Layout specifications for accessible kitchen design:

This article describes the layout and specifications for accessible kitchens and kitchen work spaces. We cover Accessible kitchen work aisles, passageways. Knee space requirements for accessible kitchens.

Clear floor space specifications for accessible kitchens. Counter & appliance height in accessible kitchens. Storage height, handles, & controls for accessible kitchen design.

Sink & dishwasher work center design for accessible kitchens. Refrigerator work space for accessible kitchen design

Accessible Kitchen Design Recommendations

This article series discusses current best design practices for kitchens and bathrooms, including layout, clearances, work space, and accessible kitchen and bathroom layout, clearances, turning space, grab bars, controls, etc.

[Click to enlarge any image]

We include advice on choosing and installing kitchen counter tops, cabinets, and kitchen or bathroom flooring, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures and fixture controls such as faucets. A list of kitchen and bath product manufactures and sources is included.

As described in detail in Chapter 6 of Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (Steve Bliss, J Wiley & Sons) :

To make a kitchen fully functional for wheelchair users and other seated occupants requires simple commonsense changes, like placing knobs within reach, as well as more significant changes, such as lowering counters and providing knee space below.

The guidelines below, based on ANSI (American National Standards Institute) A117.1 standards, are a good starting point in design, but they should be tailored to the size, reach, and specific capabilities of the occupants.

Work Aisles and Passageways in Accessible Kitchen Design

Clear space at doorways and passageways must be at least 32 inches wide and no more than 24 inches long in the direction of travel. Eliminate any thresholds at doorways.

The minimum work aisle with counters or appliances on both sides should be 40 inches.

Walkways with counters or appliances on only one side can be 36 inches wide, but if a walkway turns a corner, as in Figure 6-10 (at left), one leg of the walkway space should be widened to 42 inches for a wheelchair to make the turn.

[Click any image or table to see an enlarged version with additional detail, commentary & source citation.]

From a table or eating counter to a wall, leave 54 inches for wheelchair access.

In a U-shaped kitchen the minimum clearance between counters is 60 inches (Figure 6-11 at left).

Knee Space Requirements for Accessible Kitchens

Wherever possible, provide knee space for a seated user below or adjacent to sinks, cooktops, ranges, dishwashers, refrigerators, and ovens.

To accommodate a seated user, below-counter knee space should be a minimum of 30 inches wide, 27 inches high in front, and 19 inches deep, with a minimum 9-inch-high toe space, which will accommodate most wheelchair footrests.

Protect users from exposed pipes and mechanicals with a protective panel and insulation (Figure 6-12 above).

Clear Floor Space Needs for Accessible Kitchens

To make work centers universally accessible, provide a clear floor space of 30x48 inches or 48x30 inches, centered in front of the sink, dishwasher, cooktop, oven, and refrigerator.

In an accessible (or other) kitchen design layout, clear floor spaces for different work areas may overlap, and the long dimension can include up to 19 inches deep of knee space below counters

(Figure 6-13).

Counter and Appliance Height for Accessible Kitchen Designs

he optimal height for most seated occupants at counters, sinks, and cooktops is about 32 inches and should be no higher than 34 inches.

Storage Height Specifications for Accessible Kitchen Designs

Most seated users in a kitchen can fully reach shelving located from 15 to 48 inches high.

Storage located from about 20 to 44 inches is considered optimal for accessible kitchen designs.

In an accessible-designed kitchen you should use open shelving, shelf racks on pantry doors, and drawers or roll-out shelving for easy access (Figure 6-14).

Handles and Control Recommendations for Accessible Kitchens

Controls, handles, and door and drawer pulls should be operable with one hand, require minimal strength, and not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrists. Lever-action handles work well for doors and faucets. A simple test is to try to operate the controls with a closed fist.

Mount wall cabinet doors at the bottom of the cabinets and base cabinet pulls at the top of the cabinets.

Sink and Dishwasher Work Center for Accessible Kitchen Designs

Use a shallow sink mounted at 32 to 34 inches (32 preferred) with the drain in the rear so it does not interfere with knee space (Figure 6-15 below).

The garbage disposal must also be offset so it does not interfere with knee space. A tall faucet and pullout spray attachment are recommended to simplify work at the sink. Locate the dishwasher adjacent to the sink or no more than 12 inches away.

Lighting Suggestions for Accessible Kitchens

Lighting levels should be up to twice normal levels. Using light-colored floors, walls, ceilings, and counters will help keep all areas well illuminated. Light colors on the insides of cabinets and drawers will help make items more visible.

Also see Task Lighting, Definition , Uses

and Kitchen Lighting Requirements.

Cooking Work Center Suggestions for Accessible Kitchens

If possible, place the cooktop and sink on the same wall so users do not have to carry heavy pots across the room. Electric cooktops with a smooth surface and controls on the front work best so the user does not have to reach over the top. Look for units with staggered burners for easier access to back burners.

Use a separate wall-mounted oven, not an under-counter design. An oven with a side-hinged door rather than the usual pull-down style works well.

Refrigerator Work Center Design for Accessible Kitchens

Side-by-side units with doors that swing back a full 180 degrees are preferable to up-and-down models. Provide at least 18 inches of counter space adjacent to the refrigerator.

- - Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (Steve Bliss, J Wiley & Sons) . This article includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (Steve Bliss, J Wiley & Sons) , by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons.

Accessible Kitchen Design Suggestions for Motorized Wheelchair Access

Below in the article references section we provide a DOJ article that gives a high-level gloss on the topic of meeting the accessibility requirements for people using a power-driven motorized device - a concept more broad than only motorized wheelchairs.

Here we will collect specific suggestions for kitchen designs that need to accommodate not simply wheelchair access, but motorized wheelchair access.

Even within the category of motorized wheelchairs and excluding other power-driven mobility devices such as Segways®, motorized wheelchairs vary in dimensions, weight, speed, and turning radius as well as operating controls.

If you have additional motorized wheelchair accessibility design suggestions and/or detailed specifications, or examples of designs that work well, please CONTACT US.

• Communication equipment:
  
  e.g. call boxes at a building entry or that might be employed within a building including a kitchen or bath, must be at least 15" above the floor and must be capable of one-hand operation without requiring tight grasping, pinching, or twisting to use the device.
• Kitchen cabinet toe kick areas:
  
  Normal wheelchair-accessible area cabinet/counter top toe-kick spaces are 9" h x 6" deep but typically these need to provide 18" of entry space for users of power wheelchairs. (Thanks to reader Wayne Duek, 2016).
• Kitchen countertop access:
  
  the 30" clearance given by ADA will be inadequate for power wheelchair users whose chair controls need more under-counter clearance height for armrests and n some cases joystick controls.
  
  33" or more of floor to under-countertop clearance space may be needed.
• Kitchen electrical receptacles:
  
  may need to be moved to a wide-width countertop front edge to provide ready access. Do not make a wheelchair user have to reach over the countertop to access a wall receptacle or switch.
  
  For electrical receptacles along an open wall where there are no cabinets or countertops, locate the receptacle between 18" and 48" above the floor level.
• Kitchen flooring: may need to be changed to a material that can withstand the added weight and turning torque of heavier motorized wheelchairs.
  
  Watch out: while stone or ceramic tile can provide a hard, durable kitchen surface, do not add tile or stone to an existing floor without first confirming that the floor stiffness will support the tile without cracking; you may need to add blocking, cross-bracing or other support, more-so where a heavier power-operated chair is used.
• Kitchen lighting:
  
  In addition to having already placed lighting controls at an accessible location and height that can be reached from the wheelchair, if a motorized chair user has more-limited use of hands and fingers, different or even custom switches may be appropriate.
  
  Search under "Adaptable switches" or "adaptive light switches" for a wide variety of light switches meeting different needs.
• Kitchen work area turning space:
  
  may need to be increased for motorized wheelchair use.
  
  ADAAG Standard wheelchair turning radius:
  
  T-shape space: 36 inches (915 mm) wide at the top and stem within a 60 inch by 60 inch (1525 mm by 1525 mm) square.
  
  Standard manually-operated wheelchair turning radius: 24 inches is going to be too small for a power-operated wheelchair.
  

Notes to the table:

Footrest position and design add to length of chair and thus impact turning radius

Source: includes Comparison of Front, Mid and Rear Wheel Drive Power Chairs, [PDF] cited in detail below.

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References / Resources: ADA-Compliant Accessible Kitchens & Baths

• Access Ramp building codes:
  • UBC 1003.3.4.3
  • BOCA 1016.3
  • ADA 4.8.2
  • IBC 1010.2
• Access Ramp Standards:
• ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
• ADA 804 KITCHENS AND KITCHENETTES [PDF], - retrieved 2018/09/22, original source: http://www.ada-compliance.com/ada-compliance/804-kitchens-and-kitchenettes
• APPENDIX A to Part 1191 - Americans with Disabilities Act ADA ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES, [PDF] Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities, U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board), 1331 F Street, N.W., Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20004-1111 USA, Tel: (202) 272-0080 (202) 272-0082 TTY (202) 272-0081 FAX
  
  This is the full text document. We compressed the file, with no data loss, so that it can be loaded more-quickly into your computer or smartphone.
• ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
• ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standards)
• Australia, AS 1428.2-1992 (R2015) Design for access and mobility Enhanced and additional requirements - Buildings and facilities Standards Australia available at https://infostore.saiglobal.com/store/PreviewDoc.aspx?saleItemID=242209
  Excerpts:
  Australian Standard Design for access and mobility Part 2: Enhanced and additional requirements—Buildings and facilities
  
  Sets out requirements for the design of buildings and facilities for access for people with disabilities. Where appropriate, these requirements are additional to the minimum requirements of AS 1428.1.
  
  Also covers requirements for buildings and facilities which are not covered in Part 1.
  
  The purpose of this Standard is twofold. First, it covers items which are not covered in AS 1428.1, Design for access and mobility, Part 1: General requirements for access—Buildings , and second it gives enhanced requirements for access, for reference by authorities and other users who wish to provide a greater level of accessibility than the minimum requirements of Part 1.
  
  Whereas the requirements in Part 1 are based on research on the capabilities of 80 percent of people with disabilities in Australia who use wheelchairs, together with some recognized needs of other disability groups, the enhanced requirements in this Standard have been determined, where possible, from the researched capabilities of at least 90 percent of test subjects comprising both people who use wheelchairs and ambulant people.
  
  Where the minimum space, dimensions and gradients of Part 1 have been shown to be suitable for 90 percent of users, the requirements of AS 1428.1 have been called up in this Standard.
  
  The major sources for determining the requirements in this Standard are studies by J. Bails, Public Buildings Department of South Australia, 1983, and E. Steinfeld, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA, 1979.
  
  For reach limits, reference was also made to A study of the space requirements of wheelchair users from the official journal of the International Society of Paraplegia: Paraplegia, volume 4, Number 1, May 1966.
  
  In recommending spaces between rest areas and time allowance at traffic lights, reference was made to the ability of people to move stated distances and the movement time of people in the 1990 research report An ergonomic study of pedestrian areas for disabled people, Institute of Transport Studies, University of Leeds, UK.
  
  The series, when complete, will comprise the following:
  AS
  1428 Design for access and mobility
  
  1428.1 General requirements for access—Buildings
  
  1428.2 Enhanced and additional requirements—Buildings and facilities (this Standard)
  
  1428.3 Requirements for children and adolescents with physical disabilities
  
  1428.4 Tactile ground surface indicators for the orientation of people with vision impairment
  
• Australia, Queensland DOH, Comparison of Front, Mid and Rear Wheel Drive Power Chairs, [PDF] Queensland Australia DOH, 3 rd Floor, Buranda Village Cnr Cornwall St & Ipswich Rd Buranda, QLD, 4102 AUSTRALIA, retrieved 2019/09/22, original source: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/428482/pdwc-comparison.pdf
• Bails, J. H. "Project report on the field testing of the Australian standard 1428-1977 part 1—Recommended amendments and index to part 2 detailed reports." Adelaide South Australia, Public Buildings Department (1983).
• Bails, J. H. "Project report on the field testing of the Australian standard 1428-1977 part 2—Details of field testing of AS1428." Adelaide South Australia, Public Buildings Department (1983).
• Enders, Alexandra, O.T.R. (Editor), TECHNOLOGY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SOURCEBOOK [PDF] Association for the Advancement of Rehabilitadon Technology, Publishers Suite 700, 1101 Connecticut Avenue, N W Washington, D C 20036 retrieved 2018/09/25, original source: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED313820.pdf
• Equal Access, KITCHENS [accessible design suggestions] [PDF] Disability Access & Egress Consultants, Equal Access Unit 6, 15 Howleys Road Notting Hill, Vic, 3186 Australia Tel: +61 3 9001 5805, Tel: 1300 994 890(03) 9001 5805 retrieved 2018/09/22, original source: http://www.disabilityaccessconsultants.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Kitchen.pdf
  
  Special thanks to Bruce Bromley, Equal Access Consultants, Victoria, AU, for assisting in the discussion of accessible designs for kitchens and bathrooms, 2018/09/24.
  
  Website excerpt:
  Equal Access is one of Australia’s leading DDA Universal Design and Disability Access and Egress Consultancies.
  
  Our key personnel are accredited with the Association of Consultants in Access Australia Inc (ACAA) and provide a specialist consulting service throughout Australia and internationally to enhance the built environment and to provide “Equal Access” for members of the community with a disability.
  
  The Disability Discrimination Act, Building Code of Australia & Australian Standards are highly complex and subject to constant change.
  
  Litigation over property access and compliance is increasing at an astounding rate. Property and business owners are subject to substantial and often unexpected liability. Equal Access can assist in all areas of built environment access as a DDA Consultant and would welcome the opportunity to work with you.
• FINNISH ACCESSIBLE BUILDING DECREE 2004-2005 [PDF], Barrier-free Building Regulations and Guidelines 2005, Ministry of the Environment Decree on accessible building, retrieved 2017/01/07
• FINNISH BUILDING DESIGNERS & PLANS DECREE 2002 [PDF], Building designers and plans A2 Regulations and guidelines 2002, Ministry of the Environment Decree, on building designers and plans, retrieved 2017/01/07
• FINLAND HOUSING DESIGN DECREE, 2004, [PDF] G1 THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF FINLAND Housing Design Regulations and Guidelines 2005, Ministry of the Environment Decree on housing design, retrieved 2017/01/07
• FINLAND FIRE SAFETY CODES & DECREE 2002 [PDF], E1 THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF FINLAND, Fire safety of buildings, Regulations and guidelines 2002, Decree of the Ministry of the Environment on fire safety of buildings, retrieved 2017/01/07
• MDA, Muscular Dystrophy Association, The EZ-Use Kitchen [PDF of web article] Muscular Dystrophy Association National Office, 161 N. Clark, Suite 3550, Chicago, Illinois 60601 USA, Tel: 800-572-1717 Email: ResourceCenter@mdausa.org retrieved 2018/09/22, original source: https://www.mda.org/quest/article/ez-use-kitchen
  Note: there nothing specific about motorized wheelchairs in this article.
• POWER-DRIVEN MOBILITY DEVICES, ADA-REQUIREMENTS [PDF] (2014) U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, Tel: 800-514-0301 (Voice) and 800-514-0383 (TTY) - retrieved 2018/09/22, original source: https://www.ada.gov/opdmd.htm
  Excerpt:
  
  The Department of Justice published revised final regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for title II (State and local government services) and title III (public accommodations and commercial facilities) on September 15, 2010, in the Federal Register.
  
  These requirements, or rules, clarify and refine issues that have arisen over the past 20 years and contain new, and updated, requirements, including the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards).
• Steinfeld, Edward. "Accessible Buildings for People with Walking and Reaching Limitations." (1979).
• Steinfeld, Edward. Access to the built environment: a review of literature. The Office: for sale by the Supt. of Docs., US Govt. Print. Off., 1979.
• Steinfeld, Edward, Steven A. Schroeder, and Marilyn Bishop. Adaptable dwellings. Vol. 402. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research: for sale by the Supt. of Docs., US Govt. Print. Off., 1979.
• UCP, Developing Homes For People With Physical Disabilities In New Jersey: A TECHNICAL GUIDE [PDF] (1986), retrieved 2018/09/25, original source: https://mn.gov/mnddc/parallels2/pdf/80s/86/86-DHP-UCP.pdf

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Upper cabinet and lower door pulls mounted at a 45-degee angle to make them easier to grasp for an individual with arthritis.

I've seen upper cabinet and lower door pulls mounted at a 45-degee angle to make them easier to grasp for an individual with arthritis. This also made it easier to open the cabinet or door using a spoon as a lever, On 2021-05-25 by alain smithee

Reply by (mod) - ADA-Compliant drawer-pulls & cabinet door handles include foot-operated "handles" or Pulls

@alain smithee,

Thank you for that additional suggestions: ADA-approved cabinet and drawer pulls.

Typical ADA cabinet and drawer pulls are a bar raised off of the cabinet or drawer face - I'll show those in a moment. But first, here is an interesting product, shown above:

DoorWave™ by Functional Form, LLC is a hands-free door pull that allows you to open the door with your foot, sold by https://www.ameraproducts.com/ and other vendors.


Shown below are are more-typical ADA-compliant cabinet door or drawer pulls, sold just about everywhere including at building suppliers like Lowes and Home Depot

 

Kitchen specifications for a motorized wheelchair as opposed to a manual wheelchair

I, like Wayne, am looking for kitchen specifications for a motorized wheelchair as opposed to a manual wheelchair. Have you made any progress in this area? On 2018-09-21 by Donna

Reply by (mod) - minimum turning space and typical dimensions for powered wheelchairs

Donna,

I'm researching the question further and; I've posted some additional information in the article above on this page and in a reader Q&A answered earlier (seen below) - you may need to clear your browser cache or wait a few hours to see the update; I'd welcome specific technical questions as well.

In general for an electric wheelchair, scooter, or reclining wheelchair users we need more turning space of these minimum dimensions:

• A T-shaped turning space needs to be provided within a 94-inch square
• The minimum space to include arms and chair base must be at least 40-inches wide.
• Powered wheelchairs are at least 25-inches in width
• Heavy-duty powered wheelchairs may be 32-inches wide
• 
  

Kitchen layout for power wheelchairs with an elevator

It appears your design is for manual chairs only. Have you done any work related to power wheelchairs with elevator?
It is difficult to get under counters so low. Elevated foot plates look to need a minimum of 18" vertical clearance instead of the 9" you reference.

Also unable to reach down to access dishwasher at standard height.
Thanks for any help. On 2016-10-09 by Wayne Duke

Reply by (mod) - ADA space and turning area dimensions for motorized wheelchairs & wheelchair platform lifts

Thanks for the good question, Wayne.

Using 33" as a typical height from floor to top of joystick for a power wheelchair, that's 3" higher than a conventional adult wheelchair (30" from floor to top surface of arm rest).

I used the Invacare® Pronto® M41™ Power Wheelchair as the power wheelchair example.

I looked at the specifications for several elevating wheelchair models but none provided a height from armrest or joystick top to floor. Can you give me that dimension for the brand and model chair that interests you?

Good point about the dishwasher. Looking at the U.S. ADA updates last completed in 2010:

• Typical ADA wheelchair space: compliance standards give 29" clearance for knee space under a sink (sink underside to floor) and 29" under the sink rim. I could not find a different specification for elevator type wheelchairs. But BOTH wheelchair armrest heights (30" and 33" ) run into trouble with ADA standards.
• Platform Lifts or Wheelchair Lifts need at least a 30-inch x 48-inch learance space (ADA 4.2.4)
  
  The wheelchair lift must be forward-spacing or parallel to an object so as to give entry access.
• Floor obstructions: level-changes near the wheelchair platform lift (ADA 4.5)
  
  Up to 1/4" gap: no edge treatment is required
  
  Gaps or elevation changes 1/4" to 1/2": beveled edges are required
  
  Gaps or elevation changes greater than 1/2": provide a ramp
  
  Carpeting, if present, must be secured at edges and have pile no higher than 1/2"
  
  Any floor grating openings shoudl not have openings greater than 1/2" in width in any direction;
  
  Floor grating openings should be at right angles to (perpendicular to) the wheelchair direction of travel towards the platform lift

Your point is of crucial importance to wheelchair users with all wheelchair types. I'm researching further.

...

Continue reading at KITCHEN CABINET DESIGN Guide or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

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• KITCHEN DESIGN, ACCESSIBLE
• RAMPS, ACCESS - home

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