Any Suitable Handle/Bar For UPVC Door For Disabled Person?

Associate

Does anyone know of any Handles/Bars suitable to be fitted onto a UPVC front door panel (due to nature of UPVC material, it doesn't seem to be as straightforward drilling and fixing things compared to a wooden main front door, and I don't know if screwing a normal handle bar into UPVC will cause any damage to it), to help a wheelchair bound relative close the door more easily when leaving the property, as the actual standard "door handle/knob" that is in the door frame isn't adequate/manageable for him when shutting the door from his electric wheelchair, and an additional handle/support is required more centrally located on the door ?

He thinks this may be a bit specialized for Occupational Therapy to look into, but I might have to call them on his behalf anyway if I have no joy finding out!

I've rang and spoken to a couple of UPVC door panel companies about this, and they couldn't make any suggestions.

I also asked several online companies that sell Portable Support Suction Bath & Shower Handles/Bars, like the following, and asked them if such suctions bars will work on a UPVC door, and they were either "unsure" or said "no":

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001CSXFJC/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B004VQXNDA&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0CZ64VM82XDP5HKDZQAM


Does anyone know definitively if an above type of suction bar can be attached to a UPVC front door panel; and if not, can someone make any suggestions on what could be done please?


Thank you

Owain_Moneysaver

I think you would need to drill through the door and fix any grab handle with bolts going through the door to washers and nuts on the inside to spread the load and stop it pulling through.

The other thing you have to watch is that you don't drill through any of the locking mechanism.

Some people find it helpful to hook a string over the handle, go through the door, then pull the door closed with the string after them.

Associate

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

I think you would need to drill through the door and fix any grab handle with bolts going through the door to washers and nuts on the inside to spread the load and stop it pulling through.

The other thing you have to watch is that you don't drill through any of the locking mechanism.

Some people find it helpful to hook a string over the handle, go through the door, then pull the door closed with the string after them.

Thank you for your input.

The person has already been following the string suggestion for a while, but I think is now finding it strenuous, especially with him getting more frail.