Kitchen Guildlines

[Hot_wheels]

Hey Guys i've been doing some work developing kitchen guildlines and i just need your input about the stuff you don't agree with and what else you think should be there no matter how small. I'm starting doing the kitchen design now and i will upload the layout later but i just want to make sure i have covered everything. This project i'm doing is for universal design so w/c, BVI, DHI etc needs have to be met, so please be very picky and fussy. I have tried to research all the issues and included my own dramas/ issues but i need more feedback from other levels as i just use a manuel chair so i need a larger range of feedback. Thanks i will keep posting my progress as we go along so everyone can use it.


Kitchen Issues and Solutions


Kitchen - Benches

1) Bench height must be able to cater for a wheelchair user, someone with back problem with limited range or to just a general able body person.
2) The bench edges and corners must not be sharp or pointed to limit injury to young children, wheelchair users, blind or vision impaired and people with behavioural problems
3) It need to provide space and accessibility for wheelchair users, allowing their chair room under the surface to minimise the space between the edge of the bench and their torso
4) There must be large amount of bench space for BVI people who require vast cooking appliances to be on the bench at all times.
5) A reasonable amount of bench space must be accessible for a wheelchair user, and allowing for switches and power points to be reached without overstretching.
6) The bench must be heat resistance, specially between the sink to the oven and hotplate to allow for hot dishes to be slid across safely
7) The bench must have indicators that allow a person to feel by touch alone which section of the bench they are standing at.
8) Consideration should be taken in design that will allow for easier modifications for higher needs that will lower costs.
Solutions

· Automatic or manual height adjustable benches can be used to better suit different users. Have bench spaces/ areas at different heights will also cater for different people, as well as pull out/ temporary benches.
· Bench edges and corners can be round to prevent injury
· Limiting cupboard space under benches or providing more overhang will allow wheelchair more room underneath.
· Bigger, longer benches will allow for more bench space, as well as hidden/ temporary pull out benches.
· Having narrow benches and more space underneath will allow wheelchair user to reach switches made easier.
· Treated beach tops, and heat resistance finishes will protect the bench from heat
· Temporary marks or bumps can be placed at different intervals along the bench to guide the user by feel
· Higher need products can be research to make benches easier to be modified
Handles & Doors

1) Opening doors must be made accessible for all hand functions and limitations
2) Doors are easy to locate and can be distinguished from each other for BVI
3) Open doors need to have limited interference with traffic areas for wheelchairs and BVI
4) Doors under sink must allow for easy access for wheelchairs
Solutions

· Doors with handles can be have different contrasts to help VI people locate them
· Doors with handles, have bigger handles and have more distance between the draw and inside of the handle to accommodate a whole hand
· Doors can be handless and have push opening
· Minimise doors being an obstacle by: doors open 180 degrees, doors fold back into cupboard once open, sliding doors
· Allow doors under sink to be easily removed or folded away, have movable/ mobile cupboards
Sink

1) Pumping under sink must allow spacing for wheelchair
2) Down pipes must not become too hot to protect legs of a wheelchair user
3) Sink height must be the right height to suit all peoples needs
4) The bottom of the sink/ drain and plug must be able to be reached from a seated position
5) The drain can be easily cleaned and waste removed with limited hand function
6) The bottom of the sink can be seen from a seated position, to see everything in sink e.g grime, chucks, dishes
Solutions

· Sink drainage and plumbing is towards the back of the sink to allow more room for the front
· Insulation can be placed around piping to protect against burns
· Height can be adjusted, have dual sinks at different heights, pull out sink
· Have shallower sinks to reduce a person required reach, access under the sink will also allow a person more reach
· Have an easy removable drain grill, or a garbage disposal
· Lower or shallower sink, high polished or reflective steel at the back of the sink so mirror image of the front can be seen.




Oven and Cooktops

1) Able to turn oven/ cook top on or change temperature with limited hand function or for BVI
2) Cook top, oven and door must not produce excessive heat to protect people with limited touch and feel sensation from getting burnt
3) The oven must be the right height to allow a wheelchair user to reach inside the oven and slide items onto a lap tray or bench
4) The cook top must allow cookware to be slid to sink or from sink to cook top
5) The exhaust fans must be able to be accessed
6) The cooktop must be able to be found easily for BVI people without burning hands
Solutions

· Have raised knobs/ controls at the front of the cook top (to reduce stretching) with sounds or clicks to indicate on/off or different temperatures
· Use induction or ceramic ovens to reduce heat coming off the outside of the oven and to the doors
· Have oven set at or near a sitting height, have oven door open downwards 90 degrees or have temporary bench under oven to allow items to be slid onto from the oven
· Cooktop must be near flat with bench with no gaps or large bumps bigger than 10mm
· Switch for exhaust fan must be easy to be reached from a sitting position
· Have slight grooves or a surface change boarding around the cook top area will BVI help with locating
Kitchen – Cupboards & Storage

1) Cupboards spaces need to be accessed without excessive bending or stretching and can be done from a wheelchair
2) Gain access to high storage from a wheelchair position
3) Items in the cupboards can be easily organised and distinguished for VIB people
4) Storage options needed to replace the reduced spacing under benches and sinks for wheelchair access
5) Vision impaired need to be able to distinguish plates, silverware and other items from shelving and backing
6) Shelving within the cupboards must be able to be accessed from a wheelchair
Solutions

· Make sure all cupboards can be reached, lifts and brackets can help cupboards to be moved temporary for better access
· Lower high storage, pull down shelving draws, cupboard lifts to lower and raise
· Storage compartments within draws and cupboards can allow for separation of products and easier organisation
· Split draws can be used under sink without interfering with wheelchair space, mobile storage cupboards can be moved around under bench to create or reduce space, and shelving can be attached to back of sink cupboards doors.
· Having darker colours within cupboards and draws will allow plates and silverware to stand out more and make it easier to locate
· The shelving can be accessed easier by have rotating shelves, pull out doors with shelving attached, drop down or pull out shelving. This will allow user to get full access to all the space within the cupboard
Kitchen – Taps

1) Must be able to be tuned on and off with limited hand function
2) Tap and faucet must be able to be reached from wheelchair with both hands facing towards the sink
3) Temperature of the water can be easily controlled
Solutions

· Taps have large push/ pull handles or pull down hose system
· Having an extendable hose on faucet will allow it to be easier reached and better access around the sink.
· A mixer will allow for the water temperature to be better controlled also a pull down extendable faucet hose will cut off once pressure is released

[Hot_wheels]

Ok how about if i ask it this way. If i designed a kitchen based on the above principles would you be happy to use it or have it in your home?

[Hot_wheels]

Hey I thought I would just post an update on the progress, it is getting to a frustrating stage of the project but I think it’s getting closer to finding the elements of universal design but how we will achieve that and if it is possible is still something that remains open.


I just looked back and realised that I didn’t give too much information about what I am doing and why I am doing this research apart from the obvious. I was approach by an organisation a few months back who work with families who have a disability to manage all that paper work, government and support stuff so people can live a less stressful and frustration life, while also doing house modifications and building standard and accessible houses. The goal they want to achieve is to build more standard houses that are more universal, that will require less modification and suit most people with a disability but an able body would be happy to buy and wouldn’t think twice about the accessibility affecting the look or feel. So I have jumped on board and have been helping out using my experience as well as researching as much as I can, and as I have been around this site for a while I thought I would share the information. The biggest problem with universal design is that everyone seems to be working on it but no one wants to share, which kinda defeats the purpose. :rolleyes:



So where I left off last time, a design was picked from a number of kitchen design options that this company does. The one that was chosen has a large space with a kitchen island which should give more options and should be easier for a wheelchair.


http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae174/silverthorn_photo/uni%20housing/Closeupkitchenoutlay.jpg



Using this outlet I developed three very basic design options that would make this outlay accessible so it would give a better idea about which areas are going to be important is a universal design concept and which layout is going to work best. The products in the design are only there to help work out the outlay and didn’t want to spend too much type finding/ designing the right cupboards or benches until the basics were put in place.


http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae174/silverthorn_photo/uni%20housing/AccessiblemainbenchwithstorageIsland.png



The first design is the basic design we are most use to.


The cupboards doors under the sink and the cooktop have been removed as well as a working space between the sink and cooktop.



The sink is between the oven and cooktop are located on the same bench. The above bench cupboards are lowed in the pic but they should be up high, because that’s what you see in most houses.



The oven is located at bench level, and should be side opening with a pull out bench underneath.



There will be a walk/roll in cupboard beside the oven



The kitchen island is mostly solid and built for extra storage to make up for the lack of storage under the main bench and the cupboards above the bench that can’t be reached. It will also have an overlap like in the picture to allow some w/c work bench but there shouldn’t be a sink on the island

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae174/silverthorn_photo/uni%20housing/BenchtoCeilingcabinetswithaccessibleisland.png



The second is a more extreme accessible design, and is probably more fantasy than reality


The Kitchen island has been built to be lower on one side and incorporate a sink and cook top with a work space in between, while having no cupboards underneath



The main bench has been brought forward to allow spacing behind and to allow the cupboards to sit on the back of the bench and provide bench space in front



The upper cupboards are bench to ceiling high but have moveable/ counter balanced shelving that goes up and down. With the main bench been brought forward the spacing behind the bench allows the shelving to move down so the middle shelving can be accessed while the previous level shelving slides down behind the main bench



The cupboards doors underneath the main sink and cooktop have fold away doors that allow access underneath



The roll in pantry and oven set-up is the same except for the storage above the oven which can have pull down shelving

http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae174/silverthorn_photo/uni%20housing/HighCabinetsandaccessibleisland.png

The third design is something in between of the previous two.


The Kitchen island is accessible but the cooktop isn’t supposed to be in the picture as dual cooktop is a bit over board, but it would still have a small work sink.



The main bench is standard with slide in and away doors under the sink and cooktop, and still has oven <->sink<->cooktop layout



Upper cupboards are standard, but are installed to allow future modifications



The oven is the same with side opening with pull out bench underneath



Has a walk/ roll in pantry

That is three accessible designs that where based on the layout given, from these the important parts will have to be picked out and will have to discuss certain placements.


The man questions I am trying to solve at the moment from a disability view for a standard universal design are:


1) For accessibility and not preference does the cooktop/ bench height have to be lowered if there is access underneath? I’m happy with a standard height bench but always though I have to lower it because most guidelines said it should be, but found many other people design their kitchen with a standard height sink so I’m not sure if it has to be lower or if it’s just one of those “OT guidelines" things like having an oven on the ground.


2) Is it true that the sink does not have to be lowered if there is access under the sink and the pipes are towards the back? I’m starting to think so, I would be happy for just a sink to roll under regardless of height


3) Does high storage above the bench have to be accessed if there is plenty of storage that is accessible down low? I’m thinking no


4) Would it bother you if a dual level kitchen island was accessible on one side and had a breakfast bar on the other side/ higher seating? The kitchen island I wanted was going to be level (all one bench height) just so when you are cooking or washing up people on the other side are sitting down at the same height. But with the cooking and cleaning I put in a sunken accessible area to have a splash back and for ease of installing power points, so is this an issue? or is it just me who hates looking up having chats?



5) Does the cooktop and sink have to be on the same bench/ level to allow for object to be slid and not lifted to and from? Ok this would be easier to design if there could be a cooktop on the main bench and the sink on the island but I believe they both have to be on the island or the main bench.


I will keep you updated as it comes along, please feel free to throw in your opinions :)

[lynnifer]

I didn't read the guidelines because I think this is an individual thing.

CONS:

If I could do my kitchen over again, I would dump the stove and get a wheel under burner area. Separate wall stove at a height that would be convenient for me ... if they come with a sliding door instead of opening outwards - perfect.

Also I hate that my stove is electric with the dials at the back. I can turn them on, but after I turn them off with my reacher to avoid the risk of burning myself. Otherwise I can just barely reach!

I also would have opted for the refrigerator with the freezer door on the bottom. I can't tell you how many times I've caught something falling out of the freezer or got bonked on the head! Very difficult to reach - even with the reacher.

I'm lack for counterspace but it's a 1094sq ft condo so ...

I have all kinds of cupboards I can't reach! There's a neat little mechanical gadget that will slide all shelves down as long as you can reach the bottom one ... but costly! So my cupboards up top remain bare, save for things I'd use once per year.

On my lower cupboards, I'd try to get some sort of drawer system because reaching down and looking into deep cupboards is almost as frustrating and pots/pans are balanced in my pecking order, lol. My sister doesn't understand my system at all when she visits. lol

PROS:

I like that my little kitchen is compact so all I have to do is turn from sink to oven which are across from each other .. with enough of a distance that I don't have to move my chair. Very convenient and probably safer.

I love that I have counter-top across from the fridge so I can reach in and place things there that aren't too far from the sink or oven without moving my chair.

My wheel-under sink! No home is accessible without one! I often see pictures of 'accessible homes' here with only a wheel-under sink in the bathroom .. how the hell can you survive without a wheel-under sink unless someone else does your cooking!?!

Get a dishwasher!

My fan is hooked to a switch in the front of the countertop beside my stove ... this way I can reach it. A light is also wired towards the front. One set of plugs are hard to reach but I keep my toaster and Tassimo beverage maker permanently plugged in there. I have another electrical outlet that was brought forward as well (very important!)

If I think of anything else, I'll come back! I was also on a limited budget, or else there would have been a lot I would have done differently!

[Hot_wheels]

Thanks Lynnifer,

I know what you mean about the sink, i haven't lived any where yet that has a roll under sink in the kitchen and the ones that have it in the bathroom are always lowed which is ok for a manual chair but not so for a shower chair which is higher and i hate to think how a electric chair copes.

I like the compact work areas too, which is why i like the kitchen island work area with a cooktop to the left, a sink to the right and a work space in the middle with maybe a waste hole towards the back. I would be happy to sit there and do most things without having to move too much.

Most places i have live have been standard places with minimal modifications so from my point of view if i found a house or a unit that i could roll under the sink and cooktop, as well as have a oven about a meter off the ground i would be stoked. I woudn't care if the bench height or sink height wasn't lowed or not, but that's my personal feelings.

It always confuses me and makes it complicated when i read that a bench has to be made lower when designing a w/c accessible place, because i would always think there would only be a small amount of people in w/c who would want it lower. I not sure how electric w/c users go with the standard bench heights, but i would think lowering them would be a pain for them. I know everyone will have there preference on a perfect height for them, i know a standard height bench wouldn't be my idea height but i would still find it accessible.

So i guess my question is forgetting about taps and cupboards for now if main stream/standard houses and units (not classed as accessible) were built and design to allow spacing under the sink, under the cooktop for a w/c (but were standard height) and had a oven at a suitable height would the average person here be happy with that? Or does it still need to go further? :dontknow:

Don't get me wrong i would love every building to be 100% accessible with adjustable benches and the works but if there was a lot more places with just these three things i would be much happier but let me know what you think.

[pinkrose]

I want to have nice kitchen, but my kitchen too small to. sad

[jody]

thats a lot of space. I have a tiny kitchen.

pantry is cool.