Accessibility means comfort at every stage of life. Whether you have a pram, a wheelchair or limited mobility, an optional flush, threshold-free design makes access easier, reduces tripping hazards and ensures your home is future-proof.
Barrier-free access is a key marker of quality in modern architecture in terms of universal design. It improves the quality of life and independence of residents, increases the value of a property and ensures that rooms can be used for the long term and remain attractive for all generations.
Funding programmes specifically support the renovation and age-appropriate conversion of living spaces. Funding is available for things like accessibility improvements, measures to enhance comfort and security, and modifications to enable independent living in old age.
Spending just 1% more on a newbuild can ensure that accessibility significantly enhances the comfort and appeal of your home. It’s not just older people who benefit from barrier-free access at home; young families do too – for example, when bringing prams or shopping bags into the house.
Barrier-free access can be easily combined with other modernisation measures. This means that energy-efficiency renovations, smart home technology or burglar protection, for example, can be integrated, making your living space more secure, comfortable and energy efficient.
A level threshold is completely flush with the floor, i.e. it has a threshold height of zero centimetres. This creates a barrier-free, step-free transition, for example between the living space and patio, without a trip hazard. Perfect for families, the elderly and anyone looking for a seamless transition between inside and outside.
Barrier-free living does not just mean level thresholds and sufficient space. A key aspect is the easy operation of doors and windows. Automated functions such as opening and closing at the touch of a button or via the app make everyday life significantly easier and offer additional protection, for example through integrated security functions.
Flush thresholds on entrance doors, sliding doors and patio doors not only reduce tripping hazards, but also create a modern living environment by opening up and connecting spaces.
You can choose a barrier-free design for your Schüco sliding and patio doors. Schüco entrance doors are fitted with a level threshold as standard and therefore meet the current standard for newbuilds. Seamless transitions are possible in renovations too, depending on the starting point.
The level threshold in Schüco entrance, sliding and patio doors is achieves the highest classification for rollover capacity. Two continuous gasket levels provide reliable protection against wind, rain and cold. Delayed hydraulic lowering means that the door can be closed with ease.
Mehr Komfort, mehr Stil, mehr Sicherheit – finden Sie die perfekte Lösung für Ihr Zuhause mit unseren hochwertigen Fenstern, Türen und Schiebetüren. Entdecken Sie maßgeschneiderte Designs, die Energie sparen und Ihre Zuhause rundum aufwerten.
Not necessarily. Barrier-free access is generally a broader concept and is intended to make life easier, safer and more comfortable at different stages of life. Barrier-free elements include seamless transitions, easier operation and fewer tripping hazards in day-to-day life. Wheelchair-accessible solutions can form part of this, but go even further depending on usage and requirements. In private residential construction, barrier-free access therefore primarily means that the home adapts flexibly to the needs of its occupants and remains easy to use in the long term. However, wheelchair-accessible solutions go significantly further and meet the strict requirements of DIN 18040-2 (R). For example, significantly larger manoeuvring spaces, specific handle heights and completely level thresholds are absolutely essential.
No threshold or level threshold means that the transition has been designed without any disruptive height difference, making the surface as level as possible. In daily life, this provides greater comfort, as it reduces the risk of tripping and makes pathways easier to navigate. Particularly with entrance doors, patio doors and sliding doors, a level threshold design creates a seamless transition between indoors and outdoors. At the same time, it is not just the height of the threshold that matters, but also the weathertightness, ease of use and a clean technical finish. Threshold-free solutions combine comfort, safety and a modern living space.
Barrier-free window and door solutions can sometimes entail higher costs because additional requirements for the thresholds, ease of operation and design need to be taken into account. In return, this brings benefits not only to older people and those with disabilities, but also to families and anyone planning a home for different stages of life. In newbuild properties in particular, barrier-free access can be taken into account at an early stage and thereby integrated in a particularly effective way. Even a relatively small additional investment can significantly improve the comfort and long-term usability of a home. The deciding factor should therefore not be price alone, but also the long-term added value for everyday life, comfort and future security in your own home.
A barrier-free home has been planned or converted in such a way that it can be used without encountering unnecessary obstacles. These include accessible transitions, easy-to-use windows and doors, and a living space that promotes safety and independence. In private residential construction, this does not mean making sacrifices, but rather greater comfort in many everyday situations, such as when using a pram, for those with limited mobility, or in old age. Accessibility is therefore seen not only as a functional consideration, but also as a hallmark of quality in modern architecture. The aim is a home that adapts to people, rather than the other way round.
Funding options are available for barrier-free renovations that support age-appropriate renovation and more comfortable living spaces. Funding is available for things like accessibility improvements, measures to enable independent living and conversions to enhance security and comfort. In individual cases, this funding can also be combined with other modernisation objectives, for example where accessibility is planned alongside measures to improve comfort or security. Which programmes are actually suitable always depends on the specific project and the current funding criteria. An early assessment of funding eligibility therefore helps to structure the project effectively and to take financial opportunities into account. Click here to go to the Schüco funding calculator.
