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Looking for either a source for wheelchair accessible shower pans or design tips for building a custom pan. Mainly need to know about the ramp requirements and drain location. I pretty much know all the other stuff…non-slip, grab bars, adjustable head, seat, etc.
Tom Laing
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Mustee has shower pans-1-800-321-3128
Swan Corp- theswancorp.com
Access- fsidaho.com
These might give you some ideas, you can also try:
design.ncsu.edu/cud
I may be able to find others if none of these help.
*Most manufaccturers make accessable pans and shower units. Usually these have a 1" lip instead of a 3", after subfloor, tile, or whatever floor you choose, you end up with a 5/8 step or less.Prefab shower units come with grab bars, folding seats, sliding shower heads, anti-scald valves, etc. already built in. Installs just like any other shower except for extra blocking needed for the grab bars. Availalable with openings up to five feet wide.5/8 is the highest "step" that is considered to be acceptable. But, if this is a single family residence and you are working for one person, (as opposed to a commercial bath) forget the rules. Find out what your customer wants and needs.
*if you want a tile roll in shower customized for your customer, i have cut pitch in the joists to the drain, blocked as necessary, sheeted and installed durock with the required rubber panning. this was new const. so fall in the joists was not diff. to do nor was the span a prob. blocking for required grab bars, sliding shower head, low soap dish you know all that. this was a 10 X 8 room with a corner shower about 5 X 5, sink and top to the left and toilet to the right. had a curtain co. bend a track and supply the shower curtain. it was much like a hospital curtain, not the kind w/ regular curtain fasteners. we split the curtain and fastened both ends. slides easily for the person in the chair. ceramic on the whole floor and two full walls from the shower. pocket door. very accessable and not really unusual looking, for resale and use by those more fortunate. tom, the fall was not much, drain in the center but more towards the corner of the room, so the chair would straddle it rather that roll down on to it. fall maybe 1"in 2 ft. the durock and panning extended well away from the shower area. instead of durock you could of course mud set. there was no lip or curb anywhere in this bathroom. boy, picture is worth a thousand words, they are'nt bs.ing
*Hello Tom, If you are building this for an older wheelchair bound individual, then check into Medicare/Medicaid picking up the tab. If it is for a child (or even an older individual)check into your local Department of Health, Medically Dependent Children Program. Both of these organizations have all the specs and suppliers for all the materials you need. I do home modifications, wheelchair ramps, and bath modifications for the Texas Department of Health, Medically Dependent Children Program. For bathrooms, I use cultured marble walls so I can get the largest shower area I can, and the cultured marble manufacturer makes/orders the pan for the shower size I am building. The pan is made with no lip in front, but it has a piece that is shaped like a very small ramp that sits on the front edge. This allows a wheelchair to easily roll into the shower area, and still helps prevent water from getting out. Drain is always in the center on these setups. In my cases, a true anti-scald shower valve assembly is required by code. These units do not only adjust temperature, and maintain it, they also completely shut off if the temp sensor in them senses the water temp is too high. This prevents a handicapped child/adult from getting burned. They are not as expensive as they may seem. I think I pay about $179.00 for them. I use the Delta model because it is easiest to get here. Anyway, you might want to check into one of these two programs, or even check with your local Health Department to see if you qualify for any other programs. It is a good idea to have a little financial help on these projects, since they can get very expensive, very quickly. Just my thought...James DuHamel
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Thanks for all the help, guys. In this case, I can't modify the joists even though they are well under-spanned...they're BCI I-joists. Will look into one of the pre-fabs.
Tom Laing
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Note letter to the editor on part of this topic (waterproofing) in current FH128... Insteresting stuff.
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Looking for either a source for wheelchair accessible shower pans or design tips for building a custom pan. Mainly need to know about the ramp requirements and drain location. I pretty much know all the other stuff...non-slip, grab bars, adjustable head, seat, etc.
Tom Laing