E-HOMES - Lifetime Homes

Lifetime Homes and Part M Standards

Summary tables

These summary tables simplify the various requirements set out in Part M regulations and Lifetime Homes standards.

Meeting the requirements

Meeting Part M regulations and Lifetime Homes accessibility requirements

This table brings together the information necessary to see at a glance what needs to be achieved to meet the Part M Building regulations. Alongside this we present some of the (very similar) Lifetime Homes requirements relating to accessibility (which have been revised and clarified after consultation since they were originally published in 1997). The table also shows the relevant Housing Corporation Scheme Development Standards that will be covered by meeting Lifetime Homes requirements, although it is recommended that the latest edition of the Scheme Development Standards is also referred to.

Table 1

Elements of accessibility required by Part M Part M requirements (by Building Regulations paragraph) Lifetime Homes standards Housing Corporation Scheme Development Standards (3rd Edition) met if Lifetime Homes criterion adopted (E = essential, R = recommended)
The approach to the house should be wide enough for wheelchair users, even when there is a parked car Paragraphs 6.10 and 6.13
An additional 900mm width must be added to the space for a car
Standard 1
The car parking space must be capable of enlargement to 3300mm width (generally by having a 900mm path or garden strip adjacent to the 2400mm space for a car)
1.1.3.4. E
(requires actual provision at the outset rather than provision for later enlargement)
The approach should not be too steep, ideally it should be level Paragraphs 6.6 and 6.13
If the plot gradient is less than 1: 20 then no part of the approach must be steeper than 1: 20. If the plot gradient is between 1: 15 and 1: 20, then individual slopes of 5m or less may have gradients up to 1: 12 and individual slopes 5 to 10m in length may have gradients up to 1: 15.* Paths should be at least 900mm wide.
Standard 2
As for Part M
relevant parts of 1.3.1.1 E
An accessible threshold at entrance level should be provided Paragraph 6.21
Where unavoidable, maximum 15mm upstand is permitted. Detailed guidance is in a separate industry guide available from The Stationery Office
Standard 4b
As for Part M
relevant parts of 1.3.1.2. E
Doorways and corridors should be wide enough to allow wheelchair users to manoeuvre into and out of rooms Paragraph 7.5
The entrance door must always be at least 775mm in width. Internal doorways and corridors should conform to the following table:
Doorway clear opening width (mm) Corridor/passageway width (mm)
750 or wider 900 (when approach head-on)
750 1200 (when approach not head-on)
775 1050 (when approach not head-on)
800 900 (when approach not head-on)
Standard 6
The width of the doorways and hallways should conform to the details given in the previous column, except that when the approach is not head-on and the corridor/ passageway width is only 900mm, then the doorway clear opening width should be 900mm rather than 800mm. The clear opening width of the front door should be 800mm. There should be 300mm to the side of the leading edge of doors on the entrance level.
1.3.1.3. E
1.3.1.4. E
Communal stairs in blocks of flats should provide ease of access to ambulant disabled people Paragraph 9.5
Uniform rise not more than 170mm
Uniform going not less than 250mm
Handrails extend 300mm beyond top and bottom step
Handrail height 900mm from nosings
Standard 5a
As for Part M
1.4.1.5. E
A stepped change of level within an entrance storey should allow ease of access to ambulant disabled people Paragraph 7.7
Flight clear width 900mm
Suitable continuous handrail on each side where there are more than three rises Rises and goings accord with Part K of the Building Regulations
Changes of level within a storey are not covered under the Lifetime Homes standards n/a
Wheelchair users should be able to use any lift provided in a block of flats Paragraph 9.1
Clear landing entrances 1500x1500mm
Min. internal lift car dimensions 900x1250mm
Lift controls between 900 and 1200mm from the floor and 400mm from the lift's internal front wall. There should be tactile control buttons, and visual and audible storey indicators for blocks of more than three storeys
Standard 5b
As for Part M but the minimum internal dimensions for the lift should be 1100x1400mm
1.2.1.44 E
1.2.1.45 E
Switches and sockets should be at a convenient height for all Paragraph 8.2
Switches and socket outlets for lighting and other equipment in habitable rooms between 450 and 1200mm from finished floor level
Standard 16
As for Part M
1.3.1.14. R (switches etc. at 900- 1200mm)
1.3.1.15. R (sockets at 450- 600mm)
All homes should have an entrance level WC which is usable by a wheelchair user Paragraph 10.3
Clear usable space between front of WC bowl and opposite  wall/ door 750mm min.
Distance from central line of cistern and adjoining wall 450mm min.
Where oblique access provided, there should be 250mm min. to side of door
Standard 10a
For dwellings with three or more bedrooms, or on one level, the WC must be fully accessible. A wheelchair user should be able to close the door from within the closet and achieve side transfer from a wheelchair to at least one side of the WC. 1100mm clear space is required at the front of the WC bowl**
In small two- bedroom dwellings where the design has failed to achieve this fully accessible WC, the Part M standard WC will meet this standard
1.3.1.5 E
1.3.1.9 R
1.6.3.6 R

* There must be top, bottom and intermediate flat ‘landings’ of not less than 1.2m excluding the swing of doors and gates. Part M makes provision for a ‘stepped’ access if plot gradients are steeper than 1: 15.

** But please note that it is important to meet the Part M minimum dimensions specified to each side of the WC bowl in entrance level WCs (diagrams 10a and 10b). The Lifetime Homes standards for houses of three bedrooms or more require full side transfer from at least one side of the WC.

Notes on the 1st table

The first table in this section brings together the information necessary to see at a glance what needs to be achieved to meet the Part M Building regulations. Alongside this we present some of the (very similar) Lifetime Homes requirements relating to accessibility (which have been revised and clarified after consultation since they were originally published in 1997). The table also shows the relevant Housing Corporation Scheme Development Standards that will be covered by meeting Lifetime Homes requirements, although it is recommended that the latest edition of the Scheme Development Standards is also referred to.

Table 2

The second table sets out the full Lifetime Homes standards for reference. Homes that meet all the standards are entitled to be designated ‘Lifetime Homes’. They will also meet the Part M Building Regulations, the relevant parts of the Housing Corporation Scheme Development Standards as indicated in the table, and the requirements of most local authorities for accessible housing.

The Lifetime Homes standards

The table below sets out the full Lifetime Homes standards for reference. Homes that meet all the standards are entitled to be designated ‘Lifetime Homes’. They will also meet the Part M Building Regulations, the relevant parts of the Housing Corporation Scheme Development Standards as indicated in the table, and the requirements of most local authorities for accessible housing.

Lifetime Homes standards Specifications and dimensions which meet Lifetime Homes standards Housing Corporation
Scheme Development Standards compliance (3rd Edition)
(E=essential, R=recommended)
1 Where there is car parking adjacent to the home, it should be capable of enlargement to attain 3300mm width The general provision for a car parking space is 2400mm width. If an additional 900mm width is not provided at the outset, there must be provision (e. g. a grass verge) for enlarging the overall width to 3300mm at a later date 1.1.3.4 E
(requires actual provision at the outset rather than provision for later enlargement)
2 The distance from the car parking space to the home should be kept to a minimum and should be level or gently sloping It is preferable to have a level approach. However, where the topography prevents this, a maximum gradient of 1: 12 is permissible on an individual slope of less than 5 metres or 1: 15 if it is between 5 and 10m, and 1: 20 where it is more than 10m.* Paths should be a minimum of 900mm width 1.1.3.2 E
(but covers natural surveillance, not distance)
3 The approach to all entrances should be level or gently sloping See standard 2 above for the definition of gently sloping relevant parts of 1.3.1.1 E
4 All entrances should:
a) be illuminated relevant parts of 1.3.1.2 E
b) have level access over the threshold and
c) have a covered main entrance
The threshold upstand should not exceed 15mm 1.1.1.12 E
5
a) Communal stairs should provide easy access and
b) where homes are reached by a lift, it should be fully wheelchair accessible
Minimum dimensions for communal stairs
Uniform rise not more than 170mm
Uniform going not less than 250mm
Handrails extend 300mm beyond top and bottom step
Handrail height 900mm from each nosing
Minimum dimensions for lifts
Clear landing entrances 1500x1500mm
Min. internal dimensions 1100x1400mm
Lift controls between 900 and 1200mm from the floor and 400mm from the lift’s internal front wall
1.4.1.5 E
1.2.1.44 E
1.2.1.45 E
6 The width of the doorways and hallways should conform to the specifications in the next column
Doorway clear opening width (mm) Corridor/ passageway width (mm)
750 or wider 900 (when approach is head-on)
750 1200 (when approach is not head-on)
775 1050 (when approach is not head-on)
900 900 (when approach is not head-on)
The clear opening width of the front door should be 800mm. There should be 300mm to the side of the leading edge of doors on the entrance level.
1.3.1.2 E
1.3.1.3 E
1.3.1.4 E
7 There should be space for turning a wheelchair in dining areas and living rooms and adequate circulation space for wheelchair users elsewhere A turning circle of 1500mm diameter or a 1700x1400mm ellipse is required 1.3.1.12 R
8 The living room should be at entrance level 1.3.1.10 R
9 In houses of two or more storeys, there should be space on the entrance level that could be used as a convenient bed space 1.6.3.6 R
1.3.1.11 R
10 There should be: a) a wheelchair accessible entrance level WC, with
b) drainage provision enabling a shower to be fitted in the future
The drainage provision for a future shower should be provided in all dwellings
Dwellings of three or more bedrooms
For dwellings with three or more bedrooms, or on one level, the WC must be fully accessible.
A wheelchair user should be able to close the door from within the closet and achieve side transfer from a wheelchair to at least one side of the WC.
There must be at least 1100mm clear space from the front of the WC bowl.
The shower provision must be within the closet or adjacent to the closet (the WC could be an integral part of the bathroom in a flat or bungalow)**
Dwellings of two or fewer bedrooms
In small two- bedroom dwellings where the design has failed to achieve this fully accessible WC, the Part M standard WC will meet this standard
1.3.1.5 E
1.3.1.9 R
1.6.3.6 R
11 Walls in bathrooms and toilets should be capable of taking adaptations such as handrails Wall reinforcements should be located between 300 and 1500mm from the floor 1.6.3.1 E
12 The design should incorporate: a) provision for a future stair lift
b) a suitably identified space for a through the floor lift from the ground to the first floor, for example to a bedroom next to a bathroom
There must be a minimum of 900mm clear distance between the stair wall (on which the lift would normally be located) and the edge of the opposite handrail/ balustrade. Unobstructed ‘landings’ are needed at top and bottom of stairs 1.3.1. 6 E
1.6.3.6 R
13 The design should provide for a reasonable route for a potential hoist from a main bedroom to the bathroom Most timber trusses today are capable of taking a hoist and tracking. Technological advances in hoist design mean that a straight run is no longer a requirement 1.6.3.2 E
1.2.1.31 R
14 The bathroom should be designed to incorporate ease of access to the bath, WC and wash basin Although there is not a requirement for a turning circle in bathrooms, sufficient space should be provided so that a wheelchair user could use the bathroom
15 Living room window glazing should begin at 800mm or lower and windows should be easy to open/ operate People should be able to see out of the window whilst seated. Wheelchair users should be able to operate at least one window in each room 1.4.1.1 E
1.2.1.32 R
16 Switches, sockets, ventilation and service controls should  be at a height usable by all (i. e. between 450 and 1200mm from the floor) This applies to all rooms including the kitchen and bathroom 1.3.1.14 R (switches, door handles and thermostats at 900- 1200mm)
1.3.1.15 R (sockets at 450- 600mm)

* Providing there are top, bottom and intermediate landings of not less than 1.2m excluding the swing of doors and gates.

** But please note that it is important to meet the Part M dimensions specified to each side of the WC bowl in entrance level WCs (diagrams 10a and 10b). The Lifetime Homes standards for houses of three bedrooms or more require full side transfer from at least one side of the WC.

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