POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Chapter 14 LIFETIME HOMES: ACHIEVING ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL Thu. Kim, Hee-jin

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Contents  Introduction  Accessibility in the UK  Lifetime Homes Standards  Government Regulations  Some Comments from Experience  Conclusions 2

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Introduction 3 Accessible Home! Universally designed Housing! New Regulations → all new housing to be accessible to everyone, including elderly people and people with disabilities ( )

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Accessibility in the UK 4  The UK’s Building Regulations – have required new public buildings to be accessible – now “Part M” has been extended to residential buildings make all new homes more accessible and convenient For most homes, no extra expenditure should be needed It can be achieved by good design and within the same footprint Government is supporting the National House Building Council With very little extra expense, but a bit more thought, Lifetime Homes can be created which go further than the government’s new requirements

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Lifetime Homes Standards 5  16 Lifetime Homes Standards – devised by a working group organized by the Joseph Rowntree – make all new homes more accessible from the outset – also make them easy to adapt, if required, at a later date – was not compulsory → now adopted by the housing Corporation  The cost of incorporating Lifetime Homes standards varies according to the site, specification, and size of the dwelling – The smallest homes are the most problematic £ 50,000 £ 75,000 £ 1,500 £ 250

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory 6 Lifetime Homes Standards 1.Where there is a car parking adjacent to the home, it should be, or should be capable of enlargement to attain, 3300 mm in width 2.The distance from the car parking space to the home should be kept to a minimum and should be level or gently sloping 3.The approach to all entrances should be level or gently sloping 4.Entrances should: a.Be illuminated b.Have level access over the threshold c.Have a covered main entrance 5.a. Communal stairs should provide easy access b. Where homes are reached by an elevator, it should be fully wheelchair accessible 6.The widths of the doorways and hallways should conform to the specifications in the next column 7.There should be space for turning a wheelchair in dining areas and living rooms and adequate circulation space for wheelchair users elsewhere 8.The living room should be at entrance level 9.In houses of two or more stories, there should be space on the entrance level that could be used as a convenient bed space

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory 7 Lifetime Homes Standards 10.There should be: a. A wheelchair-accessible entrance-level toilet room b. Drainage provision enabling a shower to be fitted in the future 11.Walls in bathrooms and toilets should be capable of taking adaptations such as handrails 12.The design should incorporate: a. Provision for a future stair lift b. A suitably identified space for a through-the-floor lift from the ground to the first floor for example, to a bedroom next to a bathroom 13.The design should provide for a reasonable route for a potential hoist from a main bedroom to the bathroom 14.The bathroom should be designed to incorporate ease of access to the bath, toilet, and wash basin 15.Living room window glazing should begin at 800 mm or lower and windows should be easy to open/operate 16.Switches, sockets, ventilation, and service controls should be at a height usable by all (i.e. between 450 and 1200 mm from the floor)

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Lifetime Homes Standards 8  The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust has built 600 homes, of differing sizes, in accordance with the Lifetime Homes standards With careful attention to detail, the standards can be achieved within the same footprint Costs are not material for average family homes The Lifetime Homes standards will accommodate most wheelchair users, allowing not just visibility but permanent occupation of the property Older people & people with disabilities are able to stay in their own homes for longer, saving themselves

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Government Regulations 9 Construction minister  Revised Building Regulations (Part M) were published in October 1998  As of October 1999, all new homes must meet these requirements improve the accessibility and convenience of new housing for everyone reduce future costs either for adaptations or for residential care

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Government Regulations 10 The approach to the house should be wide enough for wheelchair users, even when there is a parked car on the right-hand side The approach should not be too steep; ideally, it should be level An accessible threshold at entrance level should be provided Doorways and corridors should be wide enough to allow wheelchair users to maneuver into and out of rooms Communal stairs in blocks of flats should provide ease of access to people with disabilities who are ambulant A stepped change of level within an entrance story should allow ease of access to people with disabilities than who are ambulant Wheelchair users should be able to use any elevator provided in a block of flats Switches and sockets should be at a convenient height for all All homes should have an entrance-level toilet room which is accessible to someone using a wheelchair

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Some Comments from Experience 11  Outside the Home Flexible space between houses – When building detached houses side by side, it is not necessary for there to be a width of twice the required maximum(3300mm) between them

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Some Comments from Experience 12  Outside the Home Level access from car to entrance – In achieving a gentle approach to entrances, some sites are so steep that steps are unavoidable, but level access can still be achieved from the car parking space

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Some Comments from Experience 13  Inside the Home Access to ground-floor toilet – The government regulations require an accessible toilet room on the ground floor for all houses

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Some Comments from Experience 14  Inside the Home Enjoying the view while seated – Windows in living rooms should begin at 800mm or lower and should be easy to open and operate

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Some Comments from Experience 15  Inside the Home Heights for switches, outlets, and controls – Most wheelchair users, and many people who find it difficult to bend and stretch, particularly appreciate the convenience of switches and socket outlets that are easy to reach

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Conclusions 16  This chapter has spelled out the arrangements which have emerged for achieving accessibility for all, by law, in the UK No increase in house prices is expected In the long term, savings in the costs of adaptations and/or time spent in residential care or special accommodation Of course, the great majority of homes are already constructed, and the new measures do not apply to existing property It will take many years for truly accessible housing to represent the majority of all accommodation. Concentration on better access to all new homes should increase consumer understanding of the issues and heighten demand for better accessibility in old homes

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Appendix  Lifetime Homes Standards 17

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Appendix  Lifetime Homes Standards 18

POSTECH H uman S ystem D esign Lab oratory Appendix  Government Regulations 19