Safety
2.51 General - General safety encompasses both the external approach to the dwelling and circulation/movement within the dwelling. Most accidents in the home happen to children and elderly people and are caused by human error and bad design. Good design can help prevent many accidents from occurring both internally and externally. Designing for safety should commence at the stage the Client or Client’s representative is preparing the Design Brief.
2.52 External Environment – there are many ways the external environment can be designed to improve safety. However there can be some conflict in trying to achieve both a safe and secure environment and it is important that a balance between these is achieved. Issues to be considered include:
- Free and unobstructed access/egress should be provided;
- The use of steps should be minimised;
- Access paths should be well illuminated;
- Changes of level should be avoided or designed out where possible;
- Fences and gates designed to discourage small children to climb or open;
- Adequate falls to paths should be provided for drainage purposes.
2.53 Internal Environment – as most accidents occur within the home, adequate circulation and movement around the home should be considered for various activities and additional space requirements should be provided for people with disabilities. The following lists design criteria in checklist form:
2.54 Circulation:
- Avoid placing doors of rooms and cupboards that obstruct stairs, landings and circulation areas generally;
- The layout should provide for circulation commensurate with the specific needs of the occupants;
- Slip resistant floor finishes should be provided in kitchens, bathrooms and on communal stairs;
- Adequate natural and artificial lighting should be provided within all rooms, stairs and circulation areas both private and communal;
- Roof space access hatches are not to be located over or at the head of stairs;
- Ensure that windows, stairwell walls and ceilings are easily reached for cleaning and decorating purposes;
- Straight stair flights are preferable to dog-leg or ‘L’ shaped; Tapered Stair Types are not acceptable.
- The banisters or other rails should be sufficiently spaced to prevent injury or accident;
- Two-way switches should be provided and lighting points so positioned as to be easily accessible for replacement of bulbs. A light pendant should not be positioned at head of stairs.
2.55 Living Room:
- Where solid fuel appliances or fixed electric fires are provided, fixing provision for adequate guards should be provided;
- Socket outlets positioned for ease of access, particularly when considering placement of electrical appliances and the need for connection/disconnection.
2.56 Kitchen:
- Kitchens should be designed to reduce the risk of burns, cuts, scalds, and electrocution from occurring;
- Sockets should be located far enough away from the sink to prevent touching these whilst occupant is washing up;
- A child resistant lockable medicine cabinet or lockable household cleaners cabinet/store should be located out of the reach of children;
- The kitchen layout should provide a work sequence of work surface/cooker/work surface/sink/work surface unbroken by doors, through circulation or tall fitments;
- The cooker space should not be positioned under or immediately adjacent to a window and should be at least 300 mm from a corner base unit;
- There should be enough space to open the fridge, oven and cupboard doors safely;
- There should be a minimum of 1000 mm clear space in front of kitchen equipment;
- Slip resistant floor finish should be provided in kitchens.
2.57 Bathroom:
- Associations must ensure that the bathroom door is outward opening AND ensure that locks on WC and bathroom doors are ‘openable’ from the outside in an emergency;
- Baths should not be positioned directly under windows;
- Slip resistant surfaces in baths, showers and on bathroom floors should be provided to reduce falls;
- Consideration to be given to the positioning of grab rails for disabled and elderly;
- Position radiators/heat source directly away from WCs where children may easily get burned.
2.58 Windows/Glazing etc:
- All windows above first floor should be capable of being cleaned from the inside of the property;
- Restrictors should be fitted to all windows to limit opening to 100 mm;
- Location of window locks, handles and general ironmongery should be suitable for the elderly and disabled persons.
- The design of the frame and sash should be sufficient to prevent unauthorised access while offering reasonable safety and protection for the occupants. Consider in all circumstances the opening/closing mechanism, action of the window (i.e. open inwards or open outwards) and its potential to cause accident or injury;
- The function of some windows is to provide means of escape in the event of a fire. Special locks/restrictors must be considered important in such circumstances. However all windows should provide for ease of opening;
- Ensure that low-level glazing meets the Building Regulations (NI) Technical Booklet ‘V’ Glazing;
2.59 Other:
- Site planning should take into account fire spread between dwellings, access to the buildings by fire appliances and the safety of escape routes outside the building.
- The need for automatic fire detection and alarms will depend on the overall nature of the development and should be determined in consultation with Building Control and, if required, the Fire Authority. Part E of the Building Regulations (NI) identifies the specific legislative requirements covering structural fire precautions, means of escape and detection/alarm systems
- Information on thermostatic controlled hot water supply is available on www.tmva.org.uk
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