BEFORE THE ARCHITECT – DREAM HOME DESIGNING BACKGROUND – UNIQUE HOME DESIGNING ARTICLES
HOME SAFETY TIPS
By Before The Architect Copyright 2009 Before The Architect
It is not my self-concept that clients darken my doorstep for salvation. Before The Architect
INTRODUCTION TO DREAM HOME PASSAGE SAFETY
Comment: Note well that there are entries herein under that reside here only, and others that repeat items otherwise herewith because the AG thinks they’re worth repeating. The point bears repeating: safety design conflicts should be resolved on house plans and not in dream home safety hazards.
1) An active travel pattern
a) shall not be obstructed, or conflicted, by an open oven door
b) shall not be obstructed, or in conflict with an open dishwasher door
c) shall not be obstructed as by an island or peninsula
d) shall not be obstructed by a sink stand
e) shall not be obstructed by a chair
f) shall not be obstructed by a desk
g) shall not be obstructed by anything else, including but not limited to table, floor lamp, bookcase, etc.
2) Wherever possible, a door shall open such that the leading edge, or stile, does not face into the predominant direction of traffic flow (which is usually directed outward from the house core) or nearest outside corner
3) Door-to door –
a) shall not conflict anywhere within a residence or detached structure
b) failing which
i) doors shall conflict back-to-back or otherwise so as to minimize physically blocking a passageway
ii) except that doors shall not conflict within 5 linear feet in all directions of all exterior passageways extant or potential, including doors and windows
c) shall, for exterior doors, be of not less than the following thickness, or depth
i) wood, flush, solid core – 1 ¾ linear inches
ii) wood, paneled, solid core – 1 ¾ linear inches rails and stiles, panels 3/8 linear inches in thicker areas and panels ¼ linear inches in thinner areas
iii) metal-sheathed – 16 gage
d) shall be hinged at exterior and other security areas, either
i) such that pins are to the interior, or secured area or
ii) such that pins are permanently installed, i.e., are not removable, either
(1) by manufacture or
(2) by hinge enforcers
iii) with solid full-depth blocking behind each butt
iv) with fasteners penetrating that blocking and into structure to not less than 1 linear inch
e) shall on each exterior door (including each attic access way) be secured with a deadbolt, which deadbolt
i) shall be hardened
ii) shall throw not less than 1 linear inch
iii) shall embed not less than ¾ linear inches
3) Physical conflict shall be prohibited between
a) door-drawer
b) drawer-cabinet
c) drawer-appliance
d) drawer-drawer
4) An exterior door or window
a) shall have frames fastened on all sides
i) securely to structure
ii) with solid, full-depth blocking behind each butt
iii) with fasteners penetrating that blocking and into structure to not less than 1 linear inch
b) shall, for doors, have hinge butt fasteners
i) securely attached to structure
ii) with solid, full-depth blocking behind each butt
iii) with fasteners penetrating that blocking and into structure to not less than 1 linear inch
c) shall be protected from mechanical access at their lock cylinders
i) with lock cylinder guards or
ii) hinge enforcers
d) may be protected from mechanical access at their strike plate and bolt by a security box
e) shall be mechanically, temporarily protected on the interiors from removal by raising if able to be raised for removal
f) shall be at the strike plate
i) securely attached to structure
ii) with solid, full-depth blocking behind each butt,
g) may be protected from mechanical access by a security box
i) with fasteners penetrating that blocking and into structure to not less than 1 linear inch
h) shall be not less than three-point locked for exterior French or exterior double doors
i) may be glazed with shatterproof glass or polycarbonate
j) may be protected from mechanical access by a security box
5) Hinge butt fasteners on the jamb side shall be securely attached to structure and have solid, full-depth blocking
6) A room, even a closet suitable for occupancy
a) wherever located
b) shall have 2 exits
c) 1 of which may be either
i) an emergency window egress
ii) another interior, occupiable space
7) Cabinet door knobs and drawer knobs shall not be constructed such that they hook, snag, or catch garments and goods of passers-by
8) A kitchen work triangle shall not intersect an active travel pattern
Kitchen Mistake #1
Comment: Note well, please that the main sink stand in this kitchen is separated from the stove top (and ovens) by an island. The artifice oft seen to get around what could be considered by some to be lousy designing is to put a bar-sized, wash-up, prep, smaller sink directly accessible from the stove top. In these custom dream home designers’ opinion – more lousy design . . . as in getting caught and showing remorse.
9) The path between wall ovens of any sort and a kitchen work triangle shall not intersect an active travel pattern
Kitchen Design Mistake #2
Comment: Witnessed frequently in photographs and floor plans, this design signals a tragedy waiting to happen. To the left is the Mudroom with access to Pantry, staircase, Laundry, and the only exterior side door. To the right is the Kitchen. Unsafe. Inconvenient. Thoughtless interiors design, in AG’s opinion.
Comment: About microwaves – major peeve of AG’s – placement. Know the height of the primary cook, or the height of the shorter of more than one. To appliance bottom of face: 54 linear inches over finish floor level, maximum; preferably in range of 2 linear inches below elbow and 10 linear inches above elbow; controls to 48 linear inches above finish floor level, maximum. Source: Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines with Access Standards by National Kitchen & Bath Association, Inc., http://www.nkba.org/guidelines/kitchen_21.aspx.
10) Certain spaces shall receive exceptional design treatment in re glazing and egress, among them but not to the exclusion of others –
a) a hallway to which an elevator has direct passage shall have not less than two means of egress, one of which may be by emergency egress window
b) window(s) in a space designated for a child’s play shall be safety -glazed overall
c) window(s) in a designated, proposed, or potential sleeping area and any other(s) designated for emergency egress shall be safety-glazed overall
d) window(s) in workshop area shall be safety-glazed overall
e) window(s) in recreation or game room area shall be safety-glazed overall
11) No wall or floor electric outlet wiring shall be installed below a window that opens to weather or on a wall or floor within 5 linear feet interior to a door that opens to weather without GFCI protection to that electric outlet wiring
12) Each sleeping area
a) whether
i) designated or
ii) proposed or
iii) potential
b) shall have not less than 2 ways for an occupant to egress
c) 1 of which shall be a window
i) not less than 5.7 square feet OPENABLE surface area on upper floors
ii) not less than 5.0 square feet openable surface area on ground-level floor
iii) openable width shall not be less than 20 linear inches
iv) openable height shall not be less than 24 linear inches
v) with sill top of face not greater than 44 linear inches over finish floor level (or over finish grade level)
vi) with not less than the 5.7 square feet area shall be reduced to 5.0 square feet
d) if a window’s openable area is lockable
i) then the locking mechanism shall be operable from the interior
ii) without tools or keys and
iii) be clearly identifiable
e) if the window’s openable area is obstructed by window guards, security bars, grilles, or grates
i) then these obstructions shall be releasable to completely clear the openable surface
ii) without use of tools or keys and
iii) the release mechanisms shall be maintained operable and the window shall be maintained openable
f) with access –
i) directly to the emergency exit and
ii) not through another space
Comment: Herewith, access not through another space can create truly difficult design moments whereat there’s no apparent design-way out. For example and particularly, consider a newborn just home. Where shall the little one sleep? Possibly, there’ll be a nursery already laid out….in a closet….with one door and no egress window, likely no window at all. The only firm resolution to which AG and The Missus have come is behavioral – sleep the baby with the parents in the early days, use the nursery for late-hour attendance to the little one’s needs. This example is the only one the AG and The Missus have encountered so far that could not be resolved with appropriate and reasonable alternative design.
g) with the outside area beyond the exit
i) measuring from the window sill’s top of face and
ii) measuring on the horizontal
iii) shall not be less than the window’s width and
iv) shall not be less than 4 linear feet in depth
13) All passages to a room or hall shall have reasonable access to an electric light device switch control of at least 1 shared home electrical light outlet wiring in that room or hall
14)
In a room with a door lock, bolt, latch, or similar of any sort, an
electric
light switch control for at least 1 home light fixture rated 120V in that room
shall be placed on the locked, or interior, side of passage
15) A smoke alarm
a) shall be applied in each sleeping room according to manufacturer instruction
b) shall be applied on the ceiling outside each sleeping room within 5 linear feet of a passage door to that room and
c) shall be permanently connected to each other overall such that when one or more sounds an alarm, all sound an alarm throughout the entire house
d) shall run on both permanent 120V and replaceable battery
e) each shall feature a combination of ionization and photoelectric sensors
f) none shall disconnect by wall switch control
16) A floor transition shall be not greater than 1/2 linear inch
17) A hallway to which an elevator has direct passage shall have not less than two means of egress, one of which may be by emergency egress window which shall be safety glazed (see Emergency Egress hereunder
18) Safety glazes shall be applied . . .
a) in a space designated for a child’s play
b) in a sleeping area
i) designated sleeping area
ii) potential sleeping area
iii) subsequently planned sleeping area, subsequent to initial build
c) in a workshop
d) in a bathroom
e) in an emergency egress window – not just a lower sash
f) in recreation or game room area
g) all glaze interiors to perimeters
h) in spaces privately occupied by extended family members
i) in spaces privately occupied by challenged individuals
Comment: Note well that safety glazing applies to full glazes wherever – window, sidelite, and door – and not just lower sashes, specific height limits, etc.
19) Walk-in closet
a) shall have not less than 1 door or set of doors that does not swing into the closet
b) shall have not less than 2 ways out, one of which may be an emergency egress window
Comment: This standard addresses safety. This safety issue can sometimes be arranged simply, e.g., between His and Hers closets (often abutting), by setting a passage door – preferably a pocket door for convenience of opening.
Comment: No occupant of a walk-in closet should be positioned by design so as to block entry by a third party.
20) Cabinet door knobs and drawer knobs shall be not constructed and installed such that they hook, snag, or catch garments and goods of passers-by
Comment: Both safety and convenience apply.
21) A masonry floor, whether natural or manmade, shall have a wet coefficient of friction in the O.5s.
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