monly referred to as zero entry. Curbless showers “go” with the minimalist style that we see across the industry, said Vallefuoco, while giving those with mobility issues easier entry into the shower. It’s important to note though, that a curbless shower is not necessarily “barrier-free,” a term often used to describe showers that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires a lengthy list of additional requirements (for example, enough room for a wheel- chair to turn around) in order for a shower or bathroom to be consid- ered ADA compliant. The group noted a litany of such additional details of bathroom and shower design and installation that could relate to safety: making sure shower floor tile is small enough to follow the three-dimensional coni- cal shape of a floor that is sloped to a round drain, the angle of a curb when a curb is used, the height of a niche, shelf, or seat, etc. For instance, John Cox of Cox Tile in San Antonio, Texas, said that “We may position a seat or half wall to make sure there is some stability in the layout.” In addition, he points out the benefits of linear drains as a safety consideration. “Water flow mainte- nance can actually be better with linear drains,” he mentioned. “It depends on the grate (cover) and water flow. Some of them are more conducive to evacuating water. You have options on placement of loca- tions for the drains. Front, back, to the sides are now viable options.” And he pointed out that linear drains can pair better with popular larger-format tile. “With your tradi- tional round drains, you have to use smaller tiles to make the slope to drain work,” he said. “You cannot use a larger-format tile due to the slope and not being able to bend the tile.” NTCA Training Director Mark Heinlein added that in addition to these considerations being safety features, they represent opportunity for tile contractors and installers as “upsell” opportunities. Good design encouraged from the planning stages Those who want to know more about bathroom safety, includ- ing potential business opportuni- ty, might be interested in NKBA’s Certified Living in Place Professional (CLIPP) program, developed in part- nership with the Living In Place Institute (https://nkba.org/clipp). The program is “devoted to accessibility, comfort and safety in every home” TECH TALK –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– A curbless shower facilitates easier shower entry and exit. This beauty was installed by Collins Tile. 3 76 TileLetter | January 2019