Based on AS1428.1-2009, lift buttons are required to have a minimum 500mm clearance to a corner wall or other obstruction to ensure that a person with a mobility aid is able to approach the lift buttons without obstructing the lift opening and press the buttons to call the lift.
Read moreCalculating Number of Sanitary and Shower Facilities
If the number of people who will occupy a building is known, it should be used. However, in the absence of more accurate information, Clause D1.13 must be used. D1.13 is used in several Parts of the BCA, such as in calculating minimum exit widths, as well as the number of sanitary and other facilities. D1.13 does not restrict the number of occupants using a building, or enforce any building use or licensing requirements.
Read moreRoom Heights
Part F3 of the BCA details the requirements for rooms or spaces within a building that must provide a height suitable for the intended use. ‘Intended use’ recognises that the height required in rooms and spaces is directly related to the room’s function.
Read moreBCA Classifications
The BCA classifies buildings by their use. A building may be made up of a number of classes if it has a mixed use.
Read moreBCA Clause D3.4 Exempted Areas
This provision provides details on buildings or parts of buildings not required to be accessible under the BCA. Clause D3.4 details exemptions to the requirements for access to certain areas within buildings where providing access would be inappropriate because of the nature of the area or the tasks undertaken.
Read moreAccessible Adult Change Facilities
An accessible adult change facility is a type of sanitary compartment that includes a hoist and adult size change table in addition to a peninsula-type toilet pan and other fixtures and fittings. Its purpose is to provide a suitable toilet for people with more complex or profound disability who may be unable to use standard accessible toilets.
Read moreHearing Augmentation Systems
Hearing augmentation systems assist people with a hearing impairment to be made aware of communications associated with a building’s use.
Read moreBCA/NCC 2022 New Requirements for Livable Housing Design.
What is ‘livable housing design’?
Livable housing design is about changing the way we design homes to make them easier to use and more adaptable to the changing needs of occupants. In practice, this means reducing steps where possible, more space in the bathroom, wider doorways, and providing for future adaptations such as adding grabrails.
We call these new requirements ‘livable housing design’ because they’re based on the Livable Housing Design Guidelines (silver level), first published by Livable Housing Australia. Livable housing design represents a significant step-change to how we’ve traditionally designed housing in Australia.
There are many new changes introduced in NCC 2022. To help you understand them and make it as easy as possible to include them in your designs, we’ll be providing guidance material to explain their intent and answer the most commonly asked questions.
What changes are in NCC 2022?
You can find the livable housing design requirements in Volumes One and Two of the NCC.
In Volume One, they’re in the new Part G7. In Volume Two, they’re in Part H8.
These new Parts include:
A performance-based approach, to provide flexibility and encourage new and innovative ways to meet the requirements.
Exemptions for situations where full compliance may be impractical or unreasonable.
Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Provisions that provide a standardised, prescriptive ‘recipe’ to meet the Performance Requirements, suitable for most common designs and construction methods.
The DTS Provisions refer to a new ABCB technical standard, called the ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design. It provides the ‘nuts and bolts’ technical details along with explanatory information to help you understand why they are there and how to follow them correctly.
The ABCB Standard covers:
Providing step-free access to the home.
Making doorways and hallways easier to use for people with reduced mobility.
Providing extra space in the bathroom and toilet.
Wall reinforcing in the bathroom and toilet, to make it easier to install grabrails if needed in the future.