Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DESIGN GUIDELINES
September 1999
Department of Health
Government of Western Australia
FOREWORD
FOREWORD
COPYRIGHT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONTENTS
FOREWORD __________________________________________________________________________________________ i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS________________________________________________________________________________ ii
TABLE OF TECHNICAL DRAWINGS. ____________________________________________________________________ ix
1. INTRODUCTION_________________________________________________________________________ 1
1.1 OVERVIEW _____________________________________________________________________________________1
1.2 GENERAL ______________________________________________________________________________________1
1.3 USE OF THIS DOCUMENT ________________________________________________________________________2
1.4 GLOSSARY _____________________________________________________________________________________3
1.5 GLOSSARY OF REFERENCED AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS_____________________________________________4
8. ENGINEERING SERVICES________________________________________________________________44
8.1 MECHANICAL SERVICES________________________________________________________________________44
8.1.1 Heating/Cooling/Ventilation - Generally ____________________________________________________________ 44
8.1.2 Heating ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 45
8.1.3 Cooling ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 45
8.1.4 Ventilation Requirements __________________________________________________________________________ 46
8.1.4.1 Outdoor Air ____________________________________________________________________________________ 46
8.1.4.2 Exhaust Air _____________________________________________________________________________________ 46
8.1.4.3 Ventilation Rates _______________________________________________________________________________ 47
8.1.4.4 Air Handling Systems ____________________________________________________________________________ 47
8.1.4.5 Legionella Prevention ___________________________________________________________________________ 47
8.1.4.6 Air Filtration_____________________________________________________________________________________ 47
8.1.4.7 Linen Processing Areas - Special Requirements ___________________________________________________ 48
8.2 ELECTRICAL SERVICE___________________________________________________________________________48
8.2.1 Switchboards______________________________________________________________________________________ 49
8.2.2 Cabling (General) _________________________________________________________________________________ 50
8.2.3 Lighting ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 50
8.2.3.1 External Lighting ________________________________________________________________________________ 50
8.2.3.2 Lighting: Electrical Installation ___________________________________________________________________ 51
8.2.4 Emergency Lighting and Illuminated Exit Signs _______________________________________________________ 51
8.2.4.1 Illuminated Exit Signs ____________________________________________________________________________ 51
8.2.4.2 Emergency Lighting ____________________________________________________________________________ 52
8.2.5 General Purpose Power Outlets ____________________________________________________________________ 52
8.2.6 Electric Room Heaters _____________________________________________________________________________ 52
8.2.7 Wall and Ceiling Fans ______________________________________________________________________________ 52
8.2.8 Alarm Systems _____________________________________________________________________________________ 53
8.2.9 Maintenance of Installation ________________________________________________________________________ 53
8.3 COMMUNICATIONS ___________________________________________________________________________53
8.3.1 Telephone System _________________________________________________________________________________ 53
8.3.2 Paging System ____________________________________________________________________________________ 54
8.3.3 Public Address System _____________________________________________________________________________ 54
8.3.4 Staff Assistance Call _______________________________________________________________________________ 54
8.3.5 Resident Entertainment ____________________________________________________________________________ 55
The system of Psychiatric Hostels came into daily living and/or personal care, who for
being in Western Australia in the 1970s to a variety of reasons are unable to remain
• managed by local mental health independence. The group home may also
Practitioner
• very limited family involvement
• require 24 hour support and assistance
1.2 GENERAL
with a range of daily activities.
1.4 GLOSSARY
AS - Australian Standard.
Central Facility - The central facility should contain services such as administration, main meeting
room, the central kitchen and/or laundry, etc. This should be separated from the residential facilities.
Disabled facility – A disabled facility contains toilet, hand basin and grip bars and is suitable for
independent wheel chair use.
Fully Assisted Facility – A fully assisted bathroom/toilet provides grip bars, bathing/toileting and hand
washing facilities and is large enough to allow either one or two staff members assisting residents.
FRL - Fire Resistance Level (as required by the Building Code of Australia).
Home-like environment - The Private Psychiatric Hostel should create an environment that is as near to
residential as possible.
Normalisation (Social Role Valorisation) - Normalisation supports the use of culturally acceptable and
valued means to enable people who are devalued by society to achieve and maintain valued social
roles.
Partially Assisted Facility – A partially assisted bathroom/toilet provides grip bars, bathing/toileting and
hand washing facilities and is large enough to allow one staff member to assist the resident.
Private Psychiatric Hostel - For the purpose of these guidelines Psychiatric Hostel shall mean Private
Psychiatric Hostel.
Residential Facility - Each residential facility should be treated as a single ‘house’ form, and read as
such from the street. It should provide the facilities of a typical home with modifications to provide the
necessary enabling environment.
Within the Psychiatric Hostel Design Guidelines certain Australian Standards are referenced by
number. Where the whole Australian Standard is not applicable, only the relevant part has been
referenced within the text, for example AS 1428.1. All the Australian Standards noted within the text
are listed below. To assist the reader, where a section or part of a standard is referenced the primary
title is also listed here (in italics).
This list is not an exhaustive list of Australian Standards by any means, and should not be taken to
mean that only these standards apply to the building or upgrading of a Psychiatric Hostel. Those
involved in any Psychiatric Hostel project, should consult the Building Code of Australia (current
edition) and the "Catalogue of Australian standards and Other Products" (current edition), to
determine if there is an applicable Australian Standard for the work under consideration.
For additional information relating to standards and codes, the reader is directed to section 2.7 of the
Psychiatric Hostel Design Guidelines, "Standards and Codes".
AS 1530 Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures.
AS 1670 Automatic fire detection and alarm systems – System design, installation and
commissioning.
AS 3000 Electrical installations – Buildings, structures and premises (known as the SAA Wiring
Rules).
AS 3003 Electrical installations – patient treatment areas of hospitals and medical and dental
practices.
of Health.
5. Environmental competence
involves an understanding of
the relationship between
environmental support
provided and the individual’s
capabilities, adaptive
behaviour and adaptive
range.
• independence
• options and choice
• continuation of roles and
lifestyles
• social interaction
4.3.1 Security
4.1 GENERAL
Security issues that should be
considered include:
The guidelines represent minimum
standards and at the same time seek to
• Entry and exit control to the
encourage Psychiatric Hostel design
facility and to resident
innovation within the ‘home-like’
bedrooms.
framework (refer Section - 2.5 Equivalent
Design Alternatives).
• Medication storage, in a
central location or in resident
bedrooms, must be secure.
may best be delivered from a staff installed in all resident care areas, and also
4.9.1 General
internal natural lighting levels (refer work is proposed all new work
compatible with the current and future should be assessed and positive
land use and zoning. The site should features incorporated into the
resident, their relatives, visitors and staff. significantly enhance the living
These should include public transport, environment for the future users of
5.2.7 Ramps
6.1.1 Entry and covered set-down desks, TV), etc. A bedroom must
not be used as a thoroughfare to
6.1.2 Bedrooms
6.1.5 Toilets
the rear wall to the front of the chosen that is simple for residents
600mm (720mm from rear wall to required. The bottom of the mirror
facility.
6.1.12 Family/Meals
6.1.21 Doors
6.3 CONSTRUCTION
6.2.8 Storage
• energy conservation
8.1 MECHANICAL SERVICES
temperature in any month falls with both heating and cooling. Air
Where not required for positive attain positive air flow from
accordance with the BCA and make-up air supply for shared
Circuit number and phase shall be The installation of electric wall and
suitably identified on every power ceiling fans shall comply with the
outlet. requirements of AS 3000 and the
Health (Public Buildings)
8.2.6 Electric Room Heaters Regulations.
• All hydraulic services shall comply with Where residents are expected to
AS 3500 as a minimum standard have difficulty in adequately
requirement. adjusting a comfortable showering
or bathing temperature, local
• All materials shall be suitable for their thermostatic control is
intended service. recommended. Such controls are
to be installed at high level to
• All brass shall be de-zincification eliminate the chance of
resistant (DR) grade. accidental resetting of the water
temperature.
• Where dew point can be reached,
insulation shall be provided to Domestic hot water provision for
pipework to prevent condensation. the washing of crockery,
glassware and cutlery shall be as
• Pipe materials shall be compatible described in the Health (Food
with the nature and temperature of Hygiene) Regulations.
discharge.
The requirements are summarised
8.5.1 Hot Water Supply as follows:
resident treatment, staff work and 50°C and contain not less than
facilities. hypochlorite; or
shall not exceed 46°C for adult degrees Celsius), provision shall be
residents except that where warm made for suitable sanitising of the
Systems shall be fail safe such that cleaned and sanitised at regular
AS 1345. pipework.
8.6.3 Certification
• Fire hose reels are to be provided where • A system of smoke hazard management
the total floor exceeds 500 m². Hose reels appropriate to the size and design of the
are to be located within 4 metres of an exit facility. Refer BCA Part E.
and are not to pass through any fire or
smoke wall. Fixed waterways are • A building occupant warning system in
recommended and any hose reel located accordance with BCA specification E2.2A.
in a cabinet or in a cupboard is to be
swing reel mounted. Hose reels are to be • Sprinkler systems where required by the
so located as to provide total coverage of BCA.
the floor area.
9.3 MAINTENANCE
10.1 GENERAL
The construction materials and detailing This section only describes minimum
shall reflect the needs of the intended provision for showers, toilets, basins and
resident. Resident safety shall be a prime baths.
consideration in the construction of the
Group Home (refer to section 4.4 - Safety). Showers, toilets, basins and baths shall be
residential in fitout and detailing, and
The construction materials and detailing consideration shall be given to resident
should adopt a maintenance minimisation safety as referred to in section 10.7.
approach within the given cost
parameters. Acoustic privacy is also very important in
shared facilities. Solid or medium core
12.2 BEDROOMS doors shall be installed with air transfer
ducts, not door grilles, for supply air.
single bedrooms are preferred. Bedrooms provided, the design focus should be
designed for more than two beds shall not consistent with AS 1428.1. Where the group
rails, soap holders, foot rests and provided for each residential facility. It
any other fixture which may be shall be sized to provide space for normal
used for support, shall have residential type day activities (e.g. Meals,
It should also be designed for partial Resident bedrooms shall have windows
access by the disabled, e.g. pull out shelf overlooking external areas.
or partially open under bench, lower An external area is a perimeter space
height bench, etc. The Independent around a building, a naturally ventilated
Living Centre can advise. and lit atrium or a courtyard.
The hot plate and oven should be Each external window and/or external
electric, should have on/off lights for glazed door panel area shall be not less
each hotplate and have front located than 10% of the floor area of the room
controls. concerned. An opening component
equal to not less than 5% of the floor area
Design of the kitchen shall consider of the same room should be provided.
resident safety as referred to in section These requirements together will ensure
10.7. natural light and ventilation in the event of
an electrical failure.
12.8 LAUNDRY
External windows shall be fitted with
flyscreens and consideration should be
The laundry should provide space for a
given to the installation of security
washing machine and clothes dryer and
screens/grilles. In addition windows shall
contain a trough, bench and space for an
have blinds and/or curtains. External
ironing board. External drying areas shall
shading devices should also be
also be provided.
considered. These measures should
provide effective control of direct sunlight
Consideration shall be given to the size
and glare from external sources.
and durability of appliances used.
13.1 GENERAL
13.2 FINISHES
Décor involves style, atmosphere, colour, patterned vinyl). In kitchen and wet areas,
materials, textures, forms and the effects of floor finishes shall be impervious and slip-
light. The appeal or lack of appeal to the resistant (e.g. mosaic ceramic tiles or slip
upon that individual’s perception of the vinyl in kitchens). In wet areas, coved
• energy conservation
14.1 MECHANICAL SERVICES
14.2.3.4 Air Handling Systems Electrical installations shall comply with the
requirements of AS 3000, the Supply
All air handling systems shall be Authority, the Building Code of Australia,
designed and operated in these guidelines and other relevant
accordance with AS 1668.1. Australian Standards.
Where systems fall outside the
jurisdiction of this standard, all The design, witnessing of all relevant tests
supply air systems, except for and certification of the Group Home
unitary equipment, shall electrical installation shall be undertaken
automatically shut down on by an appropriately qualified and
Psychiatric Hostel Design Guidelines – September 1999 79
ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR GROUP HOMES
experienced professional Engineer with of each area. Artificial lighting
Corporate Membership of the Institution of shall be by means of electricity.
Engineers, Australia and/or relevant NPER-
3 Registration. The professional Engineer The level of general lighting
shall certify all tests and that the design provided throughout shall be not
complies with all statutory requirements less than the recommended
and with these guidelines. service illuminance levels listed in
AS 1680.
The electrical contractor or consulting
engineer shall certify that the installation Light and power switches shall be
complies with the documentation and the of robust construction with heavy-
mandatory requirements established or duty mechanisms.
implied with the "Approval to Construct".
Mixed power and lighting circuits
Particular emphasis shall be placed on the are not permitted other than
safety and reliability of the installed single phase extraction fans in
service. single toilet, shower, bathroom or
other approved areas, which may
14.3.1 Switchboards be connected and switched with
the light fitting.
Switchboards, where required,
shall comply with the requirements Where working positions are fixed,
outlined in section 8.2.1. advantage may be taken of the
AS 1680.2.0 task lighting provisions.
14.3.2 Cabling (General)
The storm water drainage systems Storm water drainage grates shall
GROUP HOMES
A light incorporated in the smoke
alarm, or
15.1 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
The lighting in the corridor, hallway
Group Homes shall be designed and or area served by the smoke
constructed in accordance with the alarm.
requirements of the Building code of
Australia. The reference classification is Fire extinguishers with a minimum
Class 1B. The design shall include, but not classification and rating of 1A: 5B: (E)
necessarily be limited to, the following or 5B: 1F: (E) are to be installed in each
requirements: Group Home.
PART 7: APPENDICES
APPENDICES.