Home access features glossary
Thirty-five building attributes we use on written access checklists. Features are measured. People are not described.
- Accessible Approach with Ramp — A minimum of one entrance with a clear, evenly paved walkway from a parking or pedestrian arrival area.
- Accessible Bedroom — Bedroom with adequate turnaround (often 60 in. or approved alternate) and closet doors with about 32 in. clearance.
- Accessible Central Living Area — Hard-surface or low-pile flooring with secure edges; entrances providing about 36 in. clear passage among primary rooms.
- Accessible Closets — Closet doors with about 32 in. clearance throughout the central living area.
- Accessible Common Area — Level common area with about 36 in. passage through and around the space (often part of visitability).
- Accessible Doors — About 32 in. minimum clear passage; lever handle; low beveled threshold when present.
- Accessible Electrical and Environmental Controls — Controls located on the central living level; switches and thermostats in a reachable height band.
- Accessible Elevator Installed — Elevator with about 32 in. door and minimum turning space roughly 36 in. by 48 in.
- Accessible Entrance — Entrance door about 32 in. wide or more; low beveled threshold; lever hardware. Often paired with zero-step arrival.
- Accessible for Hearing-Impairment — Home wired for flashing and/or vibrating alerts such as smoke alarm or doorbell signals.
- Accessible Full Bath — Bathroom with adequate turnaround and an accessible bathing area such as a roll-in shower or shower-chair space.
- Accessible Hallway(s) — Hallway about 36 in. wide minimum (42 in. preferred) with lighting that supports safe passage.
- Accessible Kitchen — Clear turn space and roll-under or adaptable sink clearances unimpeded by fixtures.
- Accessible Kitchen Appliances — Stove controls at front or side; oven and microwave at usable counter heights.
- Accessible Stairway — Handrails on both sides where stairs exist, with lighting that supports safe use.
- Accessible Washer/Dryer — Raised washer and/or dryer with front controls and side opening toward the center.
- Adaptable Bathroom Walls — Reinforced bathroom walls that can accept grab bars and related fixtures.
- Adaptable For Elevator — Stacked closets in a multistory house planned for possible future elevator conversion.
- Ceiling Track — Ceiling track installed for a lift chair (for example, a Hoyer lift).
- Central Living Area — Includes common area, hallway(s), bath, kitchen, at least one bedroom, and access to environmental controls.
- Common Area — Portion of the home near an accessible entrance used for guests.
- Customized Wheelchair Accessible — Customized building adaptations for a specific wheelchair or scooter configuration.
- Electronic Environmental Controls — Programmable electronic controls for thermostat, lights, security, and automatic doors.
- Enhanced Accessible — Central living area configured for lifelong use across a wide range of mobility needs.
- Exterior Wheelchair Lift — Professionally installed exterior mechanical lift for a barrier-free approach.
- Grip-Accessible Features — Levers, hands-free, or closed-fist operable hardware throughout the central living area.
- Reinforced Floors — Reinforced floors for heavy equipment, power chairs, or therapeutic tubs.
- Safe Emergency Egress from Home — At least two no-step accessible egresses from the central living area where claimed.
- Smart Technology — Smart-home controls such as voice-activated systems or remote monitoring hardware.
- Stair Lift — Professionally installed motorized rail to climb an interior or exterior stairway.
- Standby Generator — Backup generator for refrigeration of medications, life-sustaining equipment, or essential temperature control.
- Therapeutic Whirlpool — Therapeutic whirlpool, properly installed.
- Visitable — A person using a wheelchair can enter and reach a main common area and a half-bath with required clearances.
- Visitor Bathroom — Bathroom nearest the common area (minimum half bath) with about 32 in. clear door and lever handles.
- Walker-Accessible Stairs — Stair treads about 25 in. deep minimum, rise about 4 in. maximum, width about 36 in. minimum.