Again, the controls should be offset to reduce reaching and bending and to allow the user to turn on the water before entering the shower. When a larger shower has a seat, care must be given to the placement of controls within the seated person’s reach. One concept is to have one control for the overhead shower near the entry point and a second control or the diverter near the handheld spray, located near the seat.
In transfer type showers, the controls and showerhead, as well as the handheld spray, should be on the control wall within 15 inches (381 mm) of the centerline of the seat. If an adjustable height showerhead mounted on a vertical bar is used, the bar should not obstruct the use of the grab bars. Typically the height of the controls is between 36 inches and 48 inches (914 mm and 1219 mm) off the floor, within the reach range and not interfering with grab bar placement (see Figure 8.36). The use of a handheld spray as a showerhead on a sliding bar can provide for the various heights of users as well as functioning as a hand sprayer. With this concept, be sure to determine if the slide bar has the integrity to act as a support or grab bar.