Circulation + Safety
The National Disability Insurance Agency has provided some guidelines relating to safety and circulation in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)(i). In addition to accessible housing design, furnishing and flooring decisions will impact circulation and safety. These decisions should be closely considered to maximise circulation in the home, and address safety requirements.
As part of this project, we met with people living in a range of housing types and design categories of SDA, or in legacy stock. We talked to them about their experience of setting up and furnishing the house, and moving around in their home and community. We asked people to explain and demonstrate the features they found useful, and those identified as barriers, in home design. In addition, we measured the reach and access of people when undertaking key daily activities; and completed three published measures relating to environment, home and community participation(ii), (iii), (iv). With the permission of participants, we also spoke to family and support staff. Some key things to consider in relation to circulation and safety are listed below.
i. https://www.ndis.gov.au/specialist-disability-accommodation Fisher, G. (2004) . The Residential Environment Impact Survey.
ii. Developmental Disabilities Special Interest Section Quarterly, 27(3), 1–4.
iii. Callaway, L., Winkler, D., Tippett, A., Migliorini, C., Herd, N., & Willer, B. (2016). The Community Integration Questionnaire–Revised: Australian normative data and measurement of electronic social networking. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 63(3), 143-153.
iv. Oakley, F., Kielhofner, G., Barris, R., & Reichler, R. (1986). The Role Checklist: Development and empirical assessment of reliability. Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 6, 157–170.
1 | Consider tenant safety near balconies. |
2 | Consider secure access to external points of building + front door of apartment. |
3 | Consider back up power supply if lift is primary point of egress. |
4 | Explore multiple points of dwelling egress. |
5 | Investigate requirements for external designated evacuation and assembly points. A tailored emergency evacuation plan specific to tenant needs is critical. |
6 | Paths of circulation + location/type of door will impact independent movement. |
7 | Efficiency of circulation paths is very important in smaller dwellings. |
8 | Furnishing decisions can impact independence, circulation + mobility. |
9 | Size of apartment or villa offers more effective line of sight support than larger dwellings. |
10 | Minimum 2250mm diameter clear circulation space required in Family/Living Room. |
11 | Consider flooring surface + friction based on mobilty needs. |
12 | Consider management of rain + drainage whilst ensuring level egress at threshold. |
