Roll-In Shower: Meaning and Everything Else You Need to Know
A roll-in shower is a practical design for people with limited mobility. This type of shower allows you to quickly roll your wheelchair inside the shower without obstacles or risks. These showers are excellent when combined with a shower wheelchair because their unique design allows for safe and easy access.
We’ll look at roll-in showers and why they are such an excellent choice for your bathroom.
Types of Roll-In Shower
These are the different types of roll-in showers:
The Standard Roll-In Shower
The standard roll-in shower is the most popular option. It has three walls: two side walls and a long back one. Because it’s designed for people with mobility issues, it usually has no threshold. However, that can change if the threshold complies with the ADA parameters.
Standard roll-in showers are usually 60″ long and 30″ deep, giving enough space for a shower wheelchair to maneuver inside. This shower also tends to have grab bars attached to the sides for better safety.
The Alternate Roll-In Shower
An alternate roll-in shower is not too different from a standard model. The main difference between these two showers is that the alternate version usually includes a shower seat behind a short wall at the entrance.
Additionally, alternate roll-in showers have no barriers or, if they do, they are usually ADA-compliant barriers. Another difference is that instead of being 30″ deep, alternate roll-in showers are 36″ deep as a minimum.
ADA Requirements for Roll-In showers
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has precise specifications for household roll-in showers. The ADA stipulates that a shower needs to meet a minimum size for wheelchair maneuvering: 60″ x 30″.
Roll-in showers also require an 18″-long grab bar on the shower back wall. Additionally, if a seat is placed in the shower, it needs to be no more than 3″ from the entry.
Features of a Roll-In Shower
These are the most common features of a roll-in shower:
- Grab bars: Roll-in showers tend to have grab bars to provide extra support when using the shower. The bars can be placed on every wall, but there should be an 18″ bar on the back wall as a minimum.
- Control area: The control area of the roll-in shower contains the showerhead, hot water tap, and cold water tap. You can also add other accessories like shampoo dispensers and more.
- Threshold: Roll-in showers usually don’t have thresholds because they make access more difficult for wheelchairs. However, it should be no higher than 0.5″ tall and beveled on both sides if you need one.
- Showerhead: The handheld shower head is most suitable for a roll-in shower. It allows you to target different body parts without moving around the shower.
- Trench drain: Most roll-in showers use a trench drain instead of a threshold to keep the water from flooding the bathroom. A trench drain can make the shower wheelchair accessible.
- Shower bench or seat: Shower chairs or benches are other essential features of roll-in showers. They help prevent falls and other accidents while making the showering process easier for people with mobility issues.
Find the Best Accessible Shower Enclosure with American Bath Enterprises
At American Bath Enterprises, we have a wide selection of accessible shower enclosures for every need. Our enclosures and shower-related products are made of high-quality materials and are designed to last for many years.
If you want to know more about our ADA-compliant enclosures and bathroom accessories, look through our website or contact us at (888) 228-4925!