The refrigerator/freezer configuration chosen was a side by side configuration with a built-in
ice maker and a cold water dispenser. The location should be away from closed spaces such as
corners and other large appliances. Additional data can be found in the following subtopics.
Accessibility is the biggest problem in laying out the location and designing the refrigerator.
Due to the tight seal and weight of the refrigerator doors, a significant force and space is
required to open and close them. It is best to place it in an open area away from corners and any
other obstructions. Large loop handles should be provided for accessibility. If possible a
self opening and closing feature is a good idea for disabled individuals with loss
of strength and motor coordination. This can best be accomplished with electrical servo motors
with a touch sensitive switch.
- Dimensions
-
- Height
- 48 inches is the maximum height a wheelchair assisted individual can
reach.
- Width
- 32-48 inches; Standard to extra wide dimensions are recommended.
Due to a lower height of the refrigerator it might be necessary to widen
it to allow plenty of storage space.
- Depth
- Standard dimensions are best used if all drawers have a rollout basket
feature. This seems to be the best alternative since storage space is lost
due to height limitations.
- Adaptive Features
-
- Location
- The best alternative is to position the refrigerator
away from the corner of the kitchen so doors open 135 degrees. This allows
plenty of space to open the doors and wheelchair accessibility to the
refrigerator.
- Loop handles
- Loop handles should be the same dimensions as handrails,
1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 inch diameter for the hand grip and they should be
mounted 1 and 1/2 inches away from the refrigerator door. These are excellent
features for adaptive to degraded motor coordination and visually impaired
individuals.
- Rollout basket shelves
- Due to standard depth of the refrigerator,
the reach must be accomodated for wheelchair assisted individuals.
Simple plastic covered wire baskets with wheels on a rail, allows access to
the rear of the refrigerator. A lock-in mechanism should be designed into the
shelf at it's maximum extension which should be set at 2/3 of it's depth.
- Side by side layout of Refrigerator/Freezer
- The best configuration is
for the two units (refrigerator/freezer) to sit side by side with their doors
opening towards the middle. This allows the wheelchair to pull up next to
the refrigerator with the door opening away from the indivdual allowing maximum
access. This feature adapts to limited reach. The drawback is that it is difficult
to move items from refrigerator to freezer or vice versa.
Freezers are identical to refrigerators in trying to achieve design goals for
adaptibility to disabled individuals. Accessibility is the main objective in
designing a successful unit with automation being the next most important goal.
- Dimensions
-
- Height
- 48 inches is the maximum height a wheelchair assisted
individual can reach. This height also matches the refrigerator height sitting
next to the freezer.
- Width
- 32-42 inches; Standard dimensions are recommended.
Freezers don't require as much space as refrigerators but an ice
maker/dispenser takes up a significant amount of space.
- Depth
- Standard dimensions are best used if all drawers have a rollout basket feature.
This seems to be the best alternative since storage space is lost due to height limitations.
- Adaptive Features
-
- Location
- The best alternative is to position the freezer
away from the corner of the kitchen so doors open 135 degrees. This allows
plenty of space to open the doors and wheelchair accessibility to the
freezer.
- Loop handles
- Loop handles should be the same dimensions as handrails,
1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 inch diameter for the hand grip and they should be
mounted 1 and 1/2 inches away from the freezer door. These are excellent
features for adaptive to degraded motor coordination and visually impaired
individuals.
- Side by side layout of Refrigerator/Freezer
- The best configuration is
for the two units (refrigerator/freezer) to sit side by side with their doors
opening towards the middle. This allows the wheelchair to pull up next to
the freezer with the door opening away from the indivdual allowing maximum
access. This feature adapts to limited reach. The drawback is that it is difficult
to move items from freezer to refrigerator or vice versa.
- Frostless Freezer
- This is a must to eliminate maintenance and provide
as much automation as possible for disabled individuals.
- No ice tray provided
- See ice dispenser
- Adaptive Features
-
- Location
- Built into freezer at 32 inches level (average counter top
height for wheelchair assisted individual)
- Ice maker
- Eliminates the nuisance of filling up and emptying
ice trays for mobility impaired individuals. Location of ice maker should be
next to water dispenser.
- Plumbing
- The ice/water dispenser requires a cold water line and piping for drainage;
The four different materials pipe can be made from is copper, cast iron, steel and plastic (PVC).
Copper is the most expensive but lasts the longest due to lack of corrosion. It's light, easy to
install and can be easily cut with a hacksaw. Drain pipes are generally thinner than hot and cold
water pipes. They require venting so the sewer gases do not filter back into the house.
Copper pipe is recommended and it's available in four wall thicknesses shown
in Table 1. Type M is recommended for cold water and type DWV for drain pipes.
Silicon strip tape is recommended for copper piping threads to provide ease
of maintenance for future pipe replacement.
Table 1. Plumbing Pipe Selections
| Type |
Common Use |
| K |
Underground water services (Thickest wall) |
| L |
Natural gas services |
| M |
Residential water systems (Thiner wall) |
| DWV |
Drain pipes (Thinnest wall) |
[Introduction]
[Layout]
[Electrical]
[Refrigerator]
[Dishwasher]
[Microwave]
[Oven]
[Range]
[Sink]
[Countertops]
[Storage]
[References]