B5 Reducing the impacts of over-crowding

B5.3 Storage

Lack of storage can be inconvenient in a house with a small population but when a house population increases, the availability of storage may impact on the safety and health of residents.

Storage is discussed in other sections of this guide, particularly in B.4 ‘Improving nutrition, the ability to store, prepare and cook food’ and B.6 ‘Reducing the negative effects of animals, insects and vermin’. Important issues that relate to storage are summarised below.

Design and specification

 

Ensure:

• high level secure storage is provided in bathrooms and laundries for medicines and chemicals, to prevent accidental poisoning
• some secure storage is provided that could be used by people with disabilities
• there are plenty of rails, hooks and shelves for storage of clothes, towels and toiletry items in bathrooms, to prevent these items being placed on the floor where they could block drains
• kitchens include high level shelves and cupboards for storage of food and utensils away from dogs, cockroaches, rats and other vermin
• there are cupboards in bedrooms, hall ways and the laundry, to prevent clothing and bedding being stored on the floor where it is at risk from worms and mites carried by animals and other bacteria that can result in transmission of disease
• shelving materials are strong and resistant to damp, mould, rot and insect infestation.

 

Consider:

• providing lockable kitchen cupboards or a lockable pantry
• in large households, providing each bedroom with a small lockable cupboard for secure storage for medicines
• providing cupboards that can be accessed by people with disabilities, including using D-handles on cupboards and locating them to allow people with disabilities to reach them
• that bedrooms will probably be used by more than one person, and sufficient cupboards need to be provided to store the personal possessions of several people
• including lockable storage in living areas for residents to securely store televisions and other electronic items
• building ventilated and storm proof, outside storage for lawn mowers, bins, car parts, hunting and fishing equipment, and fuel, to separate children from these potentially dangerous items and enable secure storage during cyclones or high winds
• providing dry storage for fire wood in houses that have wood burning heaters or stoves
• including reels or hooks for storing garden hoses above the ground, to reduce damage by animals, lawn mowers and grass trimmers
• securing sections of the verandah with wire mesh and lockable door to store items such as tyres, garden tools, car parts.

Quality control

 

During construction and before making the final payment, check that:

• all storage has been provided as specified in the contract and is secure.

 

Maintenance

As part of cyclical maintenance, check that:

• storage is in good condition and is secure.