The Thirty-One Kitchen Design Rules, Illustrated

By /









Starting in 1944 the University of Illinois conducted a number of studies of kitchen design and developed the fundamental design principles that are still very much in use. These days the National Kitchen & Bath Association updates and publishes these basic design standards.



A kitchen that follows all of these rules is almost guaranteed to be both functional and safe. See how many rules your existing kitchen violates for a better understanding of why it may seem awkward and hard to use.



While these guidelines are a good start, they do not substitute for competent kitchen design. Design encompasses these rules and much more. It’s the “much more” part that gets novice designers in trouble.



A new kitchen is a major investment, and not something you are going to want to do over because the first design was not quite right. So, invest in a good design. It’s money well spent.




Legend

Building Code Requirement: Refer to national building and access codes. Your local code authority may have modified or added to these national requirements.

Universal Design: Refer to NKBA recommendations for universal design.

ADA/ANSI Guidelines: Refer to Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines and recommendations published by the American National Standards Institute for universal design. These may or may not be mandated by local building codes, but are required in some federally subsidized housing.


Notes: Remarks by the publishers of the rule or standard.


Other Rules and Guidelines



These are not the only kitchen design “rules”. Designers, carpenters, cabinetmakers, plumbers, and electricians have worked out some rules of thumb over many years that may not rise to the level of “standards”, but represent accepted practice proven over time to be effective. We have included these in notes and comments where applicable.



Methodology & Overview



The NKBA Kitchen & Bathroom Planning Guidelines with Access Standards is a collection of illustrations and planning suggestions to aid professionals in the safe and effective planning of kitchens and bathrooms. These guidelines are excerpted from the National Kitchen & Bath Association Professional Resource Library Kitchen Planning and Bath Planning volumes. Designers and those interested in becoming kitchen and bath design professionals benefit by studying the complete body of knowledge found in the NKBA Professional Resource Library.



These flexible, easy-to-understand guidelines were developed under the guidance of the NKBA by a committee of professionals. The committee completed in-depth historical reviews of planning guidelines dating back to 1920. The guidelines published in this booklet reflect a composite of the historical review, current industry environment, future trends, consumer lifestyles, new research, new building codes, and current industry practices; as well as a Kitchen Storage Research Project conducted by Virginia Polytechnic Institute.



The “Universal Design Guideline Access Standard” is a relatively new addition to the guidelines. It defines the rules for kitchens intended for use by persons with less than full physical abilities.



Get an official copy of the consolidated Kitchen & Bathroom Planning Guidelines.



Guideline: The clear opening of a doorway should be at least 32″ (813mm) wide. This requires a minimum 34″ (864mm) or 2′-10″ door.


Building Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: The clear opening of a doorway should be at least 34 (864mm) inches. This would require a minimum 36″ (914mm) or 3′-0″ door.

ADA/ANSI Guidelines:

  1. Clear openings of doorways with swinging doors shall be measured between the face of door and stop, with the door open 90 degrees. (ANSI 404.2.3)

  2. When a passage exceeds 24″ in depth, the minimum clear opening increases to 36″. (ANSI A117.1 404)




Guideline: No entry door should interfere with the safe operation of appliances, nor should appliance doors interfere with one another.


Building Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: The door area should include clear floor space for maneuvering which varies according to the type of door and direction of approach. See ADA/ANSI Guidelines below.

ADA/ANSI Guidelines:

  1. For a standard hinged or swinging door, the clearance on the pull side of the door should be the door width plus 18″ by 60″. (ANSI A 117.1 404.2.3.1)

  2. The clearance on the push side of the door should be a rectangle the with of the door times 48″ (See illustration). (ANSI A 117.1 404.2.3.1)



Don’t Miss These Useful Kitchen Planning Articles

Cabinet construction


For even more in-depth home remodeling articles visit our Index to Articles.





Guideline: In a kitchen with three work centers the sum of the three traveled distances should total no more than 26 feet with no single leg of the triangle measuring less than 4 feet (1.29m) nor more than 9 feet (2.743m).


Universal Design: The kitchen guideline recommendation meets Universal Design Guideline standards.

Notes:


  1. A major appliance and its surrounding landing/work area form a work center. The distances between the three primary work centers (cooking surface, primary sink, and refrigerator) form a work triangle.


  2. When the kitchen plan includes more than three primary appliance/work centers, each additional travel distance to another appliance/work center should measure no less than 4′ nor more than 9′.


  3. Each leg is measured from the center-front of the appliance/sink.


  4. No work triangle leg may intersect an island/peninsula or other obstacle by more than 12″ (305mm).


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.




Guideline: A full-height, full-depth, tall obstacle should not separate two primary work centers. A properly recessed tall corner unit will not interrupt the workflow and is acceptable. (Examples of a full-height obstacle are a tall oven cabinet or pantry cabinet.)


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: The kitchen guideline recommendation meets Universal Design Guideline standards.




Guideline: No major traffic patterns should cross through the basic work triangle.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: The kitchen guideline recommendation meets Universal Design Guideline standards.




Guideline: The width of a work aisle should be at least 42″ (1,067mm) for one cook and at least 48″ (1,219mm) for multiple cooks. Measure between the counter front­age, tall cabinets and/or appliances.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.

ADA/ANSI Guidelines:

  1. A clear floor space of at least 30″ by 48″ (1,219mm) should be provided at each kitchen appliance. Clear floor spaces can overlap. (ANSI A 117.1 305.3, 804.6.1)

  2. In a U-shaped kitchen, plan a minimum clearance of 60″ (2,032mm) between opposing arms. (ANSI A117.1 804.2.2, 1003.12.1.2).

  3. Include a wheelchair turning space with a diameter of at least 60″ (2,032mm), which can include knee* and toe* clearances. (ANSI A117.1 304.3.1).


  1. A wheelchair turning space could use a T-shaped clear space, which is a 60″ (2,032mm) square with two 12″ wide x 24″ (305mm x 610mm) deep areas removed from the corners of the square. This leaves a minimum 36″ (914mm) wide base and two 36″ (914mm) wide arms. T-shaped wheelchair turning spaces can include knee and toe clearances. (ANSI A117.1 304.3.2).


Universal Design: The ADA/ANSI Guideline recommendation meets Universal Design recommendation. See Code References for specific applications.

Notes: In planning a Universal Access Kitchen …

  1. Knee clearance must be a minimum of 30″ (762mm) wide (36″ (914mm) to use as part of the T-turn) and maintain a 27″ (686mm) clear space under the cabinet, counter, or sink for a depth of 8″ (229mm). The next 3″ (76mm) of depth may slope down to a height of 9″ (229mm), with a clear space of at least 17″ (432mm) extending beneath the element. (ANSI 306.3).

  2. Toe clearance space under a cabinet or appliance is between the floor and 9″ (229.6mm) above the floor. Where toe clearance is required as part of clear floor space, the toe clearance should extend 17″ (432mm) minimum beneath the element. (ANSI A117.1 306.2).




Guideline: The width of a walkway should be at least 36″.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: If two walkways are perpendicular to each other, one walkway should be at least 42″ wide.

About Kitchen Cabinets


Cabinets, more than any other item, determine the style of a kitchen.


Ap­pli­an­ces, fix­tures, flooring, even proper lighting are important, but cabinets are the element that chiefly defines the kitchen’s look and function.


Because they play such a large role in your kitchen’s design, it pays to learn as much as possible about the range of cabinet options. This means looking beyond style – although the style is important – to structure, finishes, hardware, and accessories.


To learn all about kitchen cabinetry, go to Cab­i­net Ba­sics, Part 1:
An In­tro­duc­tion to Cab­i­nets.




Guideline: In a seating area where no traffic passes behind a seated diner, allow 32″ (813mm) of clearance from the counter or table edge to any wall or other obstruction behind the seating area.

Notes: If traffic passes behind the seated diner …

  1. Allow at least 36″ (914mm) to edge past.

  2. Allow at least 44″ (1,118mm) to walk past.

  3. Plan a minimum of 60″ (1,524mm) to allow passage for a person in a wheelchair.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: In a seating area where no traffic passes behind a seated diner, allow 36″ (914mm) of clearance from the counter/table edge to any wall or other obstruction behind the seating area.



Guideline: Kitchen seating should be a minimum of 24″ (610mm) wide for each person and …


  1. For 30″ (762mm) high tables/counters, a minimum 18″ (457mm) deep clear knee space for each seated diner.

  2. For 36″ (914mm) high counters, a minimum 15″ (381mm) deep clear knee space for each seated diner.

  3. For 42″ (1,067mm) high counters, a minimum 12″ (305mm) deep clear knee space for each seated diner.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.

Universal Design:

  1. Kitchen seating areas should be 28″ – 34″ (711mm – 364mm) high x 30″ – 36″ (762mm – 914mm) wide x 19″ (483mm) deep to better accommodate people of various sizes or those using a mobility aid.

  2. Recommended minimum size for a knee space at a table or counter is 36″ wide x 27″ high x 19″ deep (914mm wide x 686mm high x 483mm deep).




Guideline: If a kitchen has only one sink, locate it adjacent to or across from the cooking surface and refrigerator.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: Plan knee spaces at the sink to allow for a seated user. Recommended minimum size for a knee space is 36″ wide x 27″ high x 8″ deep (914mm wide x 686mm high x 457mm deep), increasing to 17″ (686mm) deep in the toe space, which extends 9″ (229mm) from the floor. Insulation (padding) for exposed pipes should be provided.

ADA/ANSI Guidelines:

  1. The sink should be no more than 34″ (864mm) high or adjustable between 29″ (737mm) and 36″ (914mm). (ANSI 117.1.1002.4.2).

  2. The sink bowl should be no more than 6 1/2″ (165mm) deep (ANSI 117.1 1002.12.4.3).

  3. Exposed water supply and drain pipes under sinks should be insulated (padded) or otherwise configured to protect against contact. There should be no sharp or abrasive surfaces under sinks. (ANSI A117.1 606.6).




Guideline: Include at least a 24″ (610mm) wide landing area [Note C] to one side of the sink and at least an 18″ (457mm) wide landing area on the other side.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.

Notes:


Note A: If all of the countertop at the sink is not the same height, then plan a 24″ landing area on one side of the sink and 3″ of countertop front­age on the other side, both at the same height as the sink.


Note B: The 24″ (610mm) of recommended landing area can be met by 3″ (76mm) of countertop front­age from the edge of the sink to the inside corner of the countertop if more than 21″ (533mm) of countertop front­age is available on the return. (See Illustration 11A, Note B.)


Note C: Landing area is measured as countertop front­age adjacent to a sink and/or an appliance. The countertop must be at least 16″ (406mm) deep and must be 28″ (711mm) to 45″ (1,143mm) above the finished floor to qualify.


Universal Design:

Kitchen guideline recommendation meets Universal Design standards.



Laminate Countertop

On a Budget?


Staying on budget does not have to mean doing without either essentials or some very nice refinements. You just have to choose wisely and use common sense.


Learn how to plan a beautiful, functional kitchen that is at the same time affordable.


Find ideas that we have found work well based on over 40 years of kitchen remodeling experience at Kitchen Remodeling on the Cheap: Proven Ideas for Creating Your Dream Kitchen on a Budget.


For even more in-depth home remodeling articles visit our Index to Articles.





Guideline: Include a section of continuous countertop at least 30″ wide x 24″ deep (862mm wide x 619mm deep) immediately next to a sink for a primary preparation/work area.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: A section of continuous countertop at least 30″ wide with a permanent or adaptable knee space should be included somewhere in the kitchen.


ADA/ANSI Guidelines: In a kitchen, there should be at least one 30″ (762mm) wide section of counter, 34″ (864mm) high maximum or adjustable from 29″ to 36″ (737mm to x914mm). Cabinetry can be added under the work surface, provided it can be removed or altered without removal or replacement of the work surface, and provided the finished floor extends under the cabinet. (ANSI A 117.1 8.04.6.3, 1003.12.6.3)




Guideline: Locate nearest edge of the primary dishwasher within 36″ (914mm) of the nearest edge of a cleanup and prep sink.

Notes:


Note A: Provide at least 21″ (533mm) of standing space between the edge of the dishwasher and countertop front­age, appliances and/or cabinets, which are placed at a right angle to the dishwasher.


Note B: In a diagonal installation, the 21″ (533mm) is measured from the center of the sink to the edge of the dishwasher door while in it full open position.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: Raise dishwasher 6″ – 12″ when it can be planned with appropriate landing areas at the same height as the sink.


ADA/ANSI Guidelines: A clear floor space of at least 30″ x 48″ (782mm x 1,219mm) should be positioned adjacent to the dishwasher door. The dishwasher door in the open position should not obstruct the clear floor space for the dishwasher or the sink. (ANSI A 117.1 804.6.3, 1003.12.6.3)

The bottom-hinged drawer gets in the way of people moving around the kitchen and makes it much harder for mobility-impaired users to load and unload. It is not a very user-friendly or efficient appliance.

Most, but not all, of the solution is to raise the dishwasher off the floor so that the center of the appliance is about waist high in kitchens where it is possible, that’s what we do.

The new drawer-style dishwashers are a vast improvement, but as of yet, very pricey.

For more information on dishwasher placement, see Mise-en-Place: What We Can Learn About Kitchen Design from Commercial Kitchens. For more information about ergonomic kitchen design, see Body Friendly Design: Kitchen Ergonomics.




Guideline: Include at least two waste receptacles. Locate one near each of the cleanup and prep sinks and a second for recycling either in the kitchen or nearby.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: Kitchen guideline recommendation meets U­ni­ver­sal Design Stand­ard.




Guideline: At least 3″ (76mm) of countertop front­age should be





provided on one side of the auxiliary sink, and 18″ (457mm) of countertop front­age on the other side, both at the same height as the sink.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: Plan knee spaces at the sink to allow for a seated user. Recommended minimum size for a knee space is 36″ wide x 27″ high x 8″ deep (914mm wide x 686mm high x 457mm deep), increasing to 17″ (686mm) deep in the toe space, which extends 9″ (229mm) from the floor. Insulation (padding) for exposed pipes should be provided.

ADA/ANSI Guidelines:

  1. The sink should be no more than 34″ (864mm) high or adjustable between 29″ (737mm) and 36″ (914mm). (ANSI 117.1.1002.4.2).

  2. The sink bowl should be no more than 6 1/2″ (165mm) deep (ANSI 117.1 1002.12.4.3).

  3. Exposed water supply and drain pipes under sinks should be insulated (padded) or otherwise configured to protect against contact. There should be no sharp or abrasive surfaces under sinks. (ANSI A117.1 606.6).



Guideline: Include at least …

  1. 15″ (381mm) of landing area on the handle side of the refrigerator, or

  2. 15″ (381mm) of landing area on either side of a side-by-side refrigerator, or

  3. 15″ (381mm) of landing area which is no more than 48″ across from the front of the refrigerator, or

  4. 15″ (381mm) of landing area above or adjacent to any undercounter style refrigeration appliance.


Universal Design: See ADA/ANSI Guidelines.


ADA/ANSI Guidelines: A clear floor space of 30″ x 48″ (762mm x 1,219mm) should be positioned for a parallel approach to the refrigerator/freezer with the center-line of the clear floor space offset 24″ (610mm) maximum from the center-line of the appliance. (ANSI A 117.1 804.6.6, 1003.12.6.6)




Guideline: Include a minimum of 12″ (305mm) of landing area on one side of a cooking surface and 15″ (381mm) on the other side.

Notes:


Note A: The 12″ (305mm) and 15″ (381mm landing areas must be at the same height as the cooking surface.


Note B: For safety reasons, in an island or peninsula situation, the countertop should also extend a minimum of 9″ (229mm behind the cooking surface if the counter height is the same as the surface-cooking appliance.


Note C: For an enclosed configuration, a reduction of clearances shall be in accordance with the appliance manufacturer’s instructions or per local codes. (This may not provide adequate landing area.)


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: Lower the cooktop to 34″ (356mm) maximum height and create a knee space beneath the appliance.

ADA/ANSI Guidelines:

  1. When a forward-approach clear floor space is provided at the cooktop, it should provide knee and toe clearance and the underside of the cooktop should be insulated or otherwise configured to prevent burns, abrasions, or electric shock. (ANSI 1002.12.6.4)

  2. The location of cooktop controls should not require reaching across burners. (ANSI 1003.12.6.4)



All About Countertops

Countertop


A countertop takes a lot of abuse. We put hot pans on it, cut on it, scrape and scratch at it, scour it, and spill hot liquids on it. Yet after years of abuse, your countertop is expected to look as good as ever – and mostly they do.


Today’s countertop materials are truly miracles of modern engineering, evolving so rapidly that even if you’ve replaced a kitchen countertop in the recent past, you’ll probably be surprised by the many options in materials and styles now available.


Learn about some of the common and uncommon materials available for countertop at New & Traditional Countertop Choices.






Guideline: Allow 24″ (610mm) of clearance between the cooking surface and a protected noncombustible surface above it.

Code Requirement:

  1. At least 30″ (762mm) of clearance is required between the cooking surface and an unprotected/combustible surface above it. (IRC M 1901.1).

  2. If a microwave/vent hood combination is used above the cooking surface, then the manufacturer’s specifications should be followed. (IRC M 1504.1)


Universal Design: Kitchen guideline recommendation meets U­ni­ver­sal Design Stand­ard.




Guideline: Provide a correctly sized, ducted ventilation system for all cooking surface appliances. The recommended minimum is 150 cubic feet of air per minute (cfm) (4.25 cubic meters per minute (cmm)).

Code Requirement:

  1. Manufacturer’s specifications must be followed. (IRC G 2407.1, IRC G 2447.1).

  2. The minimum required exhaust rate for a ducted hood is 100 cfm (2.83 cmm) and must be ducted to the outside. (IRC M 1507.3).

  3. Make-up air may need to be provided. Refer to local codes. (IRC G 2407.4).


Universal Design: Ventilation controls should be placed 15″ (381mm) – 44″ (1,118mm) above the floor, operable with minimal effort, easy to read and with minimal noise pollution.

ADA/ANSI Guidelines:

  1. Operable parts should be operable with one hand and not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate operable parts should be 5 pounds (2.27 kg) maximum. (ANSI A117.1 309.4).

  2. Where a forward or side reach is unobstructed, the high reach should be 48″ (1,219mm) maximum and the low reach should be 15″ (381mm) minimum above the floor.(ANSI A117.1 308.2.1 and 308.3.1).

  3. Where a forward or side reach is obstructed by a 20″ (508mm) to 25″ (535mm) deep counter, the high reach should be 44″ (1,118mm) maximum. (ANSI A117.1 308.2.2)



Guideline:

  1. Do not locate the cooking surface under an operable window.
  2. Window treatments above the cooking surface should not use flammable materials.
  3. A fire extinguisher should be located near the exit of the kitchen away from cooking equipment.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: Place fire extinguisher between 15″ and 48″ off the finished floor.





Guideline: Locate the microwave oven after considering the user’s height and abilities. The ideal location for the bottom of the microwave is 3″ (76mm) below the principal user’s shoulder but no more than 54″ (1,372mm) above the floor. If the microwave oven is placed below the countertop the oven bottom must be at least 15″ (381mm) off the finished floor.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: Locate the microwave controls above 15″ and below 48″.



Countertop

Planning the Perfect Pantry


Every kitchen needs a pantry. A well-stocked pantry is required for good domestic management. Whatever the size of your kitchen, it should include a convenient place to store groceries, and this critical storage requires careful thought and planning.


Whether it is a simple as a single cabinet or as elaborate as a traditional butler’s pantry, to provide convenient and accessible storage, all pantries must follow a simple set of iron-clad design rules.


To learn how to design the perfect pantry, go to Pantry Perfect: The “Can’t Go Wrong” Pantry Design Rules.


Illustrated: A vintage butler’s pantry designed bynoted Oregon
architect William Knighton circa 1908 and still in use.





Guideline: Provide at least a 15″ (381mm) landing area above, below, or adjacent to the handle side of a microwave oven.

Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.

Universal Design: Provide a landing area in front of or immediately adjacent to the handle side of the microwave.



Guideline:

  1. Include at least a 15″ (381mm) landing area next to or above the oven.

  2. At least a 15″ (381mm) landing area that is not more than 48″ (1,219mm) across from the oven is acceptable if the appliance does not open into a walkway.

Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.

Universal Design: See ADA/ANSI Guidelines.

ADA/ANSI Guidelines: For side-opening ovens, the door latch side should be next to a countertop (ANSI A 117.1 804.6.5.1)




Guideline: If two landing areas are adjacent to one another, determine a new minimum for the two adjoining spaces by taking the larger of the two landing area requirements and adding 12″ (305mm).

Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.

Universal Design: Kitchen guideline recommendation meets U­ni­ver­sal Design Stand­ard.



Guideline: A total of 158″ (4,013mm) of countertop front­age, 24″ (610) deep, with at least 15″ (381) of clearance above, is needed to accommodate all uses, including landing area, preparation/work area, and storage.

Notes: Built-in appliance garages extending to the countertop can be counted towards the total countertop front­age recommendation, but they may interfere with the landing areas.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: At least two work-counter heights should be offered in the kitchen, with one 28″ to 36″ (711mm to 914mm) above the finished floor and the other 36″ to 45″ (914mm to 1,143mm) above the finished floor.




Guideline: Specify clipped or round corners rather than pointed corners on all countertops.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: Kit­chen guideline recommendation meets U­ni­ver­sal Design Standard.



Commercial Kitchen

What We Have Learned From Commercial Kitchens


Often the difference between a successful kitchen that is both beautiful and easy to work in is the design of the kitchen’s storage. Cabinetry layout and configuration is an important part of the storage design but it is not the whole story.


We have found that the best model for successful storage design is the commercial kitchen. Restaurant kitchens are designed for maximum efficiency and ease of preparing hundreds of appetizing meals in a very short time. Not every feature of a commercial installation works in a home kitchen, but many do.


To discover the secrets of commercial kitchens, go to Mise-en-Place: What We Can Learn About Kitchen Design from Commercial Kitchens.




Guideline: Total combined shelf and drawer front­age is:














Distribution of Shelf & Drawer Space

Kitchen Size

Small Mediu Large

Wall
Cabinet

Base
Cabinet

Drawer
Frontage

Pantry
Cabinet

Misc
Storage*

300″
762cm

520″
130cm

360″
914cm

180″
457cm

40″
102cm

360″
914cm

615″
1562cm

400″
1016cm

230″
684cm

95″
241cm

360″
914cm

660″
1676cm

525″
1334cm

310″
787cm

145″
368cm

* Storage more than 84″ above the floor is considered miscellaneous storage.

  1. 1400″ (3556cm) for a small kitchen (less than 150 sq. ft./13.94 sq. meters);
  2. 1700″ (4318cm) for a medium kitchen (151 to 350 sq. ft./14.02 to 32.52 sq. meters); and
  3. 2000″ (5080cm) for a large kitchen (greater than 350 sq. ft./32.52 sq. meters).


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: Plan storage of frequently used items 15″ (381mm) to 48″ (1,219mm) above the floor.

ADA/ANSI Guidelines:

  1. Where a forward or side reach is unobstructed, the high reach should be 48″ (1,219mm) maximum and the low reach should be 15″ (381mm) minimum above the floor. (ANSI A117.1 308.2.1 and 308.3.1)

  2. Where a 20″ to 25″ (508mm to 635mm) deep counter obstructs a forward or side reach, the high reach should be 44″ (1,117mm) maximum. (ANSI A117.1 308.2.2) (See Rule 11, Image 11A for an illustration.)

Notes:

  1. Shelf and drawer front­age is determined by multiplying the cabinet size by the number and depth of the shelves or drawers in the cabinet, using the following formula: Cabinet width in inches x number of shelves and drawers x cabinet depth in feet (or fraction thereof) = shelf and drawer front­age.

  1. The recommended distribution for the shelf and drawer front­age in inches is shown in the table at left. The totals for wall, base, drawer, and, pantry shelf­/­ drawer front­age can be adjusted upward or downward as long as the recommended total does not decrease.

  2. Do not apply more than the recommended amount of storage in the miscellaneous category to meet the total front­age recommendation.

  3. Storage areas that are more than 84″ above the floor must be counted in the miscellaneous category.

  4. Storage/organizing items can enhance the functional capacity of wall, base, drawer, and pantry storage and should be selected to meet user needs.


This rule just scratches the surface of ergonomic storage. For more information, see these articles:



Guideline: Of the total recommended wall, base, drawer and pan­try shelf and drawer front­age, the following should be located within 72″ of the centerline of the main sink:

  1. at least 400″ (1,016cm) for a small kitchen (less than 150 sq. ft./13.94 sq. meters);
  2. at least 480″ (1,219cm) for a medium kitchen (150-350 sq. ft./14.02 to 32.52 sq. meters);
  3. at least 560″ (1,422cm) for a large kitchen (more than 350 sq. ft./32.52 sq. meters).


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: Plan storage of frequently used items 15″ to 48″ above the floor.




Guideline: At least one corner cabinet should include a functional storage device

Notes: This guideline does not apply if there are no corner cabinets.


Code Requirement: No national Code requirement. Check for local code requirements where you live.


Universal Design: Kitchen guideline recommendation meets U­ni­ver­sal Design Stand­ard.




Guideline: GFCI (Ground-fault circuit-interrupter) protection is required on all receptacles servicing countertop surfaces within the kitchen. (IRC E 3802.6). Refer to IRC E 3801.4.1 through E 3801.4.5 for receptacle placement and locations.


Universal Design: Lighting controls should be placed 15″ to 44″ (381mm to 1,118mm) above the floor, operable with minimal effort, easy to read and with minimal noise pollution.

ADA/ANSI Guidelines:

  1. Operable parts should be operable with one hand and not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate operable parts should be 5 pounds (2.27 kg) maximum. (ANSI A117.1 309.4).

  2. Where a forward or side reach is unobstructed, the high reach should be 48″ (1,219mm) maximum and the low reach should be 15″ (381mm) minimum above the floor. (ANSI A117.1 308.2.1 and 308.3.1).

  3. Where a 20″ to 25″ (508mm to 635mm) deep counter obstructs a forward or side reach, the high reach should be 44″ (1,117mm) maximum. (ANSI A117.1 308.2.2) (See Rule 11, Image 11A for an illustration.)




Guideline: In addition to general lighting required by code, every work surface should be well illuminated by appropriate task lighting.

Code Requirement:

  1. At least one wall-switch-controlled light must be provided. Switch must be placed at the entrance. (IRC E 3803.2).

  2. Window/skylight area, equal to at least 8% of the total square footage of the kitchen, or a total living space which includes a kitchen, is required. (IRC R 303.1, IRC R 303.2)


Universal Design: Lighting should be from multiple sources and adjustable

ADA/ANSI Guidelines:


  1. Operable parts should be operable with one hand and not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate operable parts should be 5 pounds maximum. (ANSI A117.1 309.4).


  2. Where a forward or side reach is unobstructed, the high reach should be 48″ maximum and the low reach should be 15″ minimum above the floor. (ANSI A117.1 308.2.1 and 308.3.1).

  3. Where a 20″ to 25″ (508mm to 635mm) deep counter obstructs a forward or side reach, the high reach should be 44″ (1,117mm) maximum. (ANSI A117.1 308.2.2) (See Rule 11, Image 11A for an illustration.)



All About Kitchen Lighting

Kitchen Lighting


Because it typically opens for business before dawn and closes long after sunset, a kitchen uses a lot of energy for lighting. That makes this room an important place to use efficient lighting. While remodeling your kitchen, you have the perfect opportunity to create an effective but also highly efficient lighting system.


Designing a lighting system that provides just the right light yet uses very little electricity is the goal of lighting design. It is not a trivial process. And it requires an intimate understanding of how light works.


To learn about light and lighting design, go to Designing Efficient & Effective Kitchen Lighting.






Every kitchen needs a pantry. Whatever the size or shape of your kitchen, it should include a convenient place to store groceries, and this critical storage requires careful thought and planning. It should be large enough to hold at least a week’s worth of groceries, and close enough to the food preparation…(Continues)









Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top