UNIVERSAL DESIGN

UNIVERSAL DESIGN CRITERIA ,Armando Cobo, Designer
2113 Black Willow Drive NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112
505.884.3308

Universal design features increase the usability of the home by people of all ages, sizes, and abilities and enhance the ability of all residents to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

Exterior
• Low-maintenance exterior (stucco, steel or vinyl siding, brick or stone)
• Low-maintenance shrubs and plants
• Deck, patio or balcony surfaces are no more than ½” below interior floor level if made of wood

Overall Floor Plan
• Main living on a single story, including full bath
• No steps between rooms/areas on the same level
• 5’ x 5’ clear/turn space in living area, kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom

Hallways
• Minimum of 42” wide, wider preferred
• Well lit

Entries
• Accessible path of travel to the home
• At least one no-step entry with a cover
• Sensor light at exterior no-step entry focusing on the front-door lock
• 36” door min. at entry with levered hardware
• Non-slip flooring in foyer
• Entry door sidelight or high/low peep hole viewer; sidelight should provide both privacy and safety.
• Doorbell in accessible location
• Surface to place packages on when opening door
• Exterior thresholds maximum of ½” beveled

Interior Doors
• There needs to be 32” of clear width, which requires a 34” door min.
• Levered door hardware

Windows
• Plenty of windows for natural light
• Lowered windows or taller windows with lower sill height
• Low maintenance exterior and interior finishes
• Easy to operate hardware

Garage or Carport
• Covered carports and boarding spaces
• Wider than average carports to accommodate lifts on vans
• Door heights may need to be 9’-0” to accommodate some raised roof vans
• 5’ minimum access aisle between accessible van and car in garage
• If code requires floor to be several inches below entrance to house for fume protection, can slope entire floor from front to back to eliminate need for ramp or step
• Ramp to doorway if needed
• Handrail if steps

Faucets
• Lever handles or pedal-controlled
• Thermostatic or anti-scald controls
• Pressure balanced faucets

Kitchen and Laundry Counters
• Wall support and provision for adjustable and/or varied height counters and removable base cabinets
• Upper wall cabinetry - 3” lower than conventional height
• Accented stripes on edge of countertops to provide visual orientation to the workspace
• Counter space for dish landing adjacent to or opposite all appliances
• Base cabinet with roll out trays and lazy susans
• Pull-down shelving
• Glass-front cabinet doors
• Open shelving for easy access to frequently used items
• At least one wheelchair maneuverable bath on main level with 60” turning radius or acceptable T-turn space and 36” x 36” or 30” x 48” clear space
• Multi-level work areas to accommodate cooks of different heights
• Open under-counter seated work areas
• Placement of task lighting in appropriate work areas
• Loop handles for easy grip and pull
• Pull-out spray faucet; levered handles
• In multi-story homes, laundry chute or laundry facilities in master bedroom/bathroom
• Wall support and provision for adjustable and/or varied height counters and removable base

Bathrooms
• Bracing in walls around tub, shower, shower seat and toilet for installation of grab bars to support 250 - 300 pounds
• If stand-up shower is used in main bath, it is curbless and minimum of 36” wide
• Showers with fold down seat, adjustable handheld showerheads and 6’ hose, tub/shower controls offset from center, shower stall with built-in antibacterial protection, light in shower stall and levered handles
• Bathtub/showers - lower for easier access and have a 30”x60” parallel and 48”x60” forward approachable area
• Water closets with 33” min clearance along wall, 2 ½” higher than standard toilet (17” to 19") or height-adjustable, have a 66”x48” forward and 56”x48” side approachable area
• Design of the toilet paper holder allows rolls to be changed with one hand
• Wall-hung sink with knee space and panel to protect user from pipes
• At least one sink is 34” max. measured to the top of the rim and a 30”x48” parallel or forward approach with knee clearance
• At least one bathroom must have a 32” of clear width, which requires a 34” door min.
• Slip-resistant flooring in bathroom and shower

Appliances
• Easy to read controls
• Washing machine and dryer raised 12” - 15” above floor
• Front loading laundry machines
• Microwave oven at counter height or in wall
• Side-by-side refrigerator/freezer
• Side-swing or wall oven
• Raised dishwasher with pushbutton controls
• Electric cook top with level burners for safety in transferring between the burners, front controls and downdraft feature to pull heat away from user; light to indicate when surface is hot

Stairways, Lifts and Elevators
• Adequate hand rails on both sides of stairway, 1 ¼” diameter
• Increased visibility of stairs through contrast strip on top and bottom stairs, color contrast between treads and risers on stairs and use of lighting
• Multi-story homes may provide either pre-framed shaft (ie. stacked closets) for future elevator, or stairway width must be minimum of 4’ feet to allow space for lift
• Residential elevator or lift

Ramps
• Slope no greater than 1” rise for each 12” in length, adequate handrails
• 5’ landing provided at entrance
• 2” curbs for safety

Storage
• Adjustable closet rods and shelves
• Lighting in closets
• Easy open doors that do not obstruct access

Electrical, Lighting, Safety and Security
• Light switches by each entrance to halls and rooms
• Light receptacles with at least 2 bulbs in vital places (exits, bathroom)
• Light switches, thermostats and other environmental controls placed in accessible locations no higher than 48” from floor
• Electrical outlets 15” o.c. from floor; may need to be closer than 12’ apart
• Clear access space of 30” x 48” in front of switches and controls
• Rocker or touch light switches
• Audible and visual strobe light system to indicate when the doorbell, telephone or smoke or CO2 detectors have been activated
• High-tech security/intercom system that can be monitored, with the heating, air conditioning and lighting, from any TV in the house
• Easy-to-see and read thermostats
• Pre-programmed thermostats
• Flashing porch light or 911 switch
• Direct wired to police, fire, and EMS (as option)
• Home wired for security
• Home wired for computers

Flooring
• Smooth, non-glare, slip-resistant surfaces, interior and exterior
• If carpeted, use low (<.50" high pile) density, with firm pad
• Color/texture contrast to indicate change in surface levels

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
• HVAC should be designed so filters are easily accessible
• Windows that can be opened for cross ventilation, fresh air

Other Ideas
• Water based paints, finishes and other wet materials with zero or nearly zero VOC content
• Separate apartment for future caregiver
• Flex room that can used as a nursery or playroom when the children are young and as a home office later; if combined with a full bath, room could also be used for an aging parent/aging in place

Excellence in Remodeling Contest

The Santa Fe Remodeler’s Council will hold its 10th annual “Excellence in Remodeling Contest”.  The awards will be presented at the Home & Remodeling Show, Saturday April 28 at 2:00 pm.

The contest is held every year and has a three year look back period.  Make plans now to enter the 2008 contest.  The benefit to your company from this public exposure is priceless.  Being able to use “award winning” in your advertising raises credibility and trust level with potential customers.  It ratchets up confidence by being able to say that the quality of your companies’ work is the best Santa Fe has to offer.  Win or loose, entering projects into the contest allows you to increase profitably by having a larger pool of quality leads to choose from.  Your product and services become in demand, guess what, customers don’t mind paying more for quality products and services offered by an award winning builder.

Armed with your camera, remember to capture the all important “before”, “during” and “after” photos for entries. Catagories will range from; additions, kitchens ; baths, whole house remodels & hardscape development, to decks, portals and closets.

The success of the event is a result of diligent work by the Council, staff and entrants who participate. The Resource Guide: Haciendas-Home/Design/Remodel which feature the Excellence Contest Entries has become the premier reference for anyone considering remodeling.  Awards will be given in a public presentation at 2:00pm Saturday during the Home & Remodel Show on April 28th 2007 in the Genoveva Chavez Center The project portfolios are on display in the Remodeler’s Council’s booth April 28th & 29th 2007 for the public to see. 

So, if you’re ready to take your remodeling company to the next level, join the Remodelers Council Now, get involved by attending our informative and delicious monthly luncheons and plan on entering a project or two in the 11th annual Excellence in Remodeling Contest!

We thank the 2007 contest sponsors for their support: Brother Sun, Big Jo Hardware, Pittman Brothers, Coronado Paint and Decorating, Designing Women, Southwest Home Loans, Inc, Milestone Inc., The Firebird, and Pages Appliance.

The 2007 Excellence in Remodeling Contest [Acrobat PDF]