Old age accessories

The revisions to the Building Regulations to include optimum heights for switches and socket outlets for the benefit of people whose reach is limited is therefore welcome. But accessibility is not enough on its own to make the operation of electrical accessories easy for the elderly and disabled.

Thankfully, these difficulties can be overcome with specially designed wiring accessories and electronic devices. Just to give an idea as to the potential size of the market for some of these products, around eight million people in the UK are affected by arthritis and rheumatism, according to the Arthritis Research Campaign. And, a Department of Health survey in 1998 found that 53% of men and 41% of women over 75 years of age have hearing difficulties. And currently there are around 340 000 people registered as blind or partially blind.

Welcome though the objective of the revised Building Regulations is, clarification of its scope is being sought by the ECA. Switches, doorbells, entry-intercoms and similar items are required to be installed no higher than 1200 mm from finished floor level, while socket-outlets, aerial and telephone jack points and similar items are to be mounted no less than 450 mm above finished floor level. There is scope for flexibility within the designated heights. So for instance it would appear to be permissible to follow the recommendations made by the Centre for Accessible Environments, with people in wheelchairs in mind. These are for wall switches to be mounted 1000 mm above floor level and socket outlets 800 mm above floor level. The Centre also recommends that switch cords used in bathrooms should reach down to about the same height above the floor as a wall mounted light switch.

What is not clear is whether the maximum and minimum heights apply to all rooms and all parts of a house, including for instance a garage.

One sure thing, though, is that the revised Regulations apply only to new and substantially re-built dwellings. Wall-fitted accessories in homes being refurbished will not have to be repositioned. Where socket outlets are in the skirting board, vertical wall mounted plug-in extensions are available which provide two 13 A socket outlets at an accessible height. A bar at the top of the extension holds disconnected plugs at socket height ready for use. A number of specialist companies such as Smith & Nephew Homecraft and Nottingham Rehab Supplies offer these extensions.

Socket outlets above worktops in the kitchen can prove difficult for a person in a wheelchair to reach. Switches to the sockets should therefore be mounted at the front of the worktop, including neon-lit switches to fixed appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.

It helps people with arthritic hands if light switches have large rockers such as offered by Caradon MK, Electrium, Legrand and Tenby. For people with visual impairment it helps if the rocker pad and switch surround are in contrasting colours and they certainly need to stand out against the wall covering. Some manufacturers, such as Legrand, offer switches and also neons in different colours, plus the possibility to include an identification label. Also, very distinctive is the plate switch from Caradon MK with a neon lit surround.

The Centre for Accessible Environments recommends that the number of ring mains sockets specified in each room should take account of occupants with a particular disability that may need special electrical equipment. For example the recharging of batteries for electric wheelchairs will occupy a socket for large amounts of time so alternatives need to be available.

For vulnerable electrical equipment that is normally connected via sockets to the ring main it may be worth considering separate circuits to avoid loss of use of the equipment caused by a fault elsewhere on the ring main.

Where two-ganged switched socket outlets are to be installed then the choice should be made for those with rockers on the outside of the outlets rather than between them – outboard rockers, as MK calls them. This reduces the possibility of switching off the wrong side of the socket or to switch off both side when meaning to do just one.

For people with sight impairment it is recommended that the sockets are colour contrasted and that different coloured plugs should be used on adjacent appliances to ensure that the correct appliance is connected. Plugs are also available with either integral moulded, or clip on, handles designed for people with arthritic hands or reduced strength.

Where an appliance is permanently plugged into a 13 A socket outlet it is possible to obtain remote controlled 13 A switches. These may be either of the plug-in variety, as offered by Possum Controls, or an extension lead version from Ridley Electronics.

Possum also offers a remote sensor for use with an infra-red socket which allows it to be operated when it is out of sight of the user. And, the company manufactures an infra-red controlled light switch operated through the environmental controller or a separate remote control handset. The switch includes dimming facility and an override button for manual control.

In addition to infra-red transmitters, Ridley Electronics offers radio frequency transmitters. Whereas the IR transmitters work only in line of sight, the RF transmitters are best where security is needed (the signal is coded), where out of sight operation is required, and/or where each function is operated by a separate button, eg door openers, door latch releases systems or alarms.

Both companies offer transmitter switches that do not rely on manual dexterity but can be operated by movement of virtually any part of the body. These include switches that operate with as little as 3 mm of movement of any part of the body, that require only skin contact between two metal plates to operate, and mouth operated switches. Ridley stresses that its pipe mouthpiece is operated by gentle lip contact and so does not interfere with the user's breathing pattern as might a suck/blow switch. In contrast to these delicate switches there is the smack down lever switch which by providing a large contact area enables the user to operate it without any accuracy.

Possum's Freeway controller is a simple IR and RF controller incorporating a large back-lit scanning display with icons and voice announcement, making it suitable for people with visual and/or cognitive impairment. Up to seven menus can be programmed each to operate between one and 32 definable functions. Simple pre-recorded phrases can also be replayed to assist with communication.

Among other talking devices is the Timestat, which includes two independent seven day timers, a thermostat and frostat. Operated by eight buttons, its functions can be used separately or in combination. Each time the device is plugged into the mains it speaks brief instructions for setting. It can operate mains appliances up to 2 kW and also functions as a talking clock and talking thermometer.

As well as talking devices, there are voice operated infra-red control systems, such as those available from Intacall; these can be used to control a wide range of appliances and equipment as well as switch sockets if required.