CSA B659:08 (R2022)

Preface

This is the second edition of CSA B659, Inclusive design for an aging population. It supersedes the previous edition, published in 2001 under the title Design for Aging.

The aim of this Guideline is to promote the application of inclusive design that will help create products, services, and environments (PSE) that are accessible to Canada’s aging population. This Guideline provides a design and evaluation framework for PSE that meets the needs of an aging population while taking account of other important factors such as utility, marketability, and economic value to the producer and user. Rather than providing comprehensive information for specific industrial sectors, it offers guidance in the form of principles and concepts to provide tools to identify and address the needs of seniors effectively.

The need for such a Guideline is explained in the Introduction (Clause 0), as well as in Annex A, which includes extracts from two documents that underlie the objectives of this Guideline, the “United Nations Principles for Older Persons” and Canada’s “National Framework on Aging”. Additional resources dealing with aging and seniors’ issues are found in Annex B, which presents a list of government agencies as well as other valuable contacts. Annex C provides a reference bibliography.

This Guideline is for use by those responsible for developing and bringing PSE to the marketplace. It is applicable to large and small organizations, including service and public utility providers, manufacturers, commercial interests, service providers, and purchasers and users of PSE.

Users of this Guideline may include persons involved in marketing and product development, engineers, ergonomists, designers, planners, and senior management. Design evaluation processes may be carried out by occupational therapists, health care personnel, and safety and risk assessors. Evaluations may also be of interest to personnel in sales, distribution, and service support functions, as well as researchers in the field of gerontology/geriatrics.

Programs that promote compliance with this Guideline are voluntary. Each organization should develop its own programs and promote awareness of the needs of our aging population.

Changes from the first edition of this Guideline include

(a) restructuring of the sequence of major clauses, thereby aligning them with the design process;

(b) consolidation of some clauses to avoid repetition;

(c) addition of new design solutions;

(d) reformating and consolidation of the tables; and

(e) updating of the information in Annex B.

This Guideline was prepared by the Technical Committee on Inclusive Design for an Aging Population, under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Steering Committee on Community Safety and Well-being, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee.

This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.

Scope

1.1 Application

This Guideline describes a series of core principles, guiding concepts, and tools applicable to the design and provision of products, services, and environments (PSE) that facilitate use by seniors and those whose abilities are affected by aging.

This Guideline may also be applied to designing PSE for the population at large, in conformance with the objectives of universal design.

1.2 Objectives

The objectives of this Guideline are to assist individuals and organizations in

(a) raising the awareness of how variations in human abilities affect the usability and safety of PSE;

(b) developing and implementing the practices of inclusive design for aging; and

(c) providing PSE that improve utility and accessibility, reduce health and safety risks, enhance quality of life, maintain dignity, and promote inclusion.

This Guideline may be used as an overview of the processes for inclusive design for an aging population (IDAP) and as a reference for design techniques and features to be considered in meeting a specific need.

This Guideline is written in generic terms and its scope of application is intentionally wide; therefore, most providers of PSE will find it applicable and should benefit from its use.

1.3 Limitations

This Guideline may not apply to PSE for seniors with very severe or complex disabilities.

This Guideline does not reduce or replace regulations or other requirements for the safety and functional provision of PSE.

1.4 Language of this Guideline

The use of this Guideline is voluntary. Because the principles, concepts, keywords, and design solutions are all written in general terms, not detailed as specific requirements, the word should has been used throughout. If an organization chooses to adopt this Guideline, it should review how to structure and define the prescriptive requirements.

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