Standards of Housing

Standards of Housing

According to evolving ideas, housing standards are expanding. When determining housing standards, it is important to keep in mind that social and economic factors, such as cultural differences, family income, family size and composition, standards of living, socioeconomic status, climate factors, and housing standards, differ significantly from country to country and from region to region.

In addition to the aforementioned, minimum standards must be upheld by construction and regulations to improve housing and environmental conditions given the limited resources available. These are the requirements:

Site

• The home should be situated in a safe neighborhood that is elevated above its surroundings to prevent flooding during periods of severe rainfall.
• The chosen soil for the house should be safe for building on, dry, and well-drained. For at least 20–25 years, "made-soil," or earth that has been leveled by dumping garbage, is particularly unsuitable for construction. Subsoil water should not be deeper than 10 feet.
• It should be far from potential health risks including dust, smoking, odor, loud noise, and traffic.
• The location ought to have a separate entrance leading to a roadway with enough width.
• It should be far from places where flies and mosquitoes breed.
• It should be in a welcoming environment.

Set Back (Open Space Aound House)

• There should be open space all around the house for appropriate lighting and ventilation. is known as a setback.
• The distance from the wall should be such that ventilation and lighting are not impeded.
• Given the abundance of land, it is advised that the built-up area in rural areas not exceed one-third of the total area. The built-up area in urban areas, where land is expensive, may be up to two-thirds.

Walls:

The walls should be:

• Reasonably strong, not easily damaged and accumulation of dust that is no cracks or crevices. A 9 inch (22.5cm) brick wall plastered smooth both inside and outside will meet the above requirement.
• Weather resistant: Should have low heat capacity ie. should not absorb heat and conduct the same.
• Colored cream or white
• Should be weather resistant
• Unsuitable for harborage of rats & vermin.

Floor

The floor should be satisfying the following criteria:

• The floor of the house should be impermeable eg. cemented or stone floor. So that it can be easily washed and kept clean and dry. Mud floors and to break-up and cause dust hence they are not recommended.
• The height of one base should be 2-3 feet (0.6-1.0 meter) above ground.
• The floor must be smooth and free from cracks & crevices to prevent the breeding of insects and harborage of dust.
• The floor must be damp proof so that it can easily be washed and kept clean and dry.

Floor Space/Area:

The floor area/space of a living room should be at least 120 sq feet for occupancy by more than one person and at least 100 sq feet for occupancy by a single person.

The floor area available in living rooms per person should not be less than 50 sq feet the optimum is 100 sq feet.

Roof

• The height of the roof should not be less than 10 feet (3meters) in the absence of air conditioning for comfort.
• The roof should have a low heat transmittance co-efficient. Flat roof should also have a slight slope to drain off the rain water.

Rooms:

The number of living rooms should not be less than two, at least one of which can be closed for security. The other may be open on one side if that side is a private courtyard. The number of rooms and there area should be increased according to the size of the family. The accepted standards are:

• 1 room - 2 persons
• 2 rooms - 3 persons
• 3 rooms - 5 persons
• 4 rooms - 7 persons
• 5 or more rooms - 10 persons (additional two for each further room)
• A baby under 12 months is not counted, children between 1-10 yrs is counted as half unit. Over crowding is considered on exist if 2 persons over 9 years of age, not husband and wife of opposite sexes are obligated to sleep in the same room.

Doors and Windows

• Enough ventilation should be provided in the home through doors and windows.
• They should be placed facing opposite to each other allowing cross ventilation.
• Each room should have two windows and at least one of them should open directly on to an open space.
• The windows should be placed at a height of at least 3 feet above the ground in living rooms.
• Windows area should be 1 /5^ prime h of the floor area.
• Doors and windows combined should have 2 / (5 ^ (th)) floor area.
• The doors and windows can be screened with net wire gauze to prevent flies & mosquitoes. This is a suitable method for hospitals, eating places, such as restaurants etc. but it's a costly procedure.

Ventilation

Ventilation is the gradual introduction of fresh dry air to replace hot humid air.

Importance of Good Ventilation

• Good ventilation is necessary to maintain health & comfort for the following reasons:
• The human body loses heat by evaporation of sweat & by the direct transfer of heat to the surrounding air & therefore remains cool.
• Evaporation of sweat & heat transfer will not
• occur when the air is very hot & humid.
• Psychologically a hot, humid environment creates discomfort, irritability & concentration. poor
• In environments where many people are crowded together with poor ventilation, the stagnant air will become loaded with expired airborne pathogens.
• Under such conditions, susceptibility to air borne spread of disease increases (e.g. Susceptibility to tuberculosis, measles, pertusis, meningococcal meningitis, common cold, influenza, chickenpox increases under these conditions).
• Buildings are costly & often permanent; consideration should therefore be given to ensuring that they comply with recommended standards of ventilation, e.g. in prisons, schools, hospitals & private dwellings.

Other Facilities

• Kitchen: Every house should be equipped with a kitchen with all facilities. The kitchen should not be placed near a privy.
  • It should not be placed in such a way that no smoke, smell etc. enter the rest of the home.
  • It should be protected Should be adequately lighted with proper arrangement for storing food, fuel and provision of water supply. Sink for washing utensils & fitted with arrangements for proper drainage system. The floor of the kitchen must be impervious.
• Privy: In every house there should be a sanitary latrine, which is a fundamental necessity. This should be placed in one part of the house & should be easily accessible. Adequate light & water and proper drainage system of excreta should be available.
• Garbage & Refuse Disposal: The house should have facilities for garbage & refuse disposal at least daily and disposed of in a sanitation manner.
• Facilities for bathing and washing: There should be facilities provided in every house for bathing & washing with adequate provision to drain off used water.
• Water supply: Adequate and continuous safe water supply should be made available to all the houses as a first priority.