ADA UNIVERSAL ACCESS SHOWER PAN INSTALLATION
First off, a lot of folks have asked me over the years about installing barrier free pans on the second floor. I always feel inclined to ask the logical question about whether there is wheelchair access to the bathroom itself. If the bath is even up one small step, the idea of installing a barrier free shower seems a little useless. Most folks who need a barrier free access later in life are usually in a situation where they need someone to help them in the shower. Often at that point, a wheelchair with a transfer board to a shower chair can make a lot more sense. If you are thinking of a barrier free pan as an elegant shower solution you may want to just consider first where the inevitable drain overflow would go and how much damage it would do to your home were that to happen.
Construction-wise it is not that simple. Getting the pan flush with the floor is critical. The whole idea of barrier access involves a nice level transition with the main floor with a minimum threshold of one inch. On a concrete floor it can be necessary to chip out the area for the pan in order to get it flush with the finished floor. Raising the main floor area will create a taller threshold at the door to the bathroom so if you need a conforming ADA installation, the floor needs to be lower at the pan area. If the construction is wood then it may be necessary to cut the joists down a bit to fit the shower pan in level with the main floor.
Flashing the joint between the pan and the main floor can be tricky. Sometimes it is best to waterproof the entire floor area along with the pan area since the possibility of having an overflow is as simple as dropping a washcloth over the drain accidentally.
Thresholds are commonly treated with a piece of stone. The stone if its siliconed or epoxy mortared into place can create a small curb that can help keep the water in the pan. There are also the flip up / flip down type of curb that can help keep water in the pan as well.
Grab Bars are always a sensible addition to any shower stall, especially to a barrier free pan. The ADA guidelines are really helpful because they have been refined many times over to meet the needs of the physically challenged person.
Pan Man Out.