Home Automation and Assistive device requirements for SDA

by Farah Madon ACAA Accredited Access Consultant and NDIS Accredited SDA Assessor Vista Access Architects

Farah is the lead author of the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) Design Standard. Farah contributes on a number of Boards and Management Committees in relation to accessibility for people with disabilities including being a member of the Australian Standards ME-064 Committee, Community Representative member of Penrith City Council's Access Committee, member of the LHA’s (Livable Housing Australia's) Industry Reference Group, NSW representative on RAIA’s (Australian Institute of Architect's) National Access Work Group and Management Committee member of NSW Network of Access Consultants.

The SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) sets the minimum requirements for a dwelling to be eligible for SDA funding. The SDA funding is based on what is considered to be ‘reasonable and necessary’ in an SDA dwelling.

Going beyond the minimum requirements for SDA DS would naturally mean a more appealing product for the participant thus giving the dwelling a commercial advantage over the dwellings that go for the bare minimum compliance.

This article discusses what is required as a bare minimum for SDA certification where home automation products are concerned and some consideration where going above and beyond. The home automation requirements in the SDA DS are mainly applicable to the FA (Fully Accessible) and HPS (High Physical Support) design categories.

DOORS

SDA DS (Design Standard) does not mandate the use of automated doors.

Clause 4.1.3 and 4.2.7 of the SDA DS, requires door circulation spaces to be provided to both sides of the doors as per AS1428.1 for the FA and HPS design categories (excluding internal door circulation space for bedrooms which is required to be as per Figure 16 of the SDA DS).

The provision of door circulation spaces as per AS1428.1 is considered to be a bare basic requirement to provide independence to the participant.

In the event that the door circulations spaces (latch side circulation space shown as WL in figure) cannot be accommodated then door automation is considered to be an appropriate solution in lieu of the required latch side circulation spaces. Note that the door automation does not negate the requirement for the length space required (shown as L in figure). Also, the door automation is required to be provided at the very beginning and not just a provision for the same. AS1428.1 also provides further information on appropriate location of manual buttons for automated doors.

A concern in provision of automated doorways is power failure. Which is why a minimum 2-hour outage to any provided automated doorways is required for HPS design category. We would recommend that this also be provided to any automated doorways in FA design category.

Clause 6.3 of the SDA DS requires provision of power and control cabling to be provided to windows of bedrooms and living areas for future window blind automation for the HPS design category. Therefore, automated windows / blinds are not mandatory from the beginning but the provision for the same is required. So, if the participant requires the use of the automated blinds then this can be done easily.

KITCHEN

Clause 8.7 of the SDA DS requires provision of a 900mm wide height adjustable benchtop surface for FA and HPS design categories. The SDA DS does not mandate automation of the benchtop surface and it is acceptable if the benchtop surface can be manually adjusted by a technician.

Manual adjustment of the benchtop was considered to be the bare minimum requirement, however in most projects we see the SDA provider opting to provide this min 900mm wide benchtop as automated for height adjustability, especially when there are more than one participant occupying the SDA dwelling thus requiring flexibility for different participants that may have different height requirements.

CONSIDERATIONS IF OPTING FOR AUTOMATED HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE BENCHTOPS IN KITCHEN

If opting for automated height adjustable benchtops it is important to note that there are generally two systems available, floor mounted or wall mounted. Wall mounted systems are good for providing the required 900mm clear width of knee toe clearance where space is limited. Whereas the floor mounted systems would require a wider bench space to allow for the minimum 900mm clear width of knee toe clearance space. Also wall mounted systems can only be provided where the wall has been reinforced to take the wall mounted system and as such this system is generally not suitable for retrofitting in the future unless wall reinforcements have been provided from the very beginning.

Other considerations include provision of large buttons for automation in front of the benchtop itself and provision of a system that does not trap a person under the benchtop while adjusting the height of the benchtop.

LIGHTING

Clause 12.4 of the SDA DS requires dimmable lighting switches to be provided to living and bedroom areas. This can be provided by means of standard type of rotary dimmer controls. Note that dimmable light switches are required for all design categories.

CEILING HOISTS

Clause 20 of the SDA DS for HPS design categories requires provision for 250kg capacity ceiling hoists to the bedrooms. Note that the hoist fixture itself is not required to be provided but just the provision of the same in terms of power and in-built structure.

Ceiling hosts are required to be able to go across and down the bed as a minimum. Provision of a capped GPO on / near the ceiling is considered

to be adequate to satisfy the power requirement of this clause.

EMERGENCY POWER SOLUTIONS

The SDA Price Guide for HPS noted that the emergency power solutions only applies where a determination was made that ‘the welfare of the participant was at risk’. The SDA DS for HPS now closes that loophole and clearly notes that the emergency power solution is required to be provided to cater for a minimum 2-hour outage in no less than 2 double GPOs in participant bedrooms and to any provided automated doorways.

Even though not mandated under the SDA DS, we would suggest that an alarm system is built into the redundant power supply to alert support staff so that preparations can be made if relocation is required should the power stay out for an extended period of time.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Clause 23 of the SDA DS requires internet connection for FA and HPS design categories and video / intercom or other communication system for communication between the participants and the support staff for the HPS design category.

No further details are provided for these requirements to support innovation in this particular space. Therefore, it is up to the SDA provider to select assistive technology to satisfy this requirement.

A number of systems such as communication and home controls via ipads is available. Where these types technologies are used, it would be prudent to ensure that even though assistive technology is provided an option is also available for manual operation of devices, switches etc.

Use of technology should be such that it does not compromise the privacy of the participants or has the effect of restricting the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability.

Disclaimer: Contents of this article are personal opinions of the author. This article is not endorsed by the NDIA and users are advised to make their own inquires directly with NDIA.