Specifying Window Coverings for Residential Aged Care Projects in Western Australia

Designing residential aged care facilities requires careful consideration of the physical environment to support resident well-being, safety, and comfort. Window coverings play a critical role in this, balancing natural light, thermal comfort, safety, and accessibility. This guide outlines essential factors for architects and interior designers specifying blinds, curtains, and shading solutions for Western Australian aged care facilities - highlighting Sun Solutions’ Australian-made product range and technical compliance.

Understanding the Context: Regulatory and Design Frameworks

Aged Care Act 2025 and Resident-Centred Design

Effective from 1 July 2025, the updated Aged Care Act reinforces the importance of environments that promote independence, dignity, and community connection for residents. Natural light and outdoor access are explicitly recognized as vital components for resident health, aligning with broader Australian Government aged care quality standards. These elements must be carefully integrated through building design and window treatment specifications.

Western Australia Health Facility Guidelines (WA HFG)

The WA HFG, particularly G16 Nursing Homes, provide detailed architectural and construction requirements relevant to aged care projects, including:

• G16.4 Home-like Residential Facilities: Encourages designs that promote familiarity, comfort, and reduced institutional feel.

• B2 Construction and Design Standards: Mandates safety, durability, and compliance with Australian standards for materials and installation.

• B2.6 Windows: Specifies window sizing, sill heights, and glazing to maximise daylight access while ensuring thermal and safety performance.

• B3.7 Soft Furnishings: Requires use of flame retardant, durable, and easy-to-clean fabrics for window coverings.

• B5 Environmental Design:

  • B5.2 Acoustics: Minimising noise intrusion supports restful environments.

  • B5.3 Daylighting: Ensures natural light penetrates interior spaces adequately without glare or overheating.

• B7 Fire Safety: Requires window furnishings to meet fire retardancy standards to ensure occupant safety.

Key Considerations for Window Coverings in WA Aged Care Facilities

1. Access, Mobility, and Visual Contrast Compliance

In line with AS 1428.1-2009 Design for Access and Mobility, window coverings must be operable by residents with ambulatory or sensory disabilities. This includes cordless or motorised options to reduce hazards such as entanglement.

The WA HFG emphasizes luminance contrast between surfaces to assist residents with vision impairment. Window coverings and their controls should provide at least a 30% contrast with adjacent surfaces (e.g., walls, window frames) to aid orientation and safety.

2. Daylight, Glare Control, and Visual Connection to Outdoors

Maximizing natural light is a cornerstone of quality aged care design (WA HFG B5.3). Windows should allow daylight to reach deep into rooms to support circadian rhythms and mental health. At the same time, excessive glare and heat gain must be controlled to maintain comfort.

Sun Solutions’ products offer practical solutions to these challenges:

• Sheer curtains and light-filtering fabrics soften incoming light while preserving outward views — supporting residents’ connection to nature, a factor linked to reduced agitation and improved well-being (AIHW).

• Duette® cellular shades provide excellent insulation and daylight control, reducing heat loss in winter and solar heat gain in summer. This improves thermal comfort and lowers facility energy costs.

• For spaces requiring total darkness (e.g., rest areas, audiovisual rooms), blockout curtains or dual roller blind systems enable easy switching between filtered daylight and full privacy.

The WA HFG also highlights the benefit of low sill heights and large window areas to enhance external views and daylight access, which window coverings must not obstruct.

Comfort and privacy perfected: Custom blockout roller blinds designed for restful aged care bedrooms at Koh-I-Noor, Wembley

3. Safety, Fire Compliance, and Hygiene

All window furnishings in aged care facilities must comply with Australian fire safety standards, per WA HFG B7 Fire Safety and B3.7 Soft Furnishings requirements.

Sun Solutions offers fabrics that are:

• Flame retardant to meet strict fire regulations.

• Anti-microbial and easy-clean, crucial for infection control in high-traffic communal areas.

• Durable materials that withstand frequent use and routine cleaning, ensuring longevity and hygiene.

Flame retardant, anti-microbial fabric used for curtains in this aged care dining room - Koh-I-Noor, Wembley

4. Acoustic Comfort and Privacy

Acoustic comfort supports restful sleep and reduces stress (WA HFG B5.2 Acoustics). Window coverings can contribute by:

• Using heavy or layered curtains to absorb ambient noise.

• Selecting materials with sound dampening properties, particularly in bedrooms and common areas.

Sheer curtains connecting the inside to outside at Koh-I-Noor, Wembley

5. Maintenance, Durability, and Cost Efficiency

Given that aged care facilities represent significant investment (over $12 billion spent nationally in 2017-18, AIHW), products must deliver long-term value.

Energy.gov reports that 30% of heating energy is lost through windows and up to 76% of sunlight through double glazing enters as heat — effective window coverings reduce these losses, yielding operational cost savings.

Sun Solutions provides custom, Australian-made window coverings designed for:

• Long service life with minimal maintenance.

• Energy efficiency through insulated fabrics like Duette®.

• Reduced replacement and repair costs.

Our Commercial Experience in Aged Care Projects

Sun Solutions has delivered window coverings for numerous aged care, health, and hospital projects across Western Australia. We collaborate closely with builders, developers, and design teams to ensure every installation meets stringent compliance requirements while enhancing comfort and durability. Our partnerships with industry leaders such as Hunter Douglas, Luxaflex®, and other respected suppliers provide access to an extensive product catalogue, enabling local supply, customisation, and high-quality service tailored to aged care environments.
To learn more about our experience and view examples of our work, visit our Hospitals, Health & Aged Care Projects page.

Conclusion

Specifying window coverings for residential aged care in Western Australia requires a holistic approach that integrates compliance with the Aged Care Act 2025, WA Health Facility Guidelines, and Australian Standards. Prioritizing natural light access, glare control, resident safety, fire compliance, acoustic comfort, and durability will enhance resident well-being and operational efficiency.

Sun Solutions’ range of custom-made, Australian products—including roller blinds, venetian blinds, commercial curtains, and Duette® cellular shades—offer architects and designers reliable options tailored to the unique demands of aged care environments.

Explore Sun Solutions’ aged care window coverings today to design spaces that support comfort, safety, and sustainability for Western Australia’s growing aged population.