Collapsible Shower Dam Overview
Flexible and collapsible shower dams are used to retain water and deflect when rolled over or stepped on.
The installation of these optional features must be carefully considered. Before purchasing one should take into consideration who will be using the shower and how often.
Collapsible shower dams are accessories for curbless showers that are having an issue keeping water in the shower. They're made of rubber or other synthetic materials that allow the dam to deflect when rolled over by a person in a wheelchair. Being a flexible product they will, over time, deteriorate, lose there flexibility and will need to be replaced.
It is important to note that some people using wheelchairs may have difficulty rolling over this low and flexible dam and other people will not be able to step over or maneuver walkers around it. While choosing any home modification product always keep the user and their abilities in mind.
EZ Able® offers these dams as part of their product line. Click Here
Semi Permanent Shower Dams.
Another option for curbless showers are semi-permanent removable shower dams, which can be left in place until a curbless shower entry is needed. These semi-permanent removable dams are higher and can be installed to retain water like a permanent integral curb. These are usually set in place and caulked with a silicon sealant and later “knocked” out when a smooth transition is needed. These removable dams look very permanent, therefore making it important that the resident and facility manager be informed that the dam is removable.
In residences or facilities where a person’s needs change over time or the user of a particular shower changes periodically, temporary dams may be an appropriate solution. Flexible and removable dams also can be helpful in retrofit situations where floor space for the shower is limited, but they should always be considered backup solutions and not the primary method of water control.
Summary
Flexible water retainers and semi-permanent dams are not allowable when strict compliance with the NC Accessibility Code is required. Such showers should be installed in full compliance with the flush or no threshold entry. However, if a potential tenant does not need the curbless entry, the optional dam may be installed provided both the tenant and the manager of the property know it can be removed when requested to provide a complying flush or no threshold entry.
Related Articles
Quickdrain Products | Linear Shower Drain Overview
Quickdrain Products | Linear Shower Drain Overview History Linear shower drains have been manufactured for many years. Until recently they were used mostly for commercial and industrial applications. In recent years, however, linear shower drains ...6 Basics For Your Accessible Shower
6 Basics For Your Accessible Shower Traditional showers have a threshold that needs to be stepped over to enter, and people often use them for years without issue. When a life event occurs, such as surgery, people realize that the step into the ...Linear Shower Drain | 4 Installation Tips to Remember
Linear Shower Drain | 4 Installation Tips to Remember By Lauren Hunter Even a slight 2% slope can cause a trip hazard in a shower. Slope the bed toward or away from the door instead. Linear shower drains have been attracting attention in shower and ...Prefabricated Shower Stall Alternatives
How to keep your project rolling in uncertain times. Now maybe the time to consider a prefabricated shower stall alternative? Consider a Made in USA linear shower drain by QuickdrainUSA. A QuickdrainUSA shower drain is a FAST & READILY available ...Linear Shower Drain | SHOWERline Drain Explained
Linear Shower Drain | SHOWERline Drain Explained Quick Drain USA now offers a more AFFORDABLE linear shower drain, the SHOWERLINE drain for residential construction for both Curbless & Curbless Showers. LINEAR SHOWER DRAIN for CURBLESS SHOWER ...