Recommended specifications
You can find more information regarding ADA compliant specifications HERE
| Specifications | General | Layout | Storage | Countertops | Appliances | Sink |
 |
Appliances |
| Finding an appliance that suits your needs and is appealing can
be a big task, here is a start.
Jenn-aire - gas and electric cook tops, electric ranges Frigidaire - wall oven with swing door, ranges GE Appliances - shallow refrigerator Whirlpool - offer Braille overlays on all their appliances Heartland - ovens and stoves with front controls Dacor - cook tops and ranges |
|
 |
Refrigerator |
| Accessibility is the biggest problem in laying out the location and designing the refrigerator. Due to the tight seal and weight of the refrigerator doors, a significant force and space is required to open and close them. It is best to place it in an open area away from corners and any other obstructions. Large loop handles should be provided for accessibility. If possible a self opening and closing feature is a good idea for disabled individuals with loss of strength and motor coordination. This can best be accomplished with electrical servo motors with a touch sensitive switch. | |
|
Refrigerator use |
| 48" is the maximum height a wheelchair assisted individual can reach. 32-48" wide is recommended due to a lower height of the refrigerator it might be necessary to widen it to allow plenty of storage space. Standard depths are best used if all drawers have a roll out basket feature. This seems to be the best alternative since storage space is lost due to height limitations. | |
|
Side by side refrigerator |
| The best configuration is for the two units (refrigerator/freezer) to sit side by side with their doors opening towards the middle. This allows the wheelchair to pull up next to the refrigerator with the door opening away from the individual allowing maximum access. This feature adapts to limited reach. The drawback is that it is difficult to move items from refrigerator to freezer or vice versa. | |
|
Refrigerator handles |
| Loop handles should be the same dimensions as handrails, 1" and 1/4" to 1" and 1/2" diameter for the hand grip and they should be mounted 1" and 1/2" away from the refrigerator door. These are excellent features for adaptive to degraded motor coordination and visually impaired individuals. | |
|
Dishwasher |
| Dishwasher should be located so it is accessible from either side.
It should be raised off the floor 6" to 8". Controls
for the dishwasher are designed to require little force, and do not require
gripping, twisting or fine finger dexterity. Lever handle or Blade control
knob are excellent controls for setting different types of wash
cycles, but touch pads are better for disabled individuals with loss of finger mobility and strength. Most standard washers are equipped with drop down doors. As an added feature, grip handles are a nice feature for both inside and outside the dishwasher, for ease of opening and closing the dishwasher door. Roll out baskets are standard in most washers so this shouldn't be an addition to an adaptive dishwasher design. If space is a concern, compact dishwashers are available on the market that fit on top of a countertop with the following dimensions: 19.5" high X 21.5" wide X 22.5" deep. These have the standard drop down doors with roll out baskets. |
|
|
Microwave |
| The choice of controls depends upon the disability that is being accommodated. It is important to note that many companies offer optional Braille controls for those who are visually impaired. Controls should provide redundant cueing or feedback to the user in order to be accessible to persons with visual and hearing impairments. Knee space needs to be available to wheelchair users to allow them access to the microwave. Make sure the microwave is placed on a counter top that provides the adequate knee space. A minimum of 10" of clear space must be available immediately adjacent to the microwave to allow for transfer of foods in and out of the microwave. | |
|
Oven |
| A wall oven is the recommended type of oven to be used when accommodating
persons with disabilities. This type of oven can be installed at the most
appropriate height for the user, and the controls can be placed within
reach of a standing or sitting user. Wall ovens come in several widths
(24", 27", 30"). There are three types of doors that can be used: drop
front, side hinged, and swinging doors.
Lowered wall ovens are usually installed 30" - 40" above the floor. When installing the wall oven, it is important to make sure that its height is appropriate for the user. Knee space must be available to wheelchair users to allow them to access the oven. For a drop front door, knee space must be provided on either side of the oven. For a side hinged or swinging door knee space must be provided directly under the oven or on the side closest to the door handle. |
|
|
Cook tops |
| It is recommended that a cook top be used because it can be installed at the most appropriate height for the user, its side or front controls are easily reached by most individuals, and counter installation can allow open space below the cook top for easiest access. It is recommended that the cook top be installed at a height of 30"- 32" above the floor. However, to ensure adequate clear space adjacent to the cook top, make sure the cook top is installed at the same height as the adjacent countertop. Knee space needs to be available for wheelchair users to allow them to access the cook top. Ideally, space should be available under the cook top to allow easiest access. | |
|
Cook top controls |
| Controls should never be located at the rear
of the unit! Controls
should be located on or near the front of the cooking unit. This ensures that there is no need to reach over or around any burners. Also, controls located near or at the front are more accessible for persons with visual impairments. There are several different types of controls that can be used with the cook top. The choice of control type should be based on the individual's disability. |
|
|
Cook top safety |
| Install the cooking unit close to the sink so that the spray hose can reach some of the burners. Cooking units that have flush burners should be situated so that pots and pans can be slid from the cooking surface to the counter without having to be lifted. The burners, cook top, and counters should be at a smooth common level no more than 1/8" raised edge. Burners should be staggered so the user does not have to reach over a hot burner to get to a rear burner. Placing an angled mirror over the cook top allows those in wheelchairs to see the contents of pots. | |
|
Cook top exhaust hood |
| Controls for the range hood should be located on the lower front
panel of the hood to decrease the reach range requirements for operation.
However, it is recommended that these controls be located on the cook top
panel or in nearby base cabinets just below the countertop.
To adapt existing controls located on the range hood itself, a conventional toggle switch can be installed at a lower position as an auxiliary control. The hood controls should be set and left on so that the toggle switch can be used for ON/OFF operation. |
|
|
Sink |
| The recommended countertop height is is 27" to 34" from the finished
floor to the underside of the countertop. The upper limit was chosen for
the sink height assuming the bowl depth at 6.5" deep. This allows ample
knee space for a wheelchair assisted individual.
The shallow basin allows the 27" minimum knee height from the finished floor to the bottom of the sink necessary for a wheelchair assisted individual. The maximum depth reach for a wheelchair assisted person is 44", so there is plenty of margin to reach beyond the back of the sink (20"). The wheelchair is generally 26" wide, so a recommended 36" is a comfortable number. |
| Specifications | General | Layout | Storage | Countertops | Appliances | Sink |
For service in the New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
or Connecticut area Please call DiaDot @ 973-875-5669
or fax us @ 973-875-5634
| Home | Home Renovations | Cabinets | Grab bars | Resources |
| Business
Renovations |
This network can be reached at:
DiaDot.com
DiaDot -P.O box 113 - Sussex, New Jersey - 07461 -
bldg.22 - (973) 875-5669
web design by Wazu