Testing Data
GEM participated in the testing of various grab bar fasteners in the lab of the Eastern Paralyzed Veteran's
Association in Fort Totten, New York, in April 2002. Ron McLearie, Director of Architecture, headed up the
project. All fasteners were installed into either sheetrock or sheetrock with tile, and tested to meet
the minimum building code requirement of 250 lbs of dead load force.
| Grab Bar Data |
| Anchor Type |
Model/Size |
# of Anchors per GB |
Test Description |
Force Parallel to Wall |
Failure Description |
Satisfies 250 lb Min. Requirement |
| Starts (lbs.) |
Fails (lbs.) |
| Toggler Bolt |
1/4" |
4 |
1/2" sheetrock |
250 |
360 |
Sheetrock damaged w/ 3" to 4" holes |
Yes |
| Wingits |
GBW40 |
2 |
1/2" sheetrock |
250 |
250 |
Sheetrock damaged w/ 3" holes |
No |
| 1/2" sheetrock w/ tiles |
250 |
450 |
Sheetrock & wall tiles damaged w/ 3" to 4"holes |
Yes |
| Plastic Anchor |
# 10 |
4 |
1/2" sheetrock |
60 |
80 |
Anchors pulled out from sheetrock w/ 1/2" holes |
No |
| 1/2" sheetrock w/ tiles |
60 |
180 |
Anchors pulled out from wall, sheetrock & tiles both damaged |
No |
| Hartman Epoxy |
Hardman |
NA |
1/2" sheetrock w/ tiles |
50 |
180 |
Grab bar torn off from tile surface, glue damaged |
No |
| Hilti Epoxy |
HSE 2421 |
NA |
1/2" sheetrock w/ tiles |
100 |
240 |
Tiles torn off from sheetrock, tiles & sheetrock separated |
No |
|
EPVA Architecture Department and Facilities, Fort Totten, New York 4/26/02
In Attendance: Rosemary Bakker, Director, GEM Weill Medical College of Cornell University
