Better doors and windows for the elderly and disabled

Many elderly people and people with disabilities, who form a significant part of society, are unable to use doors and windows due to the physical effort required. Research at BRE over the past two years has produced a guide for the specification of automatic controls for doors and windows in homes that aid access and improve facilities. The research began in April 1995 and has been undertaken as part of a DETR funded Partners in Technology project with support from numerous industry partners. To assist development of the guide, laboratory and field testing of prototype doors and windows with automatic controls has been undertaken. The results of these studies are described.