

If this can be accomplished while still remaining a pleasing aesthetic touch, even better.ĪDA standards require handrails to be between 1 ¼-2” in diameter. Code complianceĪbove all, hospital handrails need to comply with Commercial Building Code requirements and should adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. All of the materials integrated into a hospital design must have the capacity to withstand high traffic, be easily cleaned, and integrate into the hospital’s design.

Hospitals must balance their duty as a healing environment with their needs as a commercial business. Commercial duty and high traffic capability It needs to be aesthetically pleasing, and it must also be functional, easily identifiable, and easily accessible.

Hospital handrails could be an afterthought to the design, but they are actually an integral part of creating a welcoming and friendly environment.įinding the right balance of beauty and function in a hospital handrail isn’t always easy. To accomplish this goal, hospital designs are very intentional about choosing materials for each aspect of the design. Hospitals that used to be simple sterile environments have given way to the creation of an environment that is welcoming, friendly, and promotes healing. Aluminum handrails, with their smooth finish, are easy to clean and can be sanitized quickly. Choosing a material that is easily cleaned is essential to protecting the safety of all who enter the hospital. In a hospital environment, everything must be easy to clean and sanitize in order to protect the health of patients and staff alike. Requirements for Handrails in Hospitals Antibacterial / Hygienic Hospital handrails can be found in stairways, walkways, ramps and hallways, but handrails in bathrooms are also necessary.

From patients recovering from surgery to elderly patients in need of added support, easily accessible, safe, and antibacterial handrails are a necessity in many areas of a hospital. When it comes to where handrails are needed most, hospitals jump to mind quickly.
