Key Safety Elements for the Outdoors
As humans, we’re very demanding of our homes. They should be comfortable, well organized, well built, warm - or cold - and safe. The thought that goes into architectural planning is well established, and architects invest time in new ideas all the time.
One thing we don’t always fully think out is safety. Of course, the house will be structurally safe and sound during construction, and after. But what features should be present in key areas to guarantee safety from everyday accidents? And how can we implement them without sacrificing design?
The Garden
Starting with the outdoors, as it’s there before you’ve even opened your front door. Despite the open and generally flat nature of outdoor spaces, there are a few unusual garden safety hazards that can hamper your enjoyment of the area - especially where children are concerned. Prime amongst these are plants. Landscapers and designers may often include plants which are listed in the Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System and are toxic to humans and animals. Even if there isn’t a child around to curiously eat the plant, it can end up in your system. Check what flora is in your outdoor space and adapt accordingly, or introduce safety measures - these can include using similar, less harmful species of plant, to retain design integrity.
The Outdoors Living Areas
As the focal point of the outdoors areas, your seating and gathering places will go through a range of conditions. Temperature will fluctuate; at nights cold, in the morning and during occupation, very warm. Moisture will build up from activity; drinks, food, chat and laughter. As a result, you’re likely to encounter mold. This is especially true, given the popularity of wooden furniture. Mold is quite dangerous and can cause a range of problems. Luckily, there are plenty of methods out there now for preserving the quality and integrity of your furniture, making it safe for your family and friends to continue to use. Examples including using anti-mold paint and sealant, and purchasing furniture made from specifically designed materials.
The Pool
Whilst pools might be hard to come by in the colder areas of the countries, many houses still operate them. This can be for exercise, where the water temperature isn't necessarily important; or, for more affluent homes, as a architectural feature and heated area in which to host events and unwind. However, they are intrinsically dangerous, especially when mixed with children or alcohol-laden events. Luckily, pools are easy to make safe. Simply install a fence - which can easily be changed to the specification and style of your property. Furthermore, it can be beneficial in the long-term to look for natural water filters, such as those made with graphite, as opposed to using chlorine.
Those are a few of the key safety elements of the home and probably the most pertinent for the majority of people. If you follow these basic tips, you can be sure to have a safe home without compromising the design and layout of your property.
