Oven
A wall oven is the recommended type of oven to be used when accommodating for persons with disabilites.
This type of oven can be installed at the most appropriate height for the user, and
the controls can be placed within reach of a standing or sitting user. Wall ovens
come in several widths (24", 27", 30"). There are three types of doors that can
be used: drop-front, side hinged, and swinging doors.
Lowered wall ovens are usually installed 30" - 40" above the floor. When installing the
wall oven, it is important to make sure that its height is appropriate for the user.
Knee space must be available to wheelchair users to allow them to access the oven.
For a drop-front door, knee space must be provided on either side of the oven.
For a side-hinged or swinging door knee space must be provided directly under the oven or
on the side closest to the door handle.
- Minimum requirements:
- Height: 27 inches
- Depth: 19 inches
- Width: 30 inches
- Recommended dimensions:
- Height: 29 inches or greater to allow for wheelchair armrests
- Width: 36 inches
There are various reach ranges that must be considered in order to accommodate
for disabilites.
- Reach range for persons seated in wheelchair:
- Down: 12 - 15 inches above the floor
- Out (over the counter): 3 feet, 8 inches above the floor (maximum)
- Up: 4 feet above the floor (maximum)
- Side reach for persons seated in a wheelchair:
- Lateral: 12 inches (maximum)
- Down: 9 inches above the floor (minimum)
- Up: 4 feet, 6 inches above the floor (maximum)
- Reach for standing person, mobility impaired:
- Up: 6 feet above the floor
- Down: 2 feet above the floor
The type of controls chosen should be based on the individual's disability. The
following control types can be used for the oven, and the advantages and disadvantages
are provided for each type.
- Lever type
Advantages:
- Do not require grasping for operation
- Their shape provides a natural pointer that indicates the control's position
- Best type of control to use for universal accessibility
- Blade knobs: control with a large straight blade across the center; use the
blade to turn the knob
Advantages:
- Blade shape is asymmetrical - it extends on one side which forms a pointer that
helps indicate the control's position
- The shape acts as a lever - turning is accommplished with reduced effort
- Second best type of control to use for universal accessibility
Disadvantages:
- Requires grasping for operation
- Electric touch controls
Advantages:
- Single touch operation
- Requires little force for operation
- Requires no gripping or twisting
- Does not require fine finger dexterity
- Some manufacturers offer plastic overlay panels with raised tactile openings
or labeling to aid the isually impaired
Disadvantages:
- Not accessible to those with visual impairments
- Redundant cueing/feedback to the user
-
Controls should provide redundant cueing or feedback to the user in order to be
accessible to persons with visual and hearing impairments.
Examples of redundant cueing/feedback:
- Click stops - provide distinct audible sound and tactile cue
- High contrast labeling
- Raised markers
The most used oven rack should be placed so that it is at the same height as the
adjacent counter space. This facilitates easy sliding of hot pans from the oven
to the counter.
- Drop-front door:
- Pull-out shelf next to the oven, just below the counter top, and at the same
height as the oven rack
- Side-hinged door:
- Shelf below the oven - 10 inches wide, extends the full width of the oven (minimum)
- Permanent shelf - i.e. the front edge of the counter
- Pull-out shelf - located directly under the counter top
It is recommended that only electric ovens be used because: (1) there are no products of
combustion such as carbon monoxide when using electrical ovens, and (2) individuals with an
impaired sense of smell will not be able to detect a gas leak.
This section discusses general issues concerning the installation of an electric wall oven.
Tools needed, general requirements that must be followed, and electrical requirements that
must be followed are presented. Detailed procedures are provided by any particular wall
oven's instruction manual. An electrician and carpenter may be needed. These installation
instructions provide generalities only! Consult the instruction manual for the particular
oven you are installing for complete details.
- Tools Needed:
- Drill
- Phillips screwdriver
- Flathead screwdriver
- Straight edge
- Ruler or tape measurer
- Saw
- General requirements:
- The wall oven should be supported by a solid bottom or 2 runners on centers. These
runners should be even with the bottom edge of the cutout opening.
- Make sure that the wall oven is installed securely to a cabinet that is firmly
attached to the house structure.
- Make sure that the oven support is level and straight.
- Electrical requirements:
- Connect the wall oven to an individual, properly grounded branch circuit, protected
by a circuit breaker or fuse having an amperage as noted on the rating plate.
- Must use 3 wire single phase A.C. 208Y/120 Volt or 120/240 Volt, 60 Hz electrical system.
- If you are connecting to aluminum wiring, properly installed connections approved for
use with aluminum wiring must be used.
- Electrical connections:
- De-energize the range branch circuit.
- Connect the flexible power cable to the junction box so that it hangs down in a natural
loop against the leftside of the back wall when the oven is installed.
- The flexible conduit connector must be securely attached to the junction box. The flexible
conduit must be securely attached to the connector.
- Pitfalls:
- Oven support is not level and straight.
- Oven is not securely installed to a cabinet that is firmly attached to the house structure.
- Improper connection of aluminum house wiring to the copper leads from the oven can result
in electrical hazard or fire. Therefore, use only connectors designed for joining copper
to aluminum and follow the manufacturer's recommended procedure closely.
This section discusses general issues concerning the installation of gas wall oven.
Tools needed, general requirements that must be followed, and gas requirements that
must be followed are presented. Detailed procedures are provided by any particular wall
oven's instruction manual. An electrician and carpenter may be needed. These installation
instructions provide generalities only! Consult the instruction manual for the particular
oven you are installing for complete details.
- Tools Needed:
- Pipe wrench
- Phillips screwdriver
- Flathead screwdriver
- Straight edge
- Ruler or tape measurer
- Open end or adjustable wrench
- General requirements:
- The wall oven should be supported by a solid bottom or 2 runners on centers. These
runners should be even with the bottom edge of the cutout opening.
- Make sure that the wall oven is installed securely to a cabinet that is firmly
attached to the house structure.
- Make sure that the oven support is level and straight.
- Must be properly electrically grounded.
- 120 V, 60 Hz branch circuit protected by a 15-amp or 20-amp circuit breaker
or time delay fuse.
- Gas requirements:
- Installation must conform to local gas codes
- In the absence of local codes, installation must conform to the National Fuel
Gas Code, ANSI Z223.1, latest edition.
- Gas connections:
- Connect the oven to the gas supply using:
- hard piping or
- flexible metal appliance connector
- Install a manual gas line shut-off valve in an easily accessible location
- Pitfalls:
- Oven support is not level and straight.
- Oven is not securely installed to a cabinet that is firmly attached to the house structure.
- Reuse of old flexible connectors. Always use new flexible
connectors. Reuse of old flexible connectors can result in gas leaks and injury.
- Gas supplied to oven is not the type of gas for which the oven is designed.
[Introduction]
[Layout]
[Electrical]
[Refrigerator]
[Dishwasher]
[Microwave]
[Oven]
[Range]
[Sink]
[Countertops]
[Storage]
[References]