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Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments |
Executive Summary - Housing Comparative Review
A careful analysis has been undertaken of Canadian national and provincial housing standards to assess the level of information on accessible housing, housing that is increasingly in demand as the population of Canada is aging and beginning to experience some degree of disability.
Canadian building codes and standards are substantially based on the model National Building Code that does not have clearly codified requirements for accessible or Visitable housing. In contrast, building and housing codes in Europe clearly show a trend in requiring that existing housing stock be made accessible and Visitable when renovations are undertaken. Many European countries such as Denmark, England, Scotland and Sweden require that new housing be designed and built with accessibility in mind. Japan has been developing housing for many years that meets the needs of the country's aging population.
The analysis and comparison indicate some isolated areas of development in Canada; such as specifications for accessible kitchens in Nova Scotia, requirement for the height of window sills in Alberta, access requirements to all floors of multi-level housing in Newfoundland and a requirement for curb ramps outside multi-unit dwellings in Ontario. The most exciting finding is the growth of the concept of visitable housing, the latest International trend in inclusive housing which Canadian Building Codes have not yet incorporated. Visitability was first conceptualized in Sweden, has spread throughout Europe, and is now making in-roads in some municipalities in North America.
Visitable housing is the concept of designing homes that incorporate basic accessibility features, which allows independent access for everyone, including people with limited mobility or other disabilities. The basic architectural components include a level entrance, a useable toilet and doors that can accommodate someone using a wheelchair.
To date, its adoption and implementation has been localized and driven by grassroots organizations that lobby for change and inclusiveness in their communities. Some developments have been city based, or municipal ordinances have been introduced.
The United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and Denmark are only some of the countries that have incorporated visitability into the codified requirements for housing. The CSA Standard B651 has recently introduced technical specifications for visitability. The province of Manitoba has produced an excellent publication on visitability and some municipalities in BC such as Saanich and North Vancouver have embraced the concept of visitability and have developed bylaws requiring their incorporation into new housing.
Some Provincial highlights
- With the exception of Newfoundland, all of the provinces require access only to the ground floor of multi-unit dwellings if there is no elevator. In Newfoundland, access to all floors is required if there are more than 15 dwelling units. Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland require that all new apartment buildings have accessible units, regardless of whether the building is publicly or privately built, although they provide few technical specifications to guide builders and developers.
- Saskatchewan is the only province that requires a clear floor space in at least one sleeping area.
- The provision of a curb ramp to gain access from the street to multi-unit dwellings was addressed by the CSA, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Australia and the United Kingdom. Surprisingly, it was not addressed by the other jurisdictions.
- The minimum clear width for the main entrance door is standard across Canada (810 mm for single unit dwelling and 800 mm for multi-unit dwellings), which is very good.
- Audible fire alarms are required by the National Building Code and all provincial building codes, but the same is not true for visual alarms. The provision of appropriate warnings for everyone in a fire is a life and death issue for occupants.
- Nova Scotia details accessible kitchens in multi-unit dwellings, requiring a minimum clearance between counters, opposing base cabinets, countertops, appliances and walls in a kitchen. They also require a minimum clear floor space for approach to all appliances or operable parts of controls.
Physical access to housing remains a major obstacle to people with disabilities throughout the world, especially people with mobility limitations. While many codes and standards have requirements for access to at least the main entrance in multi-unit dwellings, there continues to be a lack of information and codified requirements for single dwelling units.
For additional information on the technical research, please contact us at info@gaates.org.