In wall support for grab bars etc. fo...

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Author Message Marc C Chavez Senior Member Username: mchavez Post Number: 284 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 11:02 am:    I know I'm getting fat but...in new medical facilities what are you all specifing in the way of support for items that these people lean on. I can buy special hangers for sinks I believe, and toilets are floor mounted. What about grab bars? Hanging on for an answer to this weighty issue. Mark Gilligan SE, CSI Senior Member Username: mark_gilligan Post Number: 35 Registered: 10-2007 Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 11:22 am:    I would suggest that the weak link is typically not the hardware but rather the connection of the hardware to the wall behind. This may require that somebody does some engineering and develop details. Marc C Chavez Senior Member Username: mchavez Post Number: 285 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 11:43 am:    Exactly. I'm tempted to do some tests on a mock up that we have for the in-patient rooms. Structural Engineers are not usually into the fastener/wood blocking world. Mark Gilligan SE, CSI Senior Member Username: mark_gilligan Post Number: 36 Registered: 10-2007 Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 11:59 am:    In California it is common practice for the Structural Engineer to be involved in designing the non-structual partitions along with all of the supports for the non-structural architectual components in hospitals. It should be noted that in California OSHPD checks these non-structural anchorages. It is not always clear that anybody looks at this issue for non-hospitals. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 851 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 01:29 pm:    Behind-wall anchorage can also be various steel channel configurations. Check steel stud manufacturer info. Also, I recently toured a project (not ours) where a T-shaped welded tube-steel bracket was buried in the wall (with the 'top' of the T in the wall) to support countertops. Once you had a design load, I'm sure it would not be hard to engineer this. I would check with the grab bar manufacturers about the strength of their products, however. John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 374 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 04:50 pm:    See http://www.ajsteelservice.com/products_3in1_2.htm This is a proprietary (patented) formed sheet steel backing, with end flanges for attachment to the side of studs. This reduces the build-up of thickness at the face of the stud (especially screw heads to secure the backing plate). I specify it as a Contractor's option instead of 0.0677" sheet steel backing plate. Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 724 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 05:01 pm:    Marc- the first rule of health care facilities: NO WOOD BLOCKING. it causes too many problems because it has to be fire treated, and then the contractors don't like to drill through the fire treated wood and then it provides a surface for mold growth. this is a situation where you only want channel type backing, and you need to determine what the bariatric loading is (I seem to remember 500 pounds as the "design load" we used to use) and then require the fabricator to do the engineering for the wall mounted items. Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wayne_yancey Post Number: 7 Registered: 01-2008 Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 04:23 pm:    What about handrails in hallways/corridors of hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living centers? QUESTION: I am curious as to the effect light gage steel backing products have on the flatness of the eventual gypsum board. Such as the added thickness of the backing (16 gage for example) plate or angle or strap or track plus the depth of wafer head screws. Wafer head screws may also be used to fasten stud to top and botton track, therefore there will be a modest buildup of material under the gypsum board in these locations also. What is your experience? Negligible? Obvious? Really obvious? Deal with it? No big deal? Thanks Wayne (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 02:33 pm:    Wayne: I don't consider wood blocking appropriate in any condition in any health care facility. not for casework, not for wall mounted items, not for paneling. we don't carry any details showing any wood in the walls, and if a contractor proposes such a thing I can't think of a condition where it would be permitted. in hospitals, nursing homes or other facilities with populations that have impaired immune systems, I think wood blocking is unprofessional and unconscionable. I haven't noticed/been aware of, or had attention called to any buildup behind wallboard that affects the wall flatness. Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wayne_yancey Post Number: 8 Registered: 01-2008 Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 04:16 pm:    Thanks Unregistered. I was somewhat vague in my question "What about handrails in hallways/corridors of hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living centers." It was my feeble effort to extend the thread beyond grab bars. I am developing a visual of my impaired (inebriated, drunk) immune system running through my blood stream. Such populations are referred to as "immune deficient", particularly patients undergoing chemo therapy because the treatment attacks the fast growing cells, such as the white blood cells and hair.