inches (610 mm) minimum in front of the water closet.

[2010 ADAS] 604.5.1 Side Wall.  The side wall grab bar shall be 42 inches (1065 mm) long minimum, located 12 inches (305 mm) maximum from the rear wall and extending 54 inches (1370 mm) minimum from the rear wall.

Elevation drawing shows the side wall grab bar to be 42 inches long minimum, located 12 inches maximum from the rear wall, 24" in front of the water closet, and extending 54 inches minimum from the rear wall.

FIGURE 11B-604.5.1 ‡‡

SIDE WALL GRAB BAR AT WATER CLOSETS

ETA Editor's Note

At Hospital toilets and bathrooms used by patients, the 2013 California Electrical Code (2013 CEC) requires a nurse call device at the side wall of a water closet that must be coordinated carefully with the side grab bar at an accessible water closet to ensure that accessible clearances are met.  The following excerpts are from the 2013 CEC Errata dated January 1, 2014:

         517.123 [OSHPD 1, 2, 3 & 4] Call Systems.  Hospital signaling and nurse call equipment includes four types of call stations:  patient stations, bath stations, staff emergency stations, and code call stations.

                  (A) General.  ...

                  (B) Patient Stations.  ...

                  (C) Bath Stations.  A bath station that can be activated by a patient lying on the floor shall be provided at each room containing a patient water closet, bathtub, sitz bath, or shower stall. Pull cords shall extend to a maximum of 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) above the floor.

                           (1) An alarm in these areas shall be able to be turned off only at the bath station where it was initiated.

                                    Exception:  When two or more stations are located in the same bath area and all are visible from any call location, the alarm may be canceled at any of these locations.

                           (2) Bath stations in shower stalls and tubs shall be located 5 to 6 feet (1.52 to 1.83 meters) above the floor, within normal view of the user and within reach of staff without the need to step into the stall or tub.

                           (3) Bath stations shall be located to the side of toilets, within 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) of the front of the toilet bowl and 3 to 4 feet (.91 meter to 1.22 meters) above the floor. A bath station shall be permitted to serve both a toilet and a shower or other fixture if it is accessible to both.

                  (D) Staff Emergency Stations.  ...

                  (E) Code Call Stations.  ...

At 517.123(C)(3), the height of the nurse call device is not specified to be measured to the top of the box, as it is at 2013 CBC 11B-308.1.1 for electrical switches and 11B-308.1.2 for electrical receptacles.  It is recommended to install the nurse call device at/near the high limit of the allowable range, maintaining 12" minimum clearance above the top of the side grab bar, thus complying with 2013 CBC 11B-609.3.

Although the requirements of 2013 CEC 517.123 apply specifically to Hospitals and other facilities under OSHPD jurisdiction, it is not uncommon for nurse call devices to be installed at patient toilets in medical office buildings that are not under OSHPD jurisdiction.  In these, the positioning of the nurse call device is not strictly regulated by Code, but accessible clearances must be maintained from the grab bars at accessible water closets.

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