Universal Design Living

Universal Design
and ADA Standards
Creating Spaces to Serve All
People All the Time
Course # IMA06C
© MASCO Cabinetry 2014
Course Description
In this one-hour course, we will discuss the
transformation within the building design industry
and professions over past decades, comparing
Universal Design (UD) with designing to conform to
the ADA.
We will introduce the principles of UD and survey
design elements, innovations, and strategies that
make more accessible, user-friendly spaces.
Finally, we will discuss ADA 2010 standards,
identifying requirements for bathrooms and
kitchen areas.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the design professional
will be able to:
• Discuss how accessible design for all user types
enhances the lives of people occupying such a space
and why it is important to design for all life-stages
• Compare and contrast Universal Design with
designing for ADA, UFAS and FHA
• Identify the principles of UD and explain various
design elements, innovations, and strategies for
making more accessible, user-friendly spaces
• Discuss ADA 2010 standards and identify
requirements for various spaces such as bathrooms
and kitchen areas
INTRODUCTION
Designing for All Users
Design should be comprehensive
Account for longevity and associated life
stages and user types
Goes beyond designing in preparation for
old age to all types of users
To be Universally Designed, all possible
inhabitants need to be considered
Universal Design Definition
Universal Design produces buildings, spaces, and furnishings that are
accessible, adaptable, and universal
ACCESSIBLE
Easy to approach, enter, operate, participate in, and/or use safely
and with dignity
ADAPTABLE
Adapts easily and relatively cheaply to fully comply with
accessibility requirements
UNIVERSAL
Inherently accessible to people of all ages,
with and without physical disabilities
Life Stages & Phases
Each life stage poses different roles and space utilization needs for family members
parents
--
REAL ESTATE
bedroom,
parent’s bedroom,
kitchen
--
MAJOR LIFE
EVENT
birth, walking,
grade school
DECISION
MAKER
emerging self
(+) variety
--
REAL ESTATE
bedroom,
family room,
friend’s
house
--
MAJOR LIFE
EVENT
first relationship,
high school,
driver’s license
DECISION
MAKER
individual
(+) friends
--
REAL ESTATE
dorm room,
first apartment,
first home, car
--
MAJOR LIFE
EVENT
college/first job,
first love/serious
relationship
ADULT
ELDER
DECISION
MAKER
DECISION
MAKER
individual
(+) partner
--
REAL ESTATE
apartment,
condo,
first home,
second home,
vacation home,
empty nest
--
MAJOR LIFE
EVENT
marriage (2x),
divorce, children
ADULTHOOD II
DECISION
MAKER
ADOLESCENT
EMERGING ADULTHOOD
CHILD
YOUNG
ADULT
individual
(+) offspring
--
REAL ESTATE
own home,
(kitchen/bath/bed)
retirement living,
offspring home,
assisted living, CCR
--
MAJOR LIFE
EVENT
grandchildren,
retirement, illness,
death
UD- Evolve With Demographics
The ability to reach objects
and navigate spaces
impacts:
• the aging and young
• pregnant mothers
• wounded warriors
• injured athletes
UD- Evolve With Demographics
Traditionally-designed
homes can make
navigation difficult
Federal Acts
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
•
•
•
•
Accessibility of public facilities
Housing provided by public entities
Common use areas in residential developments
All places of public accommodation
Fair Housing Act (FHA)
•
•
•
Private dwelling units and common areas
All multifamily projects for sale or rent
All or some units (depending on existence of an elevator)
Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS)
•
•
•
All housing projects with federal funding (5+ units attached)
5% of units be accessible for persons with mobility disabilities
2% be accessible to persons with hearing or vision disabilities
Compliance
The burden of compliance
could be on the architect,
engineer or builder
ADA HISTORY AND 2010 STANDARDS
Introduction to the ADA
• Signed into law in 1990
by George Bush Sr.
• Established the ADA
Accessibility Guidelines
– Implemented during
design, construction, and
alteration of buildings &
facilities
• The most current
implementation are the
2010 ADA standards
2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design
• The 2004 ADAAG updated from the 1991 version to better
align with the International Building Code
The ADA Standards of 2010 are
comprised of two components:
AND
• Respective chapters of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) depending on whether the project is covered under
Title II (government) or Title III (private sector) of the ADA
Simple Steps to Remove Existing Barriers
Widen doors
Install ramps
Install accessible door/cabinetry hardware
Install grab bars in toilet rooms
Increase maneuvering space
Remove obstructing furniture
Insulate pipes under sinks to prevent burns
Install cabinetry with higher toe kick to
allow wheelchair users closer access
• Install well organized, easy-to-reach storage
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Application
Note that UFAS and FHA
standards are very
similar
Compliant Shower
ADA Circulation Path
ADA Maneuverability and Turning
Clear Width at Turns
Clear Width of Doorways
Manual Swinging Door Clearances
Knee Clearance
Fig. 31
Knee and Toe Clearance
Toekick Height
• Toekick space is no
longer calculated as
part of the clear space
or turning radius
• Standard toekick
height makes it
aesthetically pleasing
Removable Sink Bases
• Removable sink base area is important
• Should be quick and easy action to remove and reinstall
• If plumbing panel is not desired, should have that option
Reach Ranges
Reach Ranges
ADA vs UD
• Minimum level of accessibility achieved
through ADA Standards for Accessible Design
• Universal Design may be more
comprehensive
• A Universal approach would be to design the
space to accommodate people of different
age groups
ADA vs UD
Demographic Trends
• Americans keep a home for 5-7 years
• Majority of ‘Boomers’ and ½ of ‘Gen X’
keep home for up to 10 years
• Result in home improvement increase
• Design and equip the home to meet the
needs of all life stages
The Wellness Transformation
The Evolution of Collective Interest in Health & Wellness*
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
Transitioning to holistic,
positive and experiential
approach (Dr. Oz, Oprah)
Health-only focus of the 80s
Wellness Transformation
+
Wellness Universe Emerges
The “Big Bang”
x
Health
*Strictly for heuristic purposes; not based on numerical data
Source: © The Hartman Group; Reimagining Health and Wellness 2010
America’s Aging Population Today…
…and Tomorrow
Facts on Aging America
• 10,000 reach retirement age every day—this will continue
SOURCE: Mayo Clinic Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging
for 20 years
• By 2030, about one in five people in the United States will
SOURCE: Mayo Clinic Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging
be over 65
• Two-thirds of all people ever to reach the age of 65 are
SOURCE: “Boom! Understanding Baby Boomer,” The Sound,
alive today
September 2011
• Over the next 20 years, 74 million Boomers will retire in the
U.S. alone
SOURCE: “Boom! Understanding Baby Boomer,” The Sound,
September 2011
• If you reach 65, average male life expectancy is 81 and
female is 84
SOURCE: “Understanding Life Expectancy,” Kaye Thomas
Top 10 Reasons for Multi-generational Living
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Economic depression
Job loss and unemployment
Relocation for employment
Baby Boomer retirement
Ethnic traditions
Adult children returning home (‘re-nesting’)
Single parent with children returning home
Caregiving for an aging/widowed parent
Damage to home (natural disaster/mold)
Caregiving for an injured/disabled family member
THE 7 PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL
DESIGN
1. Equitable Use
2. Flexibility in Use
3. Simple & Intuitive
4. Perceptible Information
5. Tolerance for Error
6. Low Physical Effort
Raised Dishwasher
7. Size and Space
Cooking, eating, cleanup areas allow sitting during activities
A great floor plan for multi-tasking
UNIVERSAL DESIGN CHECKLIST
Getting In and Out
• Must feel safe, secure, and
in control
• Replace entry stairs with
sloped walkways or ramps
• Safety and condition of entry
stairs and railings can be
enhanced
• Electric porch lifts can be
used
Leader and Guide
1 Think of all of life’s phases
2 Learn which everyday activities and interests are
most important to your client
3 Explore how to adapt mainstream products to
specific needs
4 Foster discussion on quality of life with the client’s
physical, emotional, and social needs in mind
Create Drop Zones That Work
Moving Through the House
• Identify and prepare a
clear, safe, well-lit path
through the house
• To avoid stairs, change
the room configuration
on main floor or add a lift
• Consider clear pathways
in the kitchen
Open Floor Plan
Combine rooms that connect people to spaces
Use of Bedroom and Bathroom
• Think safety, ease of use, and independence when designing
bedrooms and baths
• Good design makes it easier and safer for caregivers to assist
• Features include:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
lighting
grips/grab bars
curbless shower
tub seats and lifts
roll-under sinks
reachable storage
extra space
‘Wet Room’ Bathroom
Eating and Meal Preparation
For those who cook, kitchens can have:
• multiple height work surfaces
• seated cooking stations
• better task lighting
Eating and Meal Preparation (cont’d)
Optimize Storage and Access
Entertainment and Relaxation
Solutions may be as
simple as:
• rearranging furniture
• providing rest spots
and grips
• providing a lift chair
• clearing clutter
• providing a better
lamp or additional
light switches
Entertainment and Relaxation (cont’d)
Household Management
‘Instrumental activity
of daily living’
Concerns services or
assistance as well as
space for doing daily
activities
Household Management (cont’d)
Working from Home
Enjoying the Outdoors
Outdoor spaces
and activities can
be important
UD organizes
outdoor spaces to
support activities
that are important
to the homeowner
ADA/FHA/UFAS Kitchen & Bath Guide
• When designing a kitchen or bath that is
required to comply with ADA/FHA/UFAS
Kitchen & Bath Guidelines:
– Bid exactly what the blueprints’ interior
elevations or guidance from the architect
defines
– If you do not have this guidance make sure you
detail exactly what you designed, and require a
sign off from the architect before moving
forward with deliveries
Kitchen & Bath Guide (cont’d)
• 30” minimum required for sink or vanity
opening
• Use a valance or filler
• Bottom of valance or filler must be 27”
minimum above the finished floor (AFF)
• 34” overall height is required in many
bathrooms. Select a 21”reduced depth
modification on the specified 32.5” tall bath
cabinet
Kitchen & Bath Guide (cont’d)
Some variations:
• A sink and work surface at 34” overall height in the
kitchen could be removable or open underneath
• 36” overall height throughout kitchen with a
removable sink base cabinet and potentially a
removable cabinet at a designated work surface area
• 34” overall height throughout the kitchen
• If guidelines require 34” overall height including the
sink rim, countertops should be reduced thickness
vs. cabinetry
Kitchen & Bath Guide (cont’d)
When sink is open underneath, plumbing is
required to be insulated but not covered
If the project is:
• cost sensitive - it should be optional
• not cost sensitive - provides finished look
Review ADA & UD
ADA
Universal Design
• Minimum requirements
• A way of thinking about design
• Not the ideal personal plan
• Thoughtful design that relates
to the user of the space based
• Codes and rules as guidelines
on their own personal needs
not individually related
and/or their family’s needs
• Clearance and access to being
• Does not have to be restrictive
functional from a wide
or cost more money than a
audience
standard approach to design
• Works for all ages
• A custom solution to a person
and their family vs. a one-fits-all
solution
Summary
Having completed this course, the design professional is
now able to:
• Discuss how accessible design for all user types
enhances the lives of people occupying such a space
and why it is important to design for all life-stages
• Compare and contrast Universal Design with
designing for ADA, UFAS and FHA
• Identify the principles of UD and explain various
design elements, innovations, and strategies for
making more accessible, user-friendly spaces
• Discuss ADA 2010 standards and identify
requirements for various spaces such as bathrooms
and kitchen areas
QUESTIONS?
The next 10 minutes will be focused on discussing the course material.
Universal Design
and ADA Standards
Creating Spaces to Serve All
People All the Time
Course # IMA06C
© MASCO Cabinetry 2014