19-point SAFERhome Standards

There is now a real option to get more than the traditionally accepted minimum building standard: SAFERhome design.

SAFERhome is an overlay for homes that brings flexibility, safety, comfort, and cost savings. All criteria are within the existing Provincial and National Building Codes. SAFERhome Standards are measurable and tangible "gold standards" in universal home design. Universal design is a way to build homes that work for all people.

Standards

• Criteria 1:     Exterior Thresholds
  

  All exterior thresholds are flush.

• Criteria 2:     Interior Thresholds
  

  All interior thresholds meet minimal code constraints (e.g., shower entrance).

• Criteria 3:     Positioning of Bath and Shower Controls
  

  All controls are offset from centre, roughly halfway between the centre and the outside edge of the shower or bathtub enclosure.

• Criteria 4:     Pressure/Temperature Control Valves (Canada for renovations only)
  

  Control valves are installed on all shower faucets.

• Criteria 5:     Washroom Wall Reinforcements
  

  Reinforced with 2"x12" solid lumber in all washroom bathtub, shower, and toilet locations.

• Criteria 6      Waste Pipes
  

  All pipes are brought in no higher than 14" to the centre of the pipe from floor level.

• Criteria 7:     Sink Cabinets
  

  Cabinets underneath each sink are easily removed.

• Criteria 8:     Doors (pinch points)
  

  All doors and pinch points are a minimum of 34" but ideally 36" wide.

• Criteria 9:    Hallways
  

  All hallways are a minimum of 40" but ideally 42" wide.

• Criteria 10:   Positioning of Light Switches
  

  All switches positioned at 42" to the centre of the electrical box from the finished floor.

• Criteria 11:   Positioning of Electrical Outlets
  

  All outlets positioned at 18" to the centre of the electrical box from the finished floor.

• Criteria 12:   Placement Locations of Electrical Outlets
  

  - Beside windows, especially where draperies or blinds may be installed;
  - Bottom of stairways;
  - Beside the toilet;
  - Above external doors (outside and inside);
  - On the front face of the kitchen counter;
  - At Node Zero Location (the communications control centre for smart home options) where all the house wiring meets in one place.

• Criteria 13:   Electrical Boxes
  

  All light switches and A/C outlets use Smart electrical boxes.

• Criteria 14:   Four-Plex Outlet Locations
  

  Placed in master bedroom, home office, garage, and recreation room.

• Criteria 15:   Telephone Pre-Wiring
  

  CAT 5E (4 pair) homerun to all areas and return to one central area (Node Zero).

• Criteria 16:   RG-6 Coaxial Cables Runs
  

  All homeruns return to one central area. (Node Zero)

• Criteria 17    Low-Voltage Runs
  

  All other low-voltage homeruns (eg. door bells, security systems, etc.) return to one central area. (Node Zero)

• Criteria 18:   Wall Reinforcements (Top of the Stairs)
  

  At the top of all stairways, walls are reinforced with 2"x12" solid lumber at 36" to centre.

• Criteria 19:   Provision for Multi-storey Connection
  

  Either an allowance for an elevator option in stacked closets, or build all staircase(s) with a minimum width of 42".

For more details:   Order "How to easily build to SAFERhome Standards" - $19.95
                              (free with membership to the SAFERhome Standards Society)