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New Kitchen Planning Guidelines These are starting points rather than as hard-and-fast rules. Some may apply to your kitchen, while others may seem irrelevant. Dont get hung up on a guideline if you think theres a better way to address your needs. Highlights include: · · The contested work triangle. The NKBA defines the work triangle as an imaginary straight line drawn from the center of the sink, to the center of the cook top, to the center of the refrigerator, and finally back to the sink. The triangle formed by these imaginary lines should total 26 feet or less, with no single leg of the triangle shorter than 4 feet or longer than 9 feet. The work triangle should also not intersect an island or peninsula by more than 12 inches. If the kitchen has only one sink, it should be placed between or across from the cooking surface, preparation area, or refrigerator. Such standards are meant to ensure that the cook wont be cramped, waste steps, or be interrupted by traffic through the kitchen. The work triangle has been criticized for being too restraining for kitchens where another arrangement may be more appropriate, particularly in kitchens with more than one cook. · · At least two work-counter heights should be offered , one 28 inches to 36 inches above the finished floor and the other 36 inches to 45 inches above the finished floor. The different countertops make the kitchen more convenient for cooks of different heights, for seated cooks, and for bakers who can more comfortably roll dough at the lower height. · · Watch that no entry, appliance, or cabinet doors block each other when open. In a kitchen with an island, an appliance or cabinet door on the island shouldnt hit an appliance or cabinet door across from it. · · To improve the function and accessibility of the kitchen, include at least five storage or organizing items, such as rollout shelves, lowered wall cabinets, raised base cabinets, tall cabinets, appliance garages, storage bins, cutlery dividers, swing out pantries. · · Microwave ovens should be placed so that the bottom of the appliance is 24 inches to 48 inches above the floor. The final placement should be based on the cooks physical abilities. If a seated cook or a child will use the microwave, for example, it may need to be lower. · · Windows and skylights should equal at least 10 percent of the total square footage of the separate kitchen or of the full living space that includes the kitchen. Below youll find all 40 of the NKBAs guidelines. National Kitchen & Bath Association 40 Planning Guidelines o o 1a. Doorways at least 32 wide and not more than 24 deep in direction of travel o o 1b. Walkways at least 36 wide o o 1c. Work aisles at least 42 wide for one cook; at least 48 wide in multi-cook kitchens o o 2. Work triangle 26 or less, with no single leg shorter than 4 nor longer than 9 o o 3. No major traffic patterns crossing through work triangle o o 4. No entry, appliance, or cabinet doors interfering with one another o o 5. In seating area, 36 of clearance from counter/table edge to wall/obstruction if no traffic passes behind seated diners; 65 of clearance for walkway behind seated diners Cabinets and Storage o o 6. Kitchens under 150 sq. ft.: 144 of wall cabinet frontage, with cabinets at least 12 deep and 30 high with adjustable shelving Kitchens over 150 sq. ft.: 186 of wall cabinet frontage, with cabinets at least 12 deep and 30 high with adjustable shelving o o 7. At least 60 of wall cabinet frontage within 72 of primary sinks center-line o o 8. Kitchens under 150 sq. ft.: 156 of base cabinet frontage with cabinets at least 21 deep Kitchens over 150 sq. ft.: 192 of base cabinet frontage with cabinets at least 21 deep o o 9. Kitchens under 150 sq. ft.: at least 120 of drawer or rollout shelf frontage Kitchens over 150 sq. ft.: at least 165 of drawer or rollout shelf frontage o o 10. At least five storage/organizing items 15 to 48 above finished floor o o 11. At least one corner storage unit o o 12. At least two waste receptacles: one for garbage and one for recyclables Appliance Placement and Use o o 13. Knee space below or adjacent to sinks, cook tops, ranges, and ovens at a minimum of 27 high by 30 wide by 19 deep o o 14. Clear floor space of 30 x 48 at sink, dishwasher, cook top, oven, and refrigerator o o 15. Minimum of 21 clear floor space between edge of dishwasher and any object placed at right angle to dishwasher o o 16. Edge of primary dishwasher within 36 of one sink edge o o 17. Primary sink between or across from cooking surface preparation area or refrigerator o o 18. At least 24 of clearance between cooking surface and protected surface above or 30 of clearance between cooking surface and unprotected surface above o o 19. Ventilation system with a fan rated at a minimum of 150 CFM for major surface cooking appliances o o 20. No cooking surface below operable window unless window 3 or more behind appliance and more than 24 above it o o 21. Bottom of microwave ovens 24 to 48 above floor Counter Surface and Landing Space o o 22. At least two work counter heights: one at 28 to 36 above finished floor and one at 36 to 45 above finished floor o o 23. Kitchens under 150 sq. ft.: at least 132 of usable counter frontage Kitchens over 150 sq. ft.: at least 198 of usable counter frontage o o 24. At least 24 of counter frontage to one side of primary sink and 18 on other with 24 space at same height as sink o o 25. At least 3 of counter frontage on one side of secondary sink and 18 on other with 18 space at same height as sink o o 26. At least 15 of landing space (minimum 16 deep) above, below, or adjacent to microwave oven o o 27. Open-ended kitchen: at least 9 counter space on one side of cooking surface and 15 on other, at same height as appliance Enclosed kitchen: at least 3 of clearance space at an end wall protected by flame retardant material and 15 on other side at same counter height as appliance o o 28. At least 15 of counter space on latch side of refrigerator or on either side of a side-by-side or at least 15 of counter space no more than 48 across from refrigerator o o 29. At least 15 of landing space (minimum 16 deep) next to or above oven if it opens into primary traffic pattern; if it does not open into traffic, 15 x 16 landing space needed o o 30. Continuous countertop 36 long and at least 16 deep for preparation center; prep center located by water source o o 31. For two adjacent work centers, a minimum counter frontage equal to the longest of the two required counter lengths plus 12 o o 32. No two primary work centers separated by full-height, full-depth tall tower unit (i.e. pantry or refrigerator) o o 33. Minimum clearances for seating areas: o o 30 high table/counter: 30 wide x 19 deep table/counter for each seated diner with 19 clear knee space o o 36 high counter: 24 wide x 15 deep counter space for each seated diner with 15 clear knee space o o 42 high counter: 24 wide x 12 deep counter space for each seated diner with 12 of clear knee space o o 34. No sharp counter edges Room, Appliance, and Equipment Controls o o 35. Controls, handles, and door and drawer pulls operational with one hand o o 36. Wall-mounted room controls 15 to 48 above finished floor o o 37. Ground fault circuit interrupters specified on all outlets o o 38. Fire extinguisher visibly located in kitchen away from cooking gear and 15 to 48 above floor o o 39. Window/skylight area covering at least 10 percent of total square footage of kitchen or total living space that includes kitchen o o 40. Every work surface well-illuminated by appropriate task and/or general lighting Additional Kitchen Information www.kitchens.com We hope this page helps... Let us know any way to improve our web site and feel free to pass along any information you think might be useful on our web site - Thanks! Know we are happy to help or provide information - Feel free to call or email! BRANDS CONSTRUCTION FREE PLANS & ESTIMATE? 616 283 1151 You Can Call or Email! mailto:email@BrandsConstruction.com 616 875 2005 616 875 2085 Fax Sponsored Links: Kitchen Storage Solutions Kitchen and Office Furniture Appliance Parts and Free Advice and Diagrams to Fix Appliances. The Constitution of America only guarantees the pursuit of happiness; you have to catch up with it yourself. 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