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Accessibility and Modifications to Living Space
Adapted with
permission from: "General Accessibility Guidelines"
by the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, Fisherville, VA
(Contact: Wendell Coleman. 1-540-332-7160)
Doorways and Doors
- Doors for use by persons in wheelchairs or
with walkers should provide at least 2'8" clear opening with door in the
900 position. Fold back (swing away) hinges may be used to
allow the door to open 90 degrees.
- This will usually require at least 2' 10"
wide door allowing 2' plus for door thickness, jambs, and throw of hinges.
Cost and simplicity suggest the use of 3' wide doors.
- 27" minimum existing clear opening will
permit difficult passage of average size adult wheelchair but will
prohibit passage of above average size chairs.
- Door closers should not require more than 8
to 15 pound force at the handle to open the door.
- Public doors should provide a minimum of 32"
clear opening with door in its 900 position.
- Public doors should have a continuous,
smooth kick plate on the push side at least 10" high to allow pushing open
with wheelchair bumpers.
- There should be no step or bump exceeding
one-half inch at doors or thresholds and there should be a level area 5'
by 5' at doors. 1' to 1'6" space to the side of door on the pull side must
be clear.
- Slip resistant surfaces - carborundum grit,
strips, or rough concrete are acceptable surfaces.
- Thresholds can be dropped to the floor.
- A door out of the bedroom is best for fire
safety.
- Sliding glass doors vary in their ease of
opening. When choosing a slider, pay attention to the clear opening
width.
- If entrance door swings in, there is a
better seal. It may be best to remove storm (screen) door.
Entrance Ramps
- Maximum slope for hand-propelled
wheelchair ramps should be 1" of rise to every 12" of length (4.8 degree
angle; 8.3% grade).
- Maximum slope for power chairs should
be 1.5" rise to 12" length (7.1 degree angle; 12.5% grade).
- Minimum width should be 36" (inside
rails) - (48" is ideal).
- A level platform of at least 5' X 5' should
be at the top of ramp. This landing should not be considered part of
the overall "run"/length of the ramp. Any turning point along the ramp
needs a level landing. If the turn is a right angle (90 degrees), the
landing should be a minimum of 5' by 4'. If a "switchback" of 180 degrees
is constructed, the level landing should measure at least 5' X 8'. Ramps
longer than 30' should provide a platform every 30' for purposes of safety
and to create opportunity for rest.
- Hand rails should be provided for any ramp
having a slope of more than 5% (i.e.- greater than 1:12). These should
extend an inch beyond the top and bottom of the ramp and should be located
32" from the ramp surface.
- Buildings modified for accessibility should
provide at least 2 remotely located accessible entrances for exit in case
of emergency.
- There should be no step or bump exceeding
one-half inch at doors or thresholds and there should be a level area 5'
by 5' at doors. 1' to 1'6" space to the side of door on the pull side must
be clear.
- Slip resistant surfaces - carborundum grit,
strips, rubber, sand sprinkled on wet paint, or rough ("broom finish")
concrete are acceptable surfaces.
- Ramps should have a 5' straight and level
surface at the bottom to allow adequate stopping distance.
Additional information on wheelchair ramp design.
Kitchens
- Counter areas should be continuous. Cooking
and eating surfaces could be combined.
- A movable work table may be made in place of
lowering the existent cabinet space.
- Work counter installed (minimum 3' wide X
maximum height of 2'10"). Leg clearance minimum of 2'3".
- Tile, Pyrex, or (if cost is no object)
granite tops are best when working with a lot of hot foods. Formica will
wear easily when hot pots are slid along the countertop. [Note: Rather
than have an entire countertop which is ceramic, consider inserting a 2 to
3' section of granite or tile adjacent to the stove. This can be both
functional and attractive.]
- Drawers work best for lower cupboards due to
the door swings on cabinets.
- The bottom of all wall cabinets should not
be greater than 16" above the work surface of the base cabinet except for
those cabinets over cooking surfaces, ovens and refrigerators.
- Normal base cabinets toe space should be 6"
minimum in depth and 8 3/4" minimum in height.
- Controls for vent hoods and lights should be
mounted on the counter tops.
- All dishwashers are designed to mount
underneath a standard 36" counter.
- The range cook top should have a maximum
height of 34".
- The cooking range-oven combination should be
drop-in type that will allow for the required toe space. All controls
should be on the front. Where separate cooking surfaces and oven are used,
all controls should be on the side or front. The tope of the oven housing
should not exceed 52" in height from the floor.
- A tilted mirror above the stove for pot
watching should be installed.
- There should be at least a 5' by 5' clear
area within the kitchen for wheelchair maneuverability.
- Kitchen sink
- Maximum height should be 34".
- Knee space beneath should be at least 3'
wide and 27" high.
- Pipes should be insulated.
- Faucet should be easy to operate (eg.
Delta ®lever type). Avoid faucets that require a 'pulling
out' action first.
- Sink depth should not exceed 6 and 1/2".
Faucets and sprayer may be placed at the side of the sink.
- Some manufacturers make refrigerators with
sliding shelves. Self-defrosting and "Frost-Free" refrigerators are easier
for cleaning.
Bedrooms
- Exit doors from bedroom to outside should
exist (for fire safety).
- One clear area (best in front of closet)
measuring at least 5' by 5' should exist for wheelchair maneuvering.
- One side of the bed should have at least 31"
of clear space.
- Placing a nightstand (or bedside table) on
rollers will ease the task of making the bed.
Closets
- Adjustable shelving made out of vinyl coated
wire is widely available and not very expensive. It can make it easy to
adapt the storage space to the needs/desires of an individual.
- Hanging rod height should be no greater than
5'.
- Stacking shelves with rollers are available
commercially.
- Shelving in general should have a maximum
height of 54" and maximum depth of 16".
Bathrooms
- Lavatory or vanity
- Maximum height should be 34"
- Knee space beneath should be at least 27"
high and 36" wide and extend 27" from the wall.
- All exposed water supply or drain lines
should be concealed or insulated to prevent burns/scrapes.
- Exposed edges of vanity should be rounded
or beveled.
- Single-lever faucet controls are best -
avoid levers which require initial pull to open.
- Mirror above lavatory should be tilted or
lowered. If flat mirror is used, bottom edge should be no greater than
36" from floor.
- A minimum of 5' clear space for wheelchair
maneuvering is desirable.
- Flooring/surfaces should be non-slip type in
both wet and dry conditions.
- A hygiene table may be made if the bathroom
can not be made accessible.
- Offset controls to bathtub for convenience.
- Consider installing a telephone extension in
the bathroom (to facilitate ability to summon assistance if necessary).
- Toilet
- Fixture or seat should be raised.
- A horizontal grab bar should be anchored
adjacent to the toilet at a height of about 33".
- When lavatory and toilet are against the
same wall, there should be a minimum of 4' between centerline of toilet
and edge of lavatory (to accommodate parallel transfers).
- Roll-in Shower Stall
- There should be no curb or threshold at
the entrance.
- While a person in a wheelchair can get
into a 30" X 60" space, the water from the shower cannot be contained in
this small space. When installing a roll-in shower, it is best to
waterproof and tile the entire room and slope the floor to the shower
drain so that the floor area acts as part of the shower.
- Roll-in showers are best made deeper than
30" to provide enough room for wheelchair, shower curtain and elbow
room. (A depth of 42" is desirable.)
- Curtains will help contain water in the
stall.
- Controls should be no higher than 5'.
- Thermostatic controls should be installed
to avoid sudden change in water temperature.
- Flexible hose and hand held shower head
should be installed.
- Horizontal grab bars of 1 and 1/2"
diameter and capable of bearing most of individual's weight should be
installed on each interior wall of the shower at a height of
approximately 2'9".
Miscellaneous
- Carpeting should be low pile, close knit.
- Mirrors should be 48" from floor.
- Light switches should be 42" from floor
(rocker type switches are widely available and very easy to operate.
Models which have a built in light are easily seen in low light
conditions).
- Hallways should be at least 36"
(obstruction-free) and ideally would be 42". There should be 18 to 24" to
side of any in-swinging door.
- Garage or carport should have a 5' wide
clear area on one side of the car's space. There should be a 4' passageway
in front or behind the car's space. An electric garage door opener should
be considered.
- Smoke detectors should be installed on each
level of the home. They should be tested periodically (per manufacturers
directions).
- In homes which heat using gas, propane or
oil, consider placement of carbon monoxide detector/alarm within the main
living space.
Last Updated:
12/04/07 |
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