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Home About us Research services Reports Childcare products Continence Household products Mobility Telecoms and alarms General Surveys Design Ordering Links Site map change text size and colour ?		Meeting the needs of older and disabled consumers Guidelines for product design and testing (view report contents) ELECTRIC KETTLES CHECKLIST Types This checklist can be used with each of the following types of kettle: jug shaped -traditional round shaped -corded direct from the kettle to a mains electricity socket -cordless - the kettle fits on to a base which plugs into the mains. Jug kettles are generally more difficult to lift and carry because their weight has to be supported from the side. The handle on top of a traditional kettle means the weight is more evenly balanced, and if the handle is long enough, it can be held with two hands by someone with low strength. However, a very small amount of water can be boiled in jug kettles - light to carry, whereas the minimum capacity of traditional kettles varies. Generally jug kettles are plastic and traditional kettles are plastic or metal. There is a safety concern at the high temperatures reached on the external surfaces, which have been found to be particularly high on some metal kettles. People with limited dexterity are likely to choose a cordless kettle since the flex does not have to be connected and disconnected when using the kettle. If lifting a full kettle is a problem, people may choose to pour by tipping it - not possible with a cordless kettle on a base. Filling the kettle large spout for filling consider people with unsteady hands angle of spout makes filling easy kettle can be filled through spout without excessive splashing easy access to lid consider people with swollen finger joints lid provides good gripping area plenty of space for fingers, non-slippery surface little force required to open and close lid no fiddly actions required to deal with lid no painfully sharp edges in lid area all filling actions possible one-handed including removing lid colour of lid can be easily distinguished with a dark lid, visually impaired people can think it is on when it is off a full kettle Pouring shape and size of handle provide good gripping area no strain on finger joints, non-slippery surface space around handle is unrestricted so the hand does not touch hot surfaces full kettle is well-balanced in use weight is distributed over kettle area Control space around switch is unrestricted space for swollen fingers and so the hand does not touch hot surfaces protruding switch recessed controls restrict finger space shape and size provide good gripping area plenty of space for fingers, non-slippery surface switch requires little force to operate switch has a positive action switch or any markings strongly colour contrasted against their background all markings are large for easy viewing Indicators on-to-boil light in easily visible position indicator light brightly lit audible click when thermostat cuts off indicates water has boiled - useful for blind people good colour contrast between water level indicator and its background water level indicator markings strongly colour contrasted against their background water level indicator in centre of kettle or on both sides helpful to left handed people raised marker to show water level inside the kettle internal marker colour contrasted against background Flex and powerbase no fiddly actions required to connect or disconnect the flex/power base little force required to connect or disconnect the flex/power base cordless kettles only no fiddly actions required to place kettle on power base kettle can be placed on power base facing any direction easier to locate correctly than when specific position required Safety aspects kettle body remains cool during boiling switch area remains cool during boiling handle remains cool during boiling lid area remains cool during boiling lid stays securely in place during pouring water does not escape around lid during pouring no steam emission apart from through spout kettle or power base stays in place on work surface effective anti-slip areas on the base Back to top Report Contents Introduction Why design for all is important Using research to identify needs - the basic toolkit Product group checklists washing machines tumble driers vacuum cleaners microwave ovens electric irons electric kettles toasters food preparation machines telephones cars The practical principles of design for all What can be done to raise awareness Useful contacts
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