Hi,
More OT stuff, but maybe it's something of which we should all be aware.
My search was for EMERGENCY EXIT FROM BUNGALOW BY WHEEL CHAIR USERS. I get the feeling that the spiel that follows relates to public or commercial premises.
As you have probably guessed, my specific interest is in getting Barbara out of our bungalow. The previous (and original) owner of this bungalow (built in early/mid 1980) seems to have had all the windows and external doors replaced by uPVC units. Unfortunately, she seemed to have chosen the "cheapo" option, with the door frames having four sides ... there are three inch high "upstands" across the bottom of the doors when open. NOT wheelchair friendly.
My builder solved that problem on the front door, by removing the entire frame, moving it out three inches, then dropping by nearly three inches, so that the top of the bottom cross-rail is just a smidgen above floor level. The door just clears a rubber backed door mat. He then lifted brick paved drive to match.
The rear exit kitchen door is more complicated, as the side window is integral. Similarly, the conservatory door, only more so.
Many yonks ago, driving home, I spied a crowd of rubber-necks watching smoke pouring out of a front door. I forced my way through the crowd (as you do), and ran in through the front door, through into the kitchen, where I found a curtain, behind the gas stove, on fire. I used a conveniently places saucepan, bubbling on a gas ring, to put the flames out, and departed on my toes, back through the front door. As I climbed back into my car, I could here the fire engine coming. The fire station was about half a mile away.
I doubt that I spent more than 20 seconds in the house, but my throat and lungs hurt for several days. I won't do that again.
To the point ... our bungalow is timber-framed, with a suspended wooden floor. If, somehow, a fire started between Barbara and the front door, she would be unable to exit through the front door.
Comments and/or suggestions, please, on a plain brown postcard.
602
PS... I've just realised/noticed that all our light switches are 1.35 metres above floor level, Barbara needs her stick to switch them ON/OFF. There is something in my mind, from my self build, that switches should be at 1.2 metres. But its been nearly 40 years since I needed to know that, and things are getting vague. Anybody?