<Insert Institution Name> National Construction Code Training Program

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<Insert Institution Name>

National Construction Code

Training Program

MODULE 5

Understanding the

Disability Access Provisions

Welcome and introduction

•Welcome to this training course on the access provisions for people with disability contained in the National Construction Code.

•My name is……… and I’ll be presenting this program. My training and experience mainly relate to ………

•Before we start the presentation, there are a few house keeping matters that I need to advise you about ……….

•As most of you will be aware, the Building Code of Australia (or BCA) forms Volumes One and Two of the National Construction Code and is adopted by all States and Territories as a

mandatory code governing the design and construction of new buildings, as well as additions and alterations to existing buildings.

•This presentation has been developed to provide you with the basic information you will need to understand the scope of the access requirements of the BCA.

•Application of the requirements for access will require careful consideration of the BCA, State and Territory building law and regulations and in many instances referenced Australian Standards. •As we move through the presentation there may issues you would like further clarification on - so

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Content of Module 5

• Part 1 - Introduction to Module 5

• Part 2 - Background to Access Provisions

• Part 3 - Performance Requirements

• Part 4 - Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

• Part 5 - Administrative Matters

Summarise the areas that will be covered in this Module

This module contains 5 parts:

•First, we will look at the background to Module 5 and recap a little on some other Modules in this series

•Then we will look at the background to the development of the access requirements that were included in the BCA in 2011

•We will also look at the mandatory requirements of the BCA; that is the Performance Requirements

•Next, we will look in more detail at one method of meeting the Performance Requirements by using what are called the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions •Finally, we will briefly look at a few State and Territory administrative matters

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PART 1 Introduction to Module 5

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Introduction to Module 5

• This Module is one of a series produced by

the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB);

the organisation responsible for the

development and maintenance of the Building

Code of Australia (BCA)

• For the purposes of this presentation it is

assumed that participants have a general

understanding of how the BCA works

Part 1 - Introduction to Module 5

This presentation forms part of a training program that has been developed as an initiative of the Australian Building Codes Board - which we’ll now refer to as the

ABCB.

•The ABCB is the organisation responsible for the development and ongoing maintenance of the Building Code of Australia.

•The ABCB’s training program is made up of a series of modules. This module is number 5.

•This presentation has been developed on the assumption that even if you have not attended presentations on Module 1, which provided an introduction to the BCA and Module 2, which dealt with the BCA’s Performance Requirements you have some basic knowledge of how the BCA works.

Having said that it would be good to briefly touch on a couple of fundamental issues from those modules.

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Module 1 - recap

• Module 1 was titled ‘An Introduction to the

Building Code of Australia’

• The objective of Module 1 was to provide

information on:

– the background to the development of the BCA

– the operation of the BCA, and

– the application of the BCA

•In order to understand the material in Module 5 it is important to recap a few basic issues from Modules 1 and 2

•Module 1 essentially introduced people to the development, operation and application of the BCA

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Module 1 - recap

• BCA applies to all new building work. This

includes:

• new buildings

• renovations or upgrades to existing buildings

•The requirements of the BCA are triggered when someone makes an application for building or construction approval for either a new building or to undertake new building work on an existing building such as an upgrade, extension or

renovation.

•For existing buildings, the BCA will apply to the work that is covered by the building approval application

•Example, if level 6 of an 8 storey building is being fully upgraded only the work on the level subject to the building approval application will be required to comply with the new BCA requirements.

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Module 1 - recap

• The BCA establishes minimum acceptable

standards for new building work

• The BCA:

• is referenced in State/Territory law

• is amended annually

• requirements are intended to be cost effective

• is intended to eliminate poor practice

• does not address best practice

•The BCA seeks to establish a nationally consistent level of minimum acceptable standards

•Nothing in the BCA stops a developer from going beyond the minimum requirements to achieve best practice

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Module 1 - recap

• Volume One contains requirements for the

design and construction of commercial

buildings, i.e. Class 2 to 9 buildings, plus

some Class 10 building matters

• Volume Two contains requirements for the

design and construction of domestic buildings,

i.e. Class 1 and 10 buildings

•While some larger companies work in both the housing and commercial sector, in general, industry tends to work in either the housing sector or the commercial sector. The BCA endeavours to follow this division

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Module 2 - recap

• Module 2 was titled ‘Understanding the BCA’s

Performance Requirements’

• The objective of Module 2 was to provide

information on how to comply with the BCA

without using Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions,

i.e. by developing an Alternative Solution

•While most times those responsible for new building work follow a deemed-to-satisfy path for achieving compliance, Module 2 focused on how to achieve compliance by developing an Alternative Solution

•It is important to just recap one aspect of Module 2 which covered the structure and hierarchy of the BCA to ensure a clearer understanding of the content of Module 5

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Building Solutions Performance Requirement Functional Statement Objective Alternative Solutions DTS Provisions Guidance Mandatory Methods of achieving compliance Documentary Evidence Verification Methods Expert Judgement Comparative Analysis Assessment Methods

•The BCA is split into sections covering various building elements, for example, Part F2 deals with Sanitary facilities.

•Each section is structured in a hierarchy. At the top are broad Objectives and Functional Statements which provide overall guidance.

•Below that are a set of Performance Requirements which are the mandatory parts of the BCA. A person responsible for a building must be able to show a building complies with these requirements.

•Under that sit two methods for achieving compliance with each Performance Requirement – using the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions which provide technical building solutions or by developing Alternative Solutions

•A building does not have to comply with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions if it can be demonstrated to the relevant Building Control Authority that a proposed Alternative Solution complies with the relevant Performance Requirement. •Module 2 then went on to look at Assessment Methods but this Module will not

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MODULE 5

Understanding the Disability

Access Provisions

•Now back to Module 5.

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Objective of Module 5

• The objective of Module 5 is to provide basic

information on BCA provisions for people with

disability relating to Class 1b, Class 2 to 9

buildings, as well as Class 10 buildings

• Information is also available from the ABCB

website:

www.abcb.gov.au

•The module provides a basic overview of the BCA access provisions.

•As building professionals you will need to give careful consideration to the BCA, State and Territory building laws and regulations and referenced technical

standards to ensure buildings comply with relevant laws.

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People with disability

• Broad definition of disability includes people

who-– are blind or have low vision;

– have learning or intellectual disabilities;

– are deaf or hearing-impaired;

– have a physical disability;

– experience mental health or psychological difficulties;

and

– people with an acquired brain injury.

•The definition of disability used in anti-discrimination law is very broad and covers about 20% of Australians

•People protected from discrimination by those laws may experience difficulties using buildings, so buildings need to be designed and constructed in ways to ensure they are accessible.

•It is not just people with a mobility disability who experience barriers to accessing and using buildings.

•Example: a person with low vision might experience difficulty using poorly designed stairs.

•Example: a person with a hearing impairment might experience difficulty hearing a teller behind a fully screened counter.

•Good access has benefits for a much wider group of people than those who currently have a disability. For example, those of us who will have a disability in the future, families with small children, older Australians and anyone delivering or picking up goods.

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Principle of access

• Provide safe, equitable and dignified access

to buildings, and facilities and services

within buildings

•The BCA sets out how to provide safe, equitable and dignified access to buildings.

•Good design is not just about providing some access. It is about ensuring, as far as possible, that people with disability can use buildings independently and with dignity.

•Example, accessible entry to a new building must be the principle pedestrian entrance and not one around the back of the building.

•Example, gaining access to a swimming pool should not rely on someone having to be carried into it.

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PART 2 Background to NCC

Access Provisions

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General background

• Disability access requirements have been in

the BCA since 1990

• Focus was on access to commercial and

public buildings (Classes 3, 5-9)

Part 2 - Background to Access Provisions

•Access requirements are not new to the BCA

•Indeed many of the issues covered in the current BCA remain very similar to previous requirements

•Historically private housing has not been covered by any BCA access requirements

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BCA access provisions

• BCA has historically required access for

people with disability to be provided:

– to a building

– within a building (including lifts, signage and

hearing augmentation)

– to certain carparking spaces

– to suitable sanitary facilities

•There has been a progressive increase in access requirements in the BCA covering a range of building elements such as ramps, stairs, accessible toilets and signage.

•While these requirements remain within the new BCA there are a number of new elements that will be covered in this module.

•Note: some people may not know what a hearing augmentation system is. It can be described as a device to assist people with hearing impairment to access audible information in places such as a theatre, lecture hall, conference centre or bank where tellers are behind a glass screen for example. Typical devices use an induction (hearing) loop, radio frequency or infrared technology. A hearing

augmentation system is required in buildings that have built-in sound amplification systems.

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BCA scope

• The BCA only addresses the physical fabric

and layout of a building, it does not:

– address the fixtures and fittings such as furniture

or reception desks used in a building

– address some wayfinding information such as

room numbers or general signs

– address management policies or staff behavior

•The BCA is mainly concerned with the physical construction of the building. •Generally speaking what happens after construction in terms of fitout and ongoing use and management are not covered by the BCA, but continue to be covered by discrimination law.

•Example, if a building complies with the new BCA when it is constructed but a new fitout limits access, those responsible for the fitout may be subject to complaints.

•Example, if the staff at a nightclub refuse to allow a blind person entry.

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The challenge of inconsistent laws

• The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) has applied

to buildings since 1993

• Complaints could be made about the level and

quality of access a building provided

• Buildings could comply with the BCA, but still be

subject to a successful DDA complaint

• Uncertainty for building industry

•Even though a building could comply with the BCA at the time it was built, under discrimination law, complaints could still be made about access problems

individuals faced.

•Building law and discrimination law was not consistent leading to uncertainty for the building industry including developers, designers, builders and certifiers. •There have been many successful DDA complaints about buildings which were BCA compliant. For example, Cox v the State of Queensland 1994 made against the Brisbane Convention Centre. The cost of rectification was in the order of $300 000.

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Achieving consistency

• In 2001, Federal Gov’t asked ABCB to

develop proposals to address inconsistency

• Resulted in the development of Premises

Standards and BCA amendments to align the

two

•Following approaches from industry, building professionals and community groups, the Federal Government resolved to address the inconsistency by developing a disability standard covering buildings, which would form part of a new BCA when completed.

•The disability standard was to set out details of what was required, in terms of building design and construction, to comply with the DDA.

•Complying with building law and the BCA would then also achieve compliance with the disability standard (formal title; Disability (Access to Premises –

buildings) Standards 2010, known as the Premises Standards).

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Development of Premises Standards

• Developed through stakeholder committees,

specialist working groups and specialist

consultants

• Proposals were refined through extensive

industry and community consultation

• Draft provisions subjected to formal regulatory

impact analysis process

•As with the development of any new regulations, the ABCB consulted widely with the community and the building industry to ensure that the new provisions would be effective and generally acceptable.

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Regulation Impact Statement (RIS)

• All proposals for new regulation, including the

Premises Standards and changes to the BCA,

are subjected to a rigorous regulation impact

assessment process that includes cost benefit

analysis

• The Premises Standards RIS is available from

the ABCB website

•The activities of the ABCB are governed by an Inter-government Agreement (IGA) that requires it to comply with the Council of Australian Government (COAG) general principles for the development of regulations.

•In essence, these principles only allow new regulations to be introduced if other means of achieving compliance with government policy, e.g. market forces, consumer education or development of "guideline" documents, can be demonstrated to have failed or give lower net benefit.

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Benefits for industry

• In addition to improving access, RIS process

sought to ensure new requirements:

– are cost-effective

– can be reasonably achieved

– provide the greatest certainty possible

•The RIS showed the proposed Premises Standards and new BCA were a cost-effective way of regulating for better access and in most instances could be reasonably achieved.

•The RIS also showed that, by changing the BCA so it required the same as the Premises Standards, industry could be confident that compliance with the new BCA would also achieve compliance with the Premises Standards.

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Background to new requirements

• 1995

: Building Access Policy Committee

(BAPC), established by ABCB, begins its

work on progressive changes to the BCA

• 2001

: Gov’t asks ABCB to develop proposals

for Premises Standards and changes to BCA

•The Building Access Policy Committee that developed the draft included representatives from designers and architects, developers, the construction industry, building certifiers, regulators and people with disability.

•Between 1995 and 2000 the ABCB introduced a number of improvements for access, but in 2001 started work on the development of the Premises Standards at the request of the then Government.

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Background to new requirements

• 2005

: Draft Premises Standards and a

Regulation Impact Statement released for

public comment

• 2006

: ABCB develops revised proposals and

a revised Regulation Impact Statement

following consideration of public comment

•After the ABCB released the draft Premises Standards and Consultation RIS for public comment in 2005, both the Premises Standards and the RIS were revised in 2006 to take into consideration the comments received.

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Background to new requirements

• 2008: Draft Disability (Access to Premises –

Buildings) Standards (Premises Standards)

tabled in Parliament and referred to a House

of Representatives Committee to conduct a

public inquiry

• 2009: Parliamentary Committee makes

recommendations in its report Access All

Areas

•A Parliamentary Committee undertook the third and final round of consultation on the draft and made a number of recommendations for change.

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Background to new requirements

• February 2010:

Government responds to

report and finalises Premises Standards

• 2010

: ABCB aligns BCA to reflect content of

Premises Standards

• 1 May 2011

: Premises Standards and BCA

2011 adopted

•Once the Premises Standards was finalised, the ABCB was able to proceed with aligning the BCA to reflect the requirements of the Premises Standards.

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Premises Standards structure

• Premises Standards comprise:

– Parts 1 – 6 including trigger dates and objectives,

scope, exceptions and concessions and review

information

– Access Code for Buildings which provides the

Performance Requirements and

Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

•While this module is about the BCA we need to look briefly at the structure of the Premises Standards to understand how they fit together

•The Premises Standards is in two sections. The first consists of 6 parts which cover legal and administrative issues including some general concessions and exemptions.

•The second part is the Access Code for Buildings. This is the part that includes Performance Requirements and Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions which give the technical detail on how to comply. Those familiar with the BCA will recognise that the Access Code is written in the same style as the BCA.

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Achieving consistency

• Relevant provisions in Parts 1 – 6 are to be

reflected in State and Territory building control

systems

• Access Code is reflected in BCA

• Compliance with the BCA will ensure

compliance with the Access Code

•As was the case before BCA 2011, a full understanding of building requirements can only be achieved by looking at the BCA and relevant State and Territory building laws and regulations. Changes have been made to State and Territory building control systems to reflect the relevant content of Parts 1 – 6 of the Premises Standards.

•The BCA changes reflect the content of the Access Code.

•Taken together, building professionals can be confident that if they apply the BCA and relevant State and Territory building laws and regulations they are also ensuring a building complies with the Premises Standards.

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Voluntary best practice

• The Premises Standards and BCA contain the

minimum requirements for access

• Some project briefs may require a higher

standard

• Best practice and innovation is still possible

and encouraged

•As a regulatory document, the BCA contains the minimum acceptable

requirements. Individual building project briefs and documentation can stipulate that the project exceeds the minimum requirements.

•Best practice and innovation is still possible.

•Example; if an innovative hearing augmentation system is developed, it could be used as an Alternative Solution.

•Example; a shopping center may choose to increase the number of accessible parking spaces from the required minimum to meet local demand.

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PART 3 Disability Access

Performance Requirements

Parts D3, E3, and F2 of

Volume One

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Key Performance Requirements

• Key Performance Requirements relating to access:

– DP1

Access to a building

– DP2

Access within a building

– DP6

Travel path to an exit

– DP8

Accessible carparking

– DP9

Communication system for hearing impaired

– EP3.4

Lifts

– FP2.1

Sanitary facilities

Part 3 - Performance Requirements

•Performance Requirements relating to access sit primarily in Section D of the BCA although there are two others in Section E and F.

•The Performance Requirements are the mandatory parts of the BCA – building control authorities must be convinced that a building solution complies with these requirements via either the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions or a suitable Alternative Solution

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Overall access objectives

• To provide, as far as is reasonable, people

with safe, equitable and dignified access to:

– a building; and

– the services and facilities within a building

•In broad terms the Performance Requirements seek to ensure buildings provide a ‘continuous accessible path of travel’.

•A continuous accessible path of travel is one that does not include a step,

stairway, turnstile, revolving door, escalator, moving walkway or other feature that might impede safe, equitable and dignified movement.

•Access is required:

• to a building from the allotment boundary

• between associated buildings that are required to be accessible • between levels (via lifts, ramps and stairs)

• In most buildings, to all areas normally used by the occupants • to signage including braille and tactile

• to required hearing augmentation systems • to suitable sanitary facilities

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• Access must be provided to enable people to:

– approach a building from the road boundary,

associated accessible building and associated

accessible carparking space

– get into a building and to all areas normally used by

occupants including toilets

– identify accessible facilities

DP1 - overview

•While there are some exceptions and exemptions within the BCA, access is generally required to all parts of the building used by the occupants - who may be customers, visitors or staff

•The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions in the BCA and referenced Australian Standards describe the minimum requirements to meet these Performance Requirements.

•Example, while the Performance Requirement requires access to all areas used by the occupants, the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions allow for concessions in the number of entrances that need to be accessible

•Example, while the Performance Requirement requires access to all areas used by the occupants, the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions allow for concessions in relation to lift or ramp access to upper floors in some small buildings

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DP2 - overview

• People must be able to move safely to and

within a building

• Special attention should be paid to

:

– walking surfaces

– doors

– ramps

– stairways

– landings

– handrails

•DP2 focuses on safe movement to and within a building •Example, the need for slip-resistant walking surfaces

•Example, the need to ensure doors are installed in a way that does not impede access

•Example, the need for suitable handrails to assist and provide stability for people using stairs or ramps

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DP6 - overview

• People must be able to safely evacuate the

building

• Building use and the characteristics of the

occupants, including their mobility, must be

considered

•DP6 addresses the issue of safe evacuation of a building and requires that the design of paths of travel to exits must be appropriate considering the use of a building, the number of occupants and issues such as the mobility of occupants. •As with other Performance Requirements the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions in the BCA and referenced Australian Standards describe the minimum

requirements to meet this Performance Requirement.

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DP8 - overview

• Carparking spaces suitable for use by people

with disability must be provided

• Spaces must be marked and easy to find

•DP8 addresses the need for carparking spaces suitable for use by people who use wheelchairs or walking frames or who may have other disabilities that require additional space to be able to get in and out of their vehicle

•Accessible carparking spaces have minimum dimensions to ensure a person getting out of a car can, for example, get into their wheelchair safely

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DP9 - overview

• An inbuilt communication system, such as a

lecture theatre PA system, must be suitable

for people who are deaf or have a hearing

impairment

•DP9 addresses the need to ensure that where there is an inbuilt communication system, as might be found in a cinema or concert hall, a means of giving access to the information to people with a hearing impairment must be provided.

•As with other Performance Requirements the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions in the BCA and referenced Australian Standards describe the minimum

requirements to meet this Performance Requirement.

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EP3.4 - overview

• When a passenger lift is provided in a building

required to be accessible, it must be suitable

for use by people with disability.

•EP3.4 addresses the need to ensure that when passenger lifts are used to transport people from one level to another in a building that is required to be accessible, they must be designed and constructed in a way that allows people with disability to independently use them.

•What makes a lift suitable for use by people with disability will be covered in the section on Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

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FP2.1 - overview

• Sanitary facilities suitable for use by people

with disability must be provided at convenient

locations

•FP2.1 addresses the need to ensure people with disability are able to use sanitary facilities in an accessible building

•Apart from the accessible unisex toilets most people will be familiar with, this Performance Requirement also covers accessible showers and toilets suitable for use by people with ambulant disabilities, which will be covered in the section on Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

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PART 4 Disability Access

Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

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Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

• One method of meeting Performance

Requirements

• Compliance with Deemed-to-Satisfy

Provisions of BCA ensures compliance with

Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of Access Code

Part 4 - Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

Reminder:

•The Performance Requirements are the mandatory requirements of the BCA. •The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions describe one way to meet those

requirements.

•It is in the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions that you will find a number of concessions and exemptions that define some limits to the level of access required in specific buildings or areas of buildings.

•As described earlier, compliance with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the BCA ensures compliance with the Access Code of the Premises Standards.

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Parts D3, E3, F2 and H2

• Part D3

covers general building access

requirements

• Part E3

covers lifts

• Part F2

covers accessible toilets and showers

• Part H2

covers requirements for public

transport buildings

•The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions are contained within 4 Parts

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D3.1 General access

requirements

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D3.1 – General requirements

• Table D3.1 sets out which buildings and parts

of buildings have to be accessible

• Different classes of buildings have different

access requirements

•Table D3.1 is the main roadmap for determining which buildings need to be accessible and to what extent.

•It is based on building classifications, and in some cases, specific uses within classifications.

•Different classes of buildings may have different access requirements

•Example, while office blocks generally require access to all areas normally used by the occupants, hotels only require access to common areas of the building and some units but not all.

•This Table has to be read alongside other parts of the BCA which describe some concessions and exemptions from the general rules in Table D3.1

•Example, D3.4 provides some general exemptions for access to specified areas of buildings

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Some useful terms

• Accessible

means having features to enable

use by people with disability.

• Accessway

means a continuous, accessible

path of travel (as defined in AS 1428.1) to, into

or within a building.

•Before looking at the broad requirements for access for different classes of buildings in Table D3.1, considering a couple of definitions will be useful

•In the BCA, a number of terms are specifically defined and appear in italicsto alert users that a special meaning has been ascribed. These definitions are found in A1.3

•Under the BCA something is accessibleif it has features that ensure people with disability can get into and use a building

•The BCA also includes a definition of an accesswaywhich is generally a ‘continuous accessible path of travel’ which does not include any barrier for a person with disability and which meets the technical specifications found in Australian Standard AS 1428.1

•This means essentially that, in order to meet the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the BCA, a building must meet the requirements of Parts D3, E3, F2 and H2 and the technical specifications in referenced Australian Standards

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References to Australian Standards

• AS 1428.1 contains technical information on

the construction of accessways, for example:

– dimensions and clearances at doorways

– design of handrails

– layout of accessible toilets

•As was the case with previous editions of the BCA, not all of the technical detail is contained in the BCA itself. Some of it is in other documents referred to in the BCA, such as Australian Standards.

•During this presentation, won’t be going into detail on the content of all these documents, but will refer to relevant significant changes

•AS 1428.1 (Design for access and mobility, Part 1 – General requirements for access – New building work) is a key reference when dealing with disability access.

•It contains most of the technical information necessary to ensure Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the BCA are met

•Other Australian Standards cover issues such as lift requirements (the AS 1735 suite) and specifications for tactile ground surface indicators (AS 1428.4.1). In order to fully understand the application of the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the BCA, practitioners need to refer to these Australian Standards.

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Class 1b – small hostels, B&B

• Specifies number of dwellings required to be

accessible

• Specifies number of bedrooms and sanitary

facilities required to be accessible

• Specifies common areas required to be

accessible in B&Bs, guest houses etc

•Table D3.1 sets out access requirements for Class 1b buildings which include guest houses, small hostels, B&Bs, farmstay, cabins and retreats used for holiday accommodation

•If the accommodation consists of cabins or cottages or similar as stand alone dwellings, the requirement is for at least 1 dwelling to be accessible and have accessible washing and toileting facilities. However, this requirement is only triggered if there are 4 or more cabins or cottages used for holiday

accommodation on the allotment.

•If the accommodation is a boarding house, guest house, B&B, hostel or similar, access is required to at least one bedroom and associated washing and toileting facilities and to common areas such as dining rooms, games rooms, lounge rooms or similar

•The Premises Standards has different requirements for B&B type

accommodation depending on whether the facility is newly built or an existing building. State and Territory building control systems need to be looked at to see

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Class 2 – apartment blocks

• Access required from a pedestrian entrance to the

front doors of sole-occupancy units (SOU) on at

least one level

• Common areas required to be accessible including

BBQ area, gym, pool

• If other levels are served by a lift or ramp, similar

access must be provided on those levels

•Access requirements for Class 2 buildings are new to the BCA

•Access must be provided through at least one pedestrian entrance to at least 1 floor containing SOUs but only to the front door of those SOU. The BCA does not require accessible design inside the SOU

•The BCA also requires access to at least 1 of each type of room or facility used in common by all the residents of the apartment block

•Example, a small apartment block has two floors and no common facilities used by all residents. In this case access would only be required through the building entrance and along the public corridors on one floor (most likely the ground floor) •Example, if a larger apartment block has 3 floors and includes a laundry and a BBQ area for use by all residents on the ground floor, access would be required to the laundry, BBQ area and the front doors of SOU on the ground floor.

•The Premises Standards does not require any Class 2 building built before 1 May 2011 to provide access when renovating or upgrading. State and territory building laws and regulations need to be looked at to see if they reflect these

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Class 3 – hotels and motels

• Access required from a pedestrian entrance to the

front doors of sole-occupancy units (SOU) on at

least one level

• Specifies common areas required to be accessible

including BBQ area, gym, pool

• If other levels are served by a lift or ramp, similar

access must be provided on those levels

•For hotels and motels, there are requirements for both common areas and accommodation units to be accessible.

•For the common areas, access is required to the front door of all units on at least 1 level and to at least 1 of each type of common room or space. These

requirements also apply to all levels served by a lift or accessible ramp. •Example, a small hotel has two floors and no common facilities other than reception. In this case access would only be required through the building

entrance and along the public corridors on one floor (most likely the ground floor) and to the reception area

•Example, if a larger hotel has 3 floors and includes a reception area, restaurant and a BBQ area for use by all residents on the ground floor. Access would be required to the reception area, restaurant, BBQ area and the front doors of SOU on the one level.

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Class 3 – hotels and motels

• Specifies the number of accessible SOUs

required depending on size of hotel/motel

• Specifies location and groupings of

accessible SOUs to ensure choice

•In addition to certain common areas, Table D3.1 requires a specified number of accessible SOUs be provided depending on the size of the hotel or motel

•Example, a hotel with 15 SOUs must have 2 accessible SOU with associated washing and toilet facilities

•Table D3.1 also specifies that no more than 2 accessible SOUs can be located next to each other and that, if more than 2 accessible SOU are required, they must be representative of the range of rooms available

•Example, if a hotel has 100 SOUs, half of which are superior quality, some of the five required accessible SOUs should also be of superior quality in order to

provide occupants a choice of accommodation options representative of the range of rooms available.

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Classes 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9a

• To and within:

– all areas normally used by the occupants

• Class 7a (carparking)

– to and within any level containing accessible

carparking spaces

•Class 5 buildings are office buildings

•Class 6 buildings are service or retail outlets including cafes, libraries, showrooms, grocery shops and banks

•Class 7b buildings are generally storage buildings such as warehouses and wholesale retail buildings

•Class 8 buildings are generally laboratories, factories or buildings in which goods or produce are made or assembled

•Class 9a buildings are generally health care facilities

•For these Classes of buildings, access is to be provided to and within all areas normally used by the occupants

•An occupant is anyone who can reasonably be expected to be in a building. This includes staff, the general public or visitors.

•Example, this would include public reception and retail areas, offices, secure areas for staff only, staff amenity rooms and the like

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Class 9b – educational/assembly

• For schools, early childhood centres and

universities etc.

– to all areas normally used by the occupants

• For assembly buildings such as cinemas or

concert halls

– to all areas normally used by the occupants, but not

every tier or level if no wheelchair seating spaces are

provided on that level

•Class 9b buildings include schools, colleges, universities and early childhood centres as well as cinemas, theatres, sports stadiums and concert halls. •For Class 9b buildings such as cinemas, theatres, stadiums etc. there are

requirements in another section of D3 for accessible spaces for wheelchair users. If any particular seating platform or tier in a building does not have accessible seating spaces, access does not need to be provided to that level.

•Example, if a new cinema has two levels but all the required wheelchair

accessible spaces can be provided on level 1, there is no requirement for access to be provided to level 2

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Class 9c – aged care

• Requirements for aged care facilities are

essentially the same as for Class 3 buildings,

including access to specified common areas

and numbers of accessible SOUs

•Aged care buildings are those that provide residential accommodation for aged persons where personal care services are provided

•Requirements for access are similar to those required for a hotel/motel •Not every SOU in an aged care facility need be an accessible SOU

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Class 10a – toilet block/shelter

• If located in an accessible area access is

required to and within an accessible toilet,

change room or shelter

•Class 10a buildings would generally be non-habitable buildings or facilities like a toilet block, public shelter or change room at a sports field

•The requirement for access is limited to those Class 10a buildings that are located in an accessible area.

•Example, a toilet block next to a car park for a sports field would be considered to be in an accessible area whereas a shelter built 5 kilometers into a walking track in a National Park would not be considered to be in an accessible area.

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Class 10c – swimming pool

• Swimming pools, other than private pools,

with a perimeter greater than 40 m are

required to provide some means of access

into the pool

•The requirement for access into pools is limited to public pools such as hotel pools, council pools, pools in sports or health centres and the like

•Private ‘back yard’ pools and those available exclusively for use by, for example, residents in the penthouse unit in an apartment block or hotel are not required to provide access

•The 40 m perimeter limit generally excludes access requirements for small pools such as plunge pools or hot-tubs.

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D3.2 Access to buildings

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Access to buildings

• D3.2 covers the requirements for access:

– to a building from the allotment boundary;

– between associated accessible buildings;

– to a building from accessible carparking spaces on

the allotment

•Accessways must be provided from the main points of entry at the allotment boundary. This might require more than one accessway from the allotment boundary depending on the location of the building and the number of pedestrian entry points.

•An associated accessible building connected by a pedestrian link might include two buildings operated by the same company where a specific pedestrian link has been created other than the public footpath outside of the buildings’ allotment.

•Where an accessible carparking space is required within an allotment, the space must be linked to the building it serves. A council public carpark outside the building allotment would not be required to have an accessway to any particular building.

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Access to buildings

• D3.2 also specifies:

– number of accessible entrances required

– number of accessible doorways required when

there are multiple doorways at an entrance

– where a required accessible doorway has multiple

leaves, one of the leaves must have a clear

opening width of at least 850 mm

•The principal pedestrian entrance to a building must always be accessible •If there is more than one pedestrian entrance, 50% of entrances including the principle entrance, must be accessible unless the entrance serves an area exempted by D3.4

•If a building has a floor area greater than 500 m2_{in total, no inaccessible} entrance can be more than 50 m from an accessible entrance

•D3.2 provides details of how to determine how many doorways must be

accessible at an entrance and specifies that when a required accessible doorway has multiple leaves (other than if it is an automatically opening doorway) one of the leaves must have a clear opening of at least 850 mm so that a person with a disability using a wheelchair, for example, does not have to open both leaves to enter

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D3.3 Parts of a building

to be accessible

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Parts of buildings to be accessible

• D3.3 covers:

– ramps and stairways

– passenger lifts

– passing and turning spaces on corridors

– small building concession

– carpet pile height

•D3.3 covers a number of accessible features [Read the content of D3.3 from the slide]

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D3.3 - Ramps

• Ramps are a way of providing a continuous

accessible path of travel between levels

• Ramps must comply with AS 1428.1

• Concessions for fire-isolated ramps

•AS 1428.1 provides detailed specifications for 4 types or ramps. General access ramps, threshold ramps, kerb ramps and step ramps

•Example, a general access ramp is required when raising more than 190 mm in height between levels. It must have handrails, landings every 9 m, a gradient between 1 in 14 and 1 in 20 and tactile ground surface indicators (TGSI) at the top and bottom

•Example, a step ramp can be used when raising no more than 190 mm in height between levels. It does not have to have handrails or TGSI and can have a gradient up to 1 in 10

•The BCA does not require these features on a ramp used as a fire-isolated ramp •Note that D3.11 limits the use of connected access ramps to a combined vertical rise of 3.6 m – this limitation recognises that ramps going higher than 3.6 m are likely to be difficult to use due to fatigue

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D3.3 - Stairways

• Stairways cannot form part of a continuous

accessible path of travel but where provided,

must meet certain requirements

• Stairways must comply with AS 1428.1

• Concessions for fire-isolated stairways

•AS 1428.1 provides detailed specifications for stairways which apply to all stairways except fire-isolated stairways

•Example, stairways must include features such as continuous handrails on both sides, opaque risers, luminance contrast nosings on treads and TGSI at the top and bottom of the stairs

•Fire-isolated stairways are only required to have luminance contrast nosings and handrails on one side

•Note: luminance contrast refers to the amount of light reflected from one surface or component, compared to the amount of light reflected from the background or surrounding surfaces. High luminance contrast between the two surfaces ensures good visibility. The BCA and AS 1428.1 require 30% luminance contrast in

various situations including at the nosings of steps.

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D3.3 - Lifts

• D3.3 requires every passenger lift to comply

with E3.6, which provides the detailed

requirements for passenger lifts

•E3.6 will be covered later in the presentation

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D3.3 - Passing and turning spaces

• Passing spaces are required every 20 m

along an accessway where a clear line of

sight is not possible

• Turning spaces are required every 20 m

along an accessway and within 2m of a

dead-end

• Specifications for passing and turning spaces

are in AS 1428.1

•Passing and turning spaces are required to ensure a person using a wheelchair does not have to back up significant distances along a narrow passageway •A passing space can also serve as a turning space and the circulation space required at an intersection of two passageways is also sufficient to serve as a passing/turning space

•The dimensions for passing and turning spaces can be found in AS 1428.1

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D3.3 - Small building concession

• While generally access is required to all levels of

buildings, there is a concession for certain small

buildings

• In some 2 and 3 storey buildings where the storeys,

other than the entrance storeys, are each under 200

m

2

_{, an accessible ramp or lift does not have to be}

provided to those storeys

•The small building concession takes account of the relative costs and loss of net lettable space of installing a lift or ramp into a small building compared to the total cost of the building

•The concession only applies to 2 and 3 storey buildings; a building of 4 or more stories must have access to all levels

•This concession is only available for Class 5, 6, 7b or 8 buildings

•Example, if a three storey building is 600 square metres on the ground floor and has two upper floors each of 300 square metres, all levels must be accessible •Example, if a three storey building is 600 square metres on the ground floor and has two upper floors each of 190 square metres, an accessible ramp or lift need not be provided to serve those upper floors. However, note that all other

accessible features still need to be provided on those upper levels

•Example, if a three storey building is 600 square metres on the ground floor and has a second floor of 300 and a third floor of only 150 square metres, because at

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D3.3 - Carpet pile height

• While the use of carpets on an accessway is

allowed, if the carpet pile is too high it would

make movement in a wheelchair difficult

• A combined pile carpet height and backing

thickness of up to 15 mm is allowed

•Traversing carpet can be very difficult for people using wheelchairs because of the rolling resistance.

•This requirement for carpet pile height over-rides the technical specifications found in AS 1428.1

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Additional features

• While D3.3 specifically refers to design

features such as ramps and stairways, the

general requirement to comply with AS 1428.1

applies to other accessible features such as:

– doors and doorways

– switches and controls

•While the BCA does not specifically refer to some of the features that form part of a continuous accessible path of travel or make a building accessible such as doors, doorways and switches, they are nonetheless important aspects of access and usability

•As a general rule of thumb, unless specifically excluded, all the design specifications in AS 1428.1 should be applied to building elements in areas required to be accessible

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Doorways

• for doorways, AS 1428.1 provides

specifications for:

– clear opening dimensions

– force for opening

– circulation space around doorway

– luminance contrast

– door controls

•AS 1428.1 provides details for the design and construction of doors and doorways

•Example, doorways must have a clear minimum opening of 850 mm

•Example, circulation space at doorways must be sufficient to allow a person using a wheelchair to get access to the handle and turn into or out of a narrow passage. AS 1428.1 contains detailed requirements for circulation depending on the width of the passageway, size of the door and direction of travel as these all affect accessibility.

•Example, AS 1428.1 specifies luminance contrast requirements between the door leaf and surrounding wall, for example, in order to assist with identification of the doorway for people with low vision.

•Example, door handles must be located at specified heights and meet certain specifications for ease of use

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Door controls

1. Round knob

2. ‘Lever’ type

3. ‘D’ type

•Doorknobs can be difficult for people who have a disability which affects hand and arm function. Opening doors can require a combination of gripping, twisting, pushing or pulling.

•Photo 1is a round knob. This is difficult for people with limited arm mobility and dexterity to operate. Successful operation requires grip, a twist and a push. •Photo 2is a ‘lever type’ handle. While this is an improvement, it is still possible for a hand to slip off.

•Photo 3is a ‘D’ type handle and the type required by AS 1428.1. The shape provides support and prevents hands from slipping off. It provides support for closing the door.

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D3.4 Exemptions

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Exemptions

• D3.4 allows exemptions from general rule

of access to all areas

• Exemptions need to be assessed on a

case-by-case basis

• This is no different to other parts of the

BCA where professional judgement is

required

•While access is generally required to all areas normally used by building occupants there are some areas that are exempt

•In these situations a continuous accessible path of travel is not required •This has always been the case in the BCA and professional judgements will have to be made on a case by case basis

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Exemptions

• Areas which pose a

health or safety risk

or are otherwise

inappropriate for

people with disability

(such as a foundry

floor or rigging loft)

are exempt

•Under D3.4, accessways are not required to certain areas within buildings where providing access would be ‘inappropriate’ because of the nature of the area or the tasks undertaken in that area.

•These areas could include rigging lofts, waste-containment areas, foundry floors, loading docks, fire lookouts, plant and equipment rooms and other similar areas. •Assessment of these areas will need to be made on a case-by-case basis. Care needs be taken, however, to ensure that any assessment of the need to utilise this exemption is not based on assumptions about the ability of people with disability or people with a particular type of disability to undertake work in those settings.

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D3.5

Accessible Carparking

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Carparking

• If a carpark is provided in a building or in a

carparking area on the same allotment,

accessible carparking spaces must be

provided

• Accessible carparking spaces must be

designated with signage if more than 5 spaces

in total

•Accessible carparking spaces must be provided in a Class 7a building (carpark) and in a carparking area on the same allotment as a building required to be accessible.

•In other words if a building is required to be accessible by Table D3.1, accessible carparking spaces must be provided in any carpark building or carparking area associated with the building if on the same allotment.

•Accessible carparking spaces need not be provided where a carparking service is provided, such as a valet service, where direct access to the carpark is not available to the public.

•If the carpark has a total of more than 5 spaces, the accessible spaces must be designated and signed as accessible spaces. Where there are 5 spaces or less, the accessible space need not be designated or signed so as to restrict its use only for people with disability.

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Carparking

• Proportion of accessible carparking spaces

determined by Table D3.5

• Accessible carparking spaces must comply

with AS/NZS 2890.6

•The proportion of accessible carparking spaces required is calculated using Table D3.5.

•Example, a Class 6 building such as a shopping centre with up to 1000

carparking spaces must have 1 accessible carparking space for every 50 spaces provided

•Example, an office building (Class 5) or a school (Class 9b) must have 1 accessible carparking space for every 100 spaces provided

•An accessible carparking space must be connected to an accessible entry to a building via a continuous accessible path of travel

•The specifications for accessible carparking spaces are found in AS/NZS 2890.6

Parking facilities – Off-street parking for people with disabilities

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Carparking

5400 2400

2400 2400

Shared areas Accessible

space

Accessible space

Bollard

Parking aisle or roadway

2400

•The slide shows an arrangement for an accessible carparking space as required by AS/NZS 2890.6.

•Two adjacent accessible spaces may share a single unloading area, which must be protected by a bollard to prevent the space from being occupied by a vehicle.

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D3.6 Signage

(79)

Signage

• BCA contains requirements for certain

signage related directly to building matters,

including:

– identification of all sanitary facilities

– location and type of hearing augmentation

– directional information in some situations

•The BCA requires accessible signage to identify toilets and showers, rooms with hearing augmentation systems, directions to an accessible entrance from an inaccessible entrance and directions to an accessible unisex toilet from a bank of toilets that does not include an accessible unisex toilet.

•Some of this signage must include International symbols for access and some must be provided in tactile and braille form to assist blind people and people with low vision

•Note: Other signage that might be found in a building such as tenants’ board information, room numbers or directions to particular spaces are not covered by the BCA.

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Signage - toilets

• All toilets must be identified using tactile and braille

signage in addition to male/female signage

• All accessible unisex toilets must incorporate the

international symbol of access

• All accessible unisex toilets must identify if the toilet

is left or right hand transfer

• If there is no accessible unisex toilet at a bank of

toilets, directional signage must be provided

indicating the closest accessible toilet

•All toilets, not just accessible unisex toilets, must have accessible signage in the form of tactile and braille signage

•In addition, an accessible unisex toilet must be identified by the international symbol of access (the wheelchair symbol)

•People using wheelchairs transfer from their chair to the toilet pan in different ways. For some people transferring to the left is easier than to the right and visa versa. When a building has more than one accessible unisex toilet they must be designed in a way that alternates between left and right hand transfer and the signage for the toilet must provide that information in the form of a ‘L’ or ‘R’

•In some situations a standard block of toilets must also have a cubicle designed for use by people with ambulant disabilities such as people with arthritis who may find it very difficult to lower and raise from the pan. Where the ‘ambulant

accessible cubicles’ are required they must have tactile and braille signage on the door of the cubicle to indicate that they are suitable for use by an ambulant

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Non-compliant signage



_



•Required signage should not be seen as an opportunity to be creative

•It is specifically designed to be legible to a wide range of people, including those with cognitive or learning disabilities and must be presented in a consistent form to be easily interpreted.

Discussion points:

Ask audience what parts do not comply. Some suggestions are below: •Sharp corners

•All uppercase letters

•Symbol is not white on blue (Internationally standardised) •Serif font is used (Picture 1)

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Signage - hearing augmentation

• Identify a room with hearing augmentation

using the international symbol for deafness

• Within the room, indicate:

– type of system

– area covered

– if receivers are being used, where a receiver can

be obtained

• Braille and tactile signage required

•Any space required to have a hearing-augmentation system must be identified by braille and tactile signage as well as the international symbol of deafness which is white on blue similar the international symbol of access.

•This signage would generally be outside the room in which the hearing-augmentation system is available.

•Signage within the room must indicate the type of hearing-augmentation, and the area of the room covered. Signage must also indicate if the system being used in the room requires personal receivers, and where they may be obtained if this is the case.

•More information on hearing augmentation will be presented later – this slide only covers signagefor hearing augmentation.

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Signage - entrances

• Directional information including the

international symbol of access is required at

an inaccessible entrance to identify the

location of the nearest accessible entrance

•In some situations an entrance to a building might not need to be accessible (covered under D3.2) and when this is the case, directional signage including the international symbol of access must be provided at the inaccessible entrance identifying where the closest accessible entrance is

•This signage is directional and does not need to be provided with braille or tactile signage

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