The SAFERhome design is an overlay for homes that brings flexibility, safety, and cost savings. All criteriae are within the existing Provincial and National Building Code. There is now a real housing choice of getting more than the traditionally accepted minimum building standard.
SAFERhome Standards are defined into 3 categories comprising of 15 standards.
8 STANDARDS |
Overview |
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Criteria |
SAFERhome Standard |
Description |
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1 |
Exterior Thresholds |
All exterior thresholds are flush. |
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2 |
Interior Thresholds |
All interior thresholds meet minimal code constraints (eg. shower entrance). |
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3 |
Doors (pinch points) |
All doors and pinch points are a minimum of 34″ but ideally 36″ wide. |
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4 |
Hallways |
All hallways are a minimum of 40″ but ideally 42″ wide. |
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5 |
Washroom Wall Reinforcements |
Reinforced with 2″x12″ solid lumber in all washroom tub, shower, and toilet locations. |
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6 |
Wall Reinforcements |
At the top of all stairs, walls are reinforced with 2″x12″ solid lumber at 36″ to centre. |
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7 |
Multistory Connection Provision |
Either an allowance for an elevator options in stacked closets or build all staircase(s) with a minimum width of 42″. |
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8 |
Sink Cabinets |
Cabinets underneath each sink are easily removed. |
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4 STANDARDS |
Overview |
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Criteria |
SAFERhome Standard |
Description |
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9 |
Light Switch Positioning |
All switches positioned at 42″ to the centre of the electrical box from the finished floor. |
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10 |
Electrical Outlet Positioning |
All outlets positioned at 18″ to the centre of the electrical box from the finished floor. |
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11 |
Electrical Outlet Placement Locations |
Beside windows, especially where draperies or blinds may be installed; Bottom of staircases; Beside the toilet; Above external doors (inside); On front face of kitchen counter. |
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12 |
Four-Plex Outlet Locations |
Placed in master bedroom, home office, garage, and recreation room. |
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Supplemental Criteria (the following three criteria are optional) |
If you would like a hard-wired low voltage system in your home that provides a higher level of security and reliability. SAFERhome Standards offers the supplemental criteria that measures and recognizes the full access technologies ready home. |
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Supplemental |
RG-6 Coaxial Cable Runs |
All homeruns return to one central area. (Node Zero). |
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Supplemental |
Telephone Pre-Wiring |
CAT 5E (4 pair) homerun to all areas and return to one central area. (Node Zero). |
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Supplemental |
Electrical Outlet Placement At Node Zero |
At Node Zero Location (the communications control centre for smart home options) where all the house wiring meets in one place. |
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3 STANDARDS |
Overview |
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Criteria |
SAFERhome Standard |
Description |
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13 |
Bath and Shower Control Positioning |
All controls are offset from centre, roughly 1/2 way between the historic centre location and the outside edge of the shower or tub enclosure. |
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14 |
Waste Pipes |
All pipes are brought in no higher than 14″ to the centre of the pipe from floor level. |
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15 |
Pressure/Temperature Control Valves |
(Canada for renovations only) Control valves are installed on all shower faucets. |