According to the study Quiero Vivir Mejor (I Want to Live Better) , prepared by Cuida Tu Casa, 18% of homes have significant deficiencies in terms of accessibility , while in 30% of cases this aspect is acceptable, but not complete.
Although accessible housing refers, in general terms, to housing in which its inhabitants can carry out their daily habits safely and independently , this concept is more relevant in the case of people with disabilities or functional limitations. In Spain, two out of ten households are home to at least one person with a disability and, of these properties, more than half have architectural barriers that reduce the accessibility of residents, according to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics . There are, in total, 2.4 million homes across the country with limitations for this group.
How can you adapt these apartments or houses to facilitate the mobility and independence of citizens with disabilities? At Hipotecas.com we give you the keys.
Accessibility in housing
As for the requirements that a home must meet to guarantee accessibility, it is about making the apartment or house useful, safe and comfortable for these people.
In general terms, to achieve this goal you must take into account the following guidelines :
- To allow passage, doors must be at least 80 centimetres wide and have crank-type opening mechanisms, rather than knobs, located at a height of between 0.90 and 1.20 metres. In the case of the entrance and bathroom, the door must open outwards or slide.
- As for the hallways, these should have a space of 110 to 120 centimeters .
- However, in the areas of the home where turns are required, such as in the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, there must be enough space to draw a circle with a diameter of 150 centimetres .
- Obviously, it is important to eliminate as many bumps and curbs as possible inside the home or, if this is not possible, install small ramps to prevent tripping or to allow wheelchair access.
- Remember that the reach of a person in a wheelchair is between 0.4 and 1.40 metres , so all elements (sockets, stopcocks, taps, intercoms, mirrors, etc.) must be located within this range to ensure accessibility for residents.
- Windows, on the other hand, should have opening mechanisms located between 0.80 and 1.20 metres and should be manoeuvrable with one hand, so it will be more practical to use sliding doors.
- For blinds and awnings, automated systems make life much easier for people with disabilities.
- The faucet should be lever or pressure operated , avoiding mechanisms that require a twist of the wrist to be operated.
Room by room actions
In addition to these parameters applicable to the entire home, there are also a series of specific improvements that you can carry out for each of the rooms in the property.
- In the kitchen :
- The worktop should be at a maximum height of 0.85 centimetres , so that a person in a wheelchair can work without problems.
- Also, under the sink and stove, you have to leave a space of 70x80x60 centimeters to facilitate access.
- Don't forget to install storage areas in the lower part of the kitchen , placing the most used utensils in these cabinets.
- In the bedroom :
- The bed should be placed at about 45 or 48 centimeters , a height similar to that of the wheelchair, making the transition from one to the other easier.
- Choose wardrobes without doors or with sliding doors and with accessible drawers and rails . You can use folding hanger systems to make the most of the storage space.
- Place a chair or armchair next to the bed ; this simple gesture will help the disabled person get up more easily.
- In the case of severely disabled people, it will be very useful to install cranes that the caregiver can maneuver better.
- In the living room :
- Try to decorate your home with furniture with rounded edges to avoid bumps and injuries.
- Replace floor lamps with wall or ceiling sconces to reduce floor obstacles.
- Avoid rugs or mats that may hinder mobility.
- Take advantage of home automation to improve accessibility: video door entry systems, wireless telephones and intercoms can improve the quality of life of this group.
- In the bathroom :
- Install furniture and sanitary fixtures on the wall, without a pedestal, as this makes it easier to approach, especially in the sink, which should be placed 85 centimetres from the floor.
- In the toilet, it is essential to have a lateral transfer space of 80 centimetres on both sides. If your bathroom is not very large, try removing the bidet.
- Replace the bathtub with a shower , keeping an interior space of 1.20x80 metres. Also, make sure that the floor is level, with a 2% slope, the pavement is non-slip, the screen does not impede passage and there are grab bars and a seat installed.
- On the stairs :
- In the case of multi-storey homes, you will need to find solutions to overcome these barriers , such as stair lifts or home elevators.
Adaptation of common areas
And what about communities of property owners? If you live in a block of flats or in a development with common areas, accessibility improvements must also affect these spaces.
In this sense, these are the main changes you must undertake:
- Along the entire route that a disabled person must take to get home, a minimum width of 180 centimetres must be respected and handrails must be provided.
- Any flight of stairs must be supplemented - or replaced - by ramps that meet the following requirements:
- For sections up to three metres: a slope of between 2 and 10 degrees.
- For ramps 3 to 6 metres long: a maximum incline of 8 degrees.
- When climbing 6 to 9 meters, the slope cannot exceed 6 degrees.
- If there are landings between ramps, these must be at least 1.80 metres wide, if there is a change of direction, or 1.50 metres wide, if it continues in a straight line.
- When, due to space limitations, it is impossible to replace steps with ramps, lifting platforms must be used to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities.
- For building elevators , the door must be at least 80 centimetres wide and the space in the cabin must meet minimum dimensions of 110x140 centimetres if it is a lift with one door or two doors facing each other, and 140x140 centimetres if it is two doors at an angle. In addition, the buttons must be in Braille and have a visual and audible indicator.
However, while the improvements in accessibility inside the house will be your responsibility - subsidies aside - the interventions that take place in the common areas must be financed by the community of owners up to an amount that does not exceed twelve ordinary monthly payments of expenses. If the cost is higher, your neighbors will be obliged to accept the reforms by the Horizontal Property Law , although the difference will be borne by the interested party.