Situational Adaptations

What is a situational adaptation?

A situation adaptation refers to the stage 2 or 3 adaptation (refer to Overview) and is aimed towards making someone’s (with a specific situation/condition) home able to support them to live as independently as possible. Situational adaptations always follow the same process, with an occupational therapist assessment forming a key component of the process. This holistic process tends to compose of a patchwork of services which can often leave people feeling like the whole process is disjointed or uncoordinated, this is something at Blackwood that we aim to avoid. The idea of a situational adaptation is that it is a specific solution of a specific situation and therefore some things will be suitable for some that wouldn’t be for others with a similar condition but alas no situation is the same.

What’s the process?

The assessment process for situational adaptations is a key component of the overall process and determines what types of adaptations will be carried out in a home. The assessment process is not normally standardised and is normally done by an occupational therapist.

Assessment process

Access – can you get in and out of your home independently?
Kitchen design – can you utilise the full functionality of your kitchen independently?
Bathroom design – Can you independently use the toilet, shower and perform daily hygiene regimes?
Multiple levels – does your home have stairs? Can you get up and down them safely?
Understanding plans and grant – what tenure type are you? owner occupier, social housing tenant etc.

What kind of situations/conditions do we do adaptation for?

At Blackwood we provide condition-based adaptations for conditions or situations such as:

Physical disability
Wheelchair users, visually impair & Blind, Hard of hearing or deaf,
Older age and Mobility
limited mobility, limited stability, Dementia, Alzheimer’s
Cognitive conditions
Autism, Depression & Anxiety
Bariatric

Specialised packages

These types of conditions/situations require a much more specific tailored package of adaptations depending on the persons limitations, the condition may be more complex and require a much more catered approach.

Chronic conditions
Post-hospitalisation recovery
Part- & full-time care – adaptations that facilitate part- or full-time care

We have standard specification for all the rooms required to make up a home. It provides a foundational specification and can help advise the best practise to produce social housing. We also have developed a specification for all the above types of adaptations, these can be used as a guideline of components which may help a designer choose the optimal component depending of the customers specific condition/ situation.

Wetroom

Wall hung vanity unit with integrated sink
Safe Touch Tap with long lever, TMV3-rated, WRAS-approved
Toilet brush fixed to wall
Paper holder fixed to wall
Closed couple toilet
Electric shower unit
Electric heated towel radiator
1500 x 800mm Shower tray former
Rectangular shower tray. Can be installed flush or surface mounted.
Glazed bi-fold shower screen

Bathroom

Inset Basin
Safe Touch Tap with long lever, TMV3-rated, WRAS-approved
Toilet brush fixed to wall
Paper holder fixed to wall
Wall hung toilet with hidden cistern
1000 x 600mm mirror
Electric shower unit
Towel rail
1700 x 700mm Bath
Glazed Bath screen

Kitchen

Kitchen Units: New high-quality kitchen units.

Standard laminate base unit carcase with MDF back panel
Height adjustable laminate shelves
110° clip on hinges to all doors
All doors to have integrated handles
Door style colour finish
New square edge laminate worktop.
Integrated oven
Integrated washer dryer
Integrated dishwasher
Integrated fridge/freezer.
Induction Hob
Chimney cooker hood. Style & Colour to suit selected Kitchen unit finishes.
Inset kitchen sink
1200 x 300mm Wide shelves

Bedrooms

No standard component specification

Living / Dining

No standard component specification

Sockets / Switches / Data

USB sockets to be utilised within main habitable areas
Standard Switches and sockets to be installed at 400mm above floor level for low level fittings, 1100mm above floor level in standard units
All switches and sockets positioned minimum 350mm from room corners, projecting walls or similar obstructions
In kitchens, where above worktops, sockets and appliance isolating switches to be 150mm above surface generally
Programmers to be positioned 1100mm above floor level in standard units generally
Cat 6 cable connection to data socket in lounge to provide facility for streaming 4K television.
BT standard outlet to be conveniently located in hall, one double socket in lounge and one single in master bedroom of all dwellings. Combined outlet for TV and telephone in lounge. Install power socket alongside.
Coaxial cable to be installed from lounge to roof space of flats for future installation of satellite dish.
Digital terrestrial TV outlets shall be provided in master bedroom with an adjacent power socket. Combined TV/DAB/satellite outlet with double telephone outlet to be provided in lounge

Internal Doors

General internal doors

Door set incorporating 44mm solid core door timber veneer HW lipped on 2 long edges. Hinges and lever handles.
Fire rated doors as required to suit configuration and design
Cylinder lock for security. 3no. sets of keys
Kick plates to both sides of doors
Door thresholds to suit change in flooring spec

Flat Entrance Doors

44mm solid core door plywood faced for painting HW lipped on 2 long edges.
3 hinges
Automated door entry with compatible locking system
1 pair lever handles
Letter plate
Safety chain meeting the requirements of the Door and Hardware Federation TS 003
House/door numbers – brushed stainless steel with secret fixings
180-degree spy lens set at 1400mm above floor level (meeting the requirements of the Door and Hardware Federation TS 002)

Cupboard doors

Cupboards to be fitted with hinged doors to match pass doors. Double doors to be fitted with magnetic catches.
Door thresholds to suit change in flooring spec
Doors to achieve minimum clear opening of 850mm

Windows

All ironmongery will be good quality, durable and chosen with ease of use and security in mind.
Security locking handles are required on all windows with the exception of those designated as emergency escape windows, smoke vents and vertical AOVs. All windows to be fitted with child locks / opening restrictors at least 1500mm above floor level. Hinges and fastenings will be of a type which prevents windows from being opened from the outside when closed.
All windows at ground floor level and at easily accessible locations on upper levels to comply with ‘Secured by Design’ security standards –PAS 24:2019.
Windows to all first-floor bedrooms to comply with Building Standards requirements for ‘escape windows’ with minimum unobstructed opening of at least 450x450mm with the base of the opening not more than 1100mm above floor level. All escape windows to provide at least clear area of 0.33m².
Window cills to be minimum 800mm above finished floor level

Main Entrance Door

Video intercom access system for flats
Main entrance door to Houses to be solid core painted HW lipped on all edges incorporating toughened glass vision panel and letter box.
Multi point locking system
Main entrance door & rear door to flats to match House Entrance doors in appearance.
Doorsets at ground floor level and at easily accessible locations on upper levels to comply with ‘Secured by Design’ security standards PAS 24: 2019. Door frames must be securely fixed and sealed to the structure of the building. Doors to be draught proofed and include weather bars.
Clear operating instructions must be attached to the inner face of the door.
All external doors not designated as the main entrance are to meet the same physical standards as the front door.
Accessible entry doors to have minimum clear opening of 850mm at accessible entrances with a minimum 300mm free space at the fore-edge. Threshold max 15mm above floor finish to entrance platt with no vertical plates, to allow barrier free access in accordance with the BSD Technical Handbook.
Glazed panels adjacent to external doors forming integral part of door frame are to be tested as part of the doorset to PAS 24. If they are to be manufactured separately from the door frame, they shall be certified to BS 7950: 1997.
All glazing in and adjacent to doors shall be laminated (outer pane), toughened (inner pane), to a minimum thickness of 6.4mm and securely fixed in accordance with the manufacturer’s specification. Glazing in and around doors to comply with BS 6262.
Ironmongery to be robust and easy to grasp and operate, manufacturer to be confirmed, chrome finish to be approved.
Front doors to be fitted with cylinder lock certified to BS 3621: 2007 or BS 10621:2007, operated by lever handles with thumb turn internally (Main Entrance doors to Flats &
External Doors to Houses). Communal flat doors fitted with digital access/intercom system with key fob access for residents.
Lever handles to have return to door face and be fitted to both sides of door, set at a height of 1000mm above finished floor level. Key holes to be above handles for easy access.
Each flatted block front & rear communal doors to be connected to fire alarm to allow for doors to be automatically released on signal.
All ironmongery to doors and windows to be easy to manipulate and located at levels suitable for all users.
3 hinges to all doors
3 point locking system with thumb turn to external doors to houses. Digital access / intercom with digital key fobs for residents to communal flat entrance.
Lever handles to houses. Push/Pull handles to communal flat doors.
Satin chrome letter plate incl. internal security hood meeting the requirements of the Door and Hardware Federation TS 009
Safety chain meeting the requirements of the Door and Hardware Federation TS 003
Large format floating house/door numbers – brushed stainless steel with secret fixings
Accessible threshold / weather bar
180-degree spy lens set at 1400mm above floor level (meeting the requirements of the Door and Hardware Federation TS 002)
Secured by Design accredited

Lighting

Internal

Each room, corridor and walk-in cupboard to have downlighters.
Under unit lighting to be provided in kitchens
LED lights for comfort, safety, and economy.
Correlated colour temperature (CCT) range of 3000K-4,800K (“warm-to-neutral white”) for eye safety and best contrast
Easily adjustable fixture to prevent glare
Easy location and operation of fixture controls

External

Lighting to be provided to footpaths to comply with the requirements of BS 5489:2013.
External light to be provided at main entrance doors and rear access doors.

Fire Detection / Prevention

Detectors to be ceiling mounted and positioned in accordance with requirements for design and installation set out in BS 5839-1:2002 – minimum grade D, category LD2, with at least 300mm from any wall or light fitting.
All smoke and heat alarms in each house to be interconnected in accordance with BS 5839-6: 2004.
Mains powered photoelectric sensor smoke detector/alarm with trickle charge battery backup in accordance with BS 5446-1: 2000, to be fitted in the hall, first floor landing (in houses) and principle rooms.
Hall detector to be ionisation alarm, conforming to BS EN 14604:2005, and principle room detector to be optical alarm conforming to BS EN 14604:2005.
Mains powered heat detector/alarm with trickle charge battery backup, conforming to BS 5446-2: 2003 to be fitted in the kitchen of each unit.
Proprietary mains operated carbon dioxide detector to be provided in the principle bedroom.
High pressure water mist suppression system comprising a pump unit with integral control panel and closed head discharge nozzles (no tank required)

Stairs / Balustrades

Common stair to flats
Slip resistant vinyl floor finish
Contrasting nosing’s
MS flat bar balusters with flat bar bottom rail all with paint finish. Handrail to be flat bar with PVC Capping.
House access stair
Timber construction to receive client install floor finish
Varnish HW square posts & balustrade to inside only
Varnish HW handrail to either side.

Floor Finishes

Tiles to shower rooms to achieve minimum 36 PTV slip resistance. Finishing bead profiles to include aluminium raised tile bead for wet room flooring perimeter of laid to falls zone as first line of defence against water egress.
Tiles to bathrooms to achieve minimum 36 PTV slip resistance.
Engineered hardwood flooring throughout flats and ground floor of houses
Transitions and nosing’s to suit

Wall Finishes

Generally – Vinyl silk paint finish

Shower rooms – Ceramic tiles complete with corner and finishing bead profiles.

Common areas – acrylic latex paint

Kitchen area – Ceramic splashback tiles to areas above kitchen units to underside of any wall hung unit & full height at hob areas. Tiles taken full height from FFL at adjustable worktop areas.

Non-ferrous exposed metal surfaces, eg. copper pipes, to be coated with appropriate metal primer, undercoat and two coats solvent-borne white gloss paint.

Smart Technology

Blackwood Clevercogs software connected to smart technology in home
Smart controls for home automation and lighting
Fast and reliable broadband provided to each house
Smart metering throughout each house
Integrated voice communications & video integration system allows for resident to connect to Clevercogs and the outside world
Smart controls for motion sensors, smoke, and heat alarms throughout the house
Smart technology within the house can be integrated with voice-controlled systems for easier management and effort free control of your home such as Amazon’s Echo

Heating

Underfloor heating throughout
Sustainable heating options to be reviewed. (Air source heat pump, Ground source heat pump, Photovoltaics etc)

Physical disability

Wetroom

Wall track for horizontal mounting sections sized to suit layout
Support arms, vertically/horizontally adjustable
Wash basin manually height & sideways adjustable with gas-assisted lever control.
Shower seat, vertically/horizontally adjustable, with back- and armrests.
Handrails / Handrail corner combination
Specialist wash & dry toilet with touch free operation
Touch sensor taps
Wireless remote shower unit

Bathroom

Support arms, vertically/horizontally adjustable
Handrails / Handrail corner combination
Touch sensor taps
Wireless remote shower unit

Kitchen

Integrated oven with slide and hide door or side opening facilitation
Inset kitchen sinks for rise and fall units. 1 shallow bowl.
Electric height adjustable bracket for hob, Safety sensors installed to front/side edges
Electric height adjustable bracket for sink, Safety sensors installed to front/side edges
Electric height adjustable bracket for wall cupboards mounted above sink worktop, Safety sensors installed to whole underside
Self-closing kitchen doors
1400mm activity space required in front of each workstation and appliance
Moveable storage unit on casters for addition low level storage
Solid work surface that is heat and scratch resistant
Touch sensor taps

Bedroom

1500mm turning circle within bedroom
Direct access to main en-suite bathroom

Bedroom & Living/Dining Room

1200mm circulation clearance throughout the Homes spaces

Sockets / Switches / Data

Standard Switches and sockets to be installed at 400mm above floor level for low level fittings and at 800mm above floor level in accessible units for high level fittings
In kitchens, where above worktops, sockets and appliance isolating switches to be 100mm above surface generally to accessible units.
Programmers to be positioned at 800mm above floor level in accessible units.

Doors

Pocket doors for easy access and operation
44mm solid core door timber veneer HW lipped on 2 long edges installed within pocket door cassette system incorporating automatic sliding door motor, rails, posts, bumpers jambs, electronic control running gear. All connected to low profile electromagnetic lock with illuminated push button control.

Windows

Lowered window cills with fixed glazing below 800mm with window, beading and supporting framework to glazing below 800mm capable of withstanding the loads specified in BS EN 1991-1-1: 2002, to act as a protective barrier. Transom bars to be avoided between 600 and 1500mm to give an unobstructed view.
Tilt and turn window system for controlled ventilation and easy access for customer cleaning

Main Entrance Door

1500mm turning circle at entrance door

Lighting

Dimmable to alleviate eye strain

Lifts/Stairs/Balustrades

Platform lift or equal inclusive structure with clear glass infill panels and glazed access doors. 1100x1400mm platform. 70mm recess required. Finishes from standard range.
Platform lift or equal inclusive structure with half height upper gate. 1100x1400mm platform. 70mm recess required. Finishes from standard range.

Smart Technology

Motorised blinds

Older Age and Mobility

Wetroom/Bathrooms

Support arms, vertically/horizontally adjustable
Colour options available to draw attention
Shower seat, vertically/horizontally adjustable, with back- and armrests
Colour options available to draw attention
Handrail corner combination
Colour options available to draw attention
Contrasting colour toilet seat
Separate cold/hot water taps rather than mixer
Signage on door
Sensor lights to detect movement
Audio aids for additional guidance

Kitchen

Kitchen units in contrasting colours to worktop.
Space underneath worktop for chair or stool for seating
Transparent cupboard doors
Sensor lights to detect movement

Bedroom

Sensor lights to detect movement

Living Room

Sensor lights to detect movement

Lighting

Contrasting colour for light switches/sockets on walls

Doors

Bathroom & Wet room doors to be a different colour to the other doors in the property

Main Entrance Door

Contrasting Internal frame colour
Audible sounds/tactile markings on keys
Contrasting door colour to external materials

Balustrade/Stairs

Contrasting handrail colour
Bright / Contrasting coloured stair nosing’s / edging
Sensor lights to detect movement

Floor Finishes

Ceramic floor tiles in contrasting colour to wall tiles
Matt finish to flooring
Contrasting floor finish to wall finish

Wall Finishes

Ceramic wall tiles in contrasting colour to floor tiles
Ceramic splashback tiles in contrasting colour to wall finish

Smart Technology

Contrasting colour motorised blinds

Bariatric

Wetroom/Bathroom

Oversized floor mounted toilet capable of higher weight capacity
Grab rail / support arm specification capable of higher weight capacity
Mobile lift

Bedroom

Recessed ceiling hoist track and hoist unit installed above bed in main bedroom
Turning radius of 1830mm
Additional storage space

Doors

Doors to achieve minimum clear opening of 1000mm