What is a Grab Bar?
A grab bar or handrail is a bar which is designed to help people with disabilities. You may have seen grab bars in accessible restrooms, for example; in this instance, they help people get in and out of wheelchairs and walkers. Grab bars can also be installed in full bathrooms to help people navigate, and in some homes, grab bars are installed in many locations around the house, anticipating a variety of potential needs. In some regions of the world, the installation of grab bars is required in facilities which will be used by the differently abled. In addition to making spaces more usable and comfortable for their users, grab bars are also safety devices, providing something to hang onto if someone loses his or her balance. Many hospitals and nursing homes install grab bars in their rooms and public areas for this very reason, even if they are not necessarily required to do so. Several features distinguish a grab bar. The first is that it is designed to carry a large amount of weight.
