FAQS

Accessible (Disabled) Car Parking

How Many Disabled Car Parks Do I Need?

This is determined by the Building Classification.within the Building Code of Australia. More

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Accessible (Disabled) Car Parking

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How Big Should Accessible (Disabled) Carparking Spaces Be?

5400mm Long by 2 x 2400mm wide (4800mm wide) (One dedicated parking space + One Shared Space) If two accessible carparks are required, they may use the shared space in between them, however, the size would then be 3 x 2400mm (7200mm wide). More

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Accessible (Disabled) Car Parking

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Why Are Accessible (Disabled) Car Parks Now So Big?

To permit enough space for a side deployed ramp to enter and exit a motor vehicle. More

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Accessible (Disabled) Car Parking

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Changing Places

What are Changing Places Accessible Toilets?

Changing Places facilities have been introduced to provide suitable facilities for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets.More

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Changing Places

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What are ‘Changing Places’?

This Changing Places Information Kit provides key people such as architects, Councils, developers, designers and facility managers with all the information required to build a Changing Place toilet: plans, design specifications, security options and costings.More

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Changing Places

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Emergency Egress

How do I plan for the evacuation of staff with disability?

Equal Access consults throughout Australia strategically supporting organisations to plan for the emergency evacuation of ALL staff members, including the development of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEP’s).PEEP’s are customised documentations that provide the framework for the planning and provision of emergency evacuation of people with a disability.More

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Emergency Egress

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General Access

Can I Still Use Section 10 Of The Victorian Building Act To Get Out Of Providing Access For People With Disability?

The Victorian Building Authority advises that if using the transitional provisions of Section 10, Building Act 1993, the Relevant Building Surveyor and the applicant would be acting unlawfully under the DDA.More

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General Access

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What is ‘Affected Part’?

Affected Part: An ‘affected part’ is defined as: ‘the principal pedestrian entrance of an existing building than contains a ‘new part’; and; any part of an existing building that contains a ‘new part’, that is necessary to provide a continuous accessible path of travel from the entrance to a ‘new part”.More

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General Access

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Will Your Wall Setouts Comply With AS 1428.1?

In the past wall setouts on plans were based on stud frame to stud frame. With the implementation of AS1428.1-2009 Building Designers will need to carefully review setouts as the minimum spaces nominated must me unobstructed.More

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General Access

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What are the access requirements if I wish to work from home?

It depends on the use of the property and if this use is changing. From a building perspective, if you ‘change the use’ of the property you must get the necessary permits and ensure that dignified and equitable access is provided in accordance with the access provisions of applicable standards.More

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General Access

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What are the limits with heights of carpet pile within the Premises Standards and the BCA?

The inconsistency between the Premises Standards and the BCA presents a dilemma for carpet selection – carpet with a 11 mm pile height or pile thickness will satisfy the BCA, but currently represents a non-compliance under the Premises Standards.More

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General Access

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Is Access Required To Temporary Structures? (Victoria Only)

If the building is a prescribed temporary structure, as defined by the Building Regulations 2006, a building permit for its construction is not required, however an Occupancy Permit from the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and a siting approval from the relevant Municipal Building Surveyor will be required. Section 23 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) prohibits disability discrimination in relation to the access to premises that can be accessed by a section of the public, irrespective to whether a building permit is required for the structure. More

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General Access

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When do I need to consider slip resistance requirements?

"The requirements for slip-resistance classifications under the BCA are for ramps, stairways and landings. These are located in Parts D2.10, D2.13 and D2.14 of Volume 1 of the BCA"More

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General Access

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How Much Space Does A Wheelchair Need For A 90° Turn?

A wheelchair requires a 1500mm x 1500mm space to make a 90° turn, however the internal corner of the turning space may be splayed.More

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General Access

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Do accessible brothels exist?

Although universal design is not quite as widespread in brothels as it is in other industries, there has been some positive progress in recent years.More

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General Access

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Hearing Augmentation

When do I need to provide hearing augmentation?

Hearing augmentation systems must be provided where an inbuilt amplification system is provided (other than one only used for emergency warning).More

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Hearing Augmentation

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Heritage & Access

Do Heritage requirements override Access requirements?

It is our professional belief that as the Disability Discrimination Act and Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010 are both federal pieces of legislation, they take precedence over any local or state government heritage legislation.More

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Heritage & Access

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Lifts & Elevators

OK, You Need A Passenger Lift In A Small Building, But Which Type? Part 15 Or Part 16?

Type 15 lifts have a maximum of 4m travel, can be constant pressure controlled, Part 16 lifts can travel up to 12mMore

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Lifts & Elevators

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Do lifts with constant pressure operation comply with BCA DTS requirements?

Lifts with constant pressure controls do not meet the DTS requirementsMore

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Lifts & Elevators

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What are the circulation requirements for a lift with a 90° turn?

AS1428.1-2009, Clause 6.5.1 requires a space 1500mm x 1500mm for a 90 degree turn, though the internal corner can be splayed 500mm x 500mm.More

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Lifts & Elevators

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What type of lift do I need?

What are the options now? Clause E3.6 of the Premises Standards and the BCA outline a number of passenger lift options. More

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Lifts & Elevators

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Luminance Contrast

What are the minimum requirements for luminance contrast?

Luminance contrast is defined in Australian Standard 1428.1-2009 as ‘the light reflected from one surface or component, compared to the light reflected from another surface or component’. It is not the difference in the colour or the colour contrast, but the difference in the light reflective properties of each colour.More

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Luminance Contrast

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Outdoors & Events

What are the requirements for Wheelchair Accessible Picnic Tables And Street Furniture?

AS1428.2:1992, Section 24.1.1 provides details that should be considered with any design of Wheelchair Accessible Picnic Tables And Street FurnitureMore

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Outdoors & Events

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How can access be improved with child safety fences at community facuilities for people with a disability or short statured?

ACLatch provides a unique solution to this problem. It operates with the Magnalatch range, providing an alternate base unit that includes a locked release. This then allows a secure release at a lower height, so the gate can be both child-safe and with access to anyone in a wheelchair.More

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Outdoors & Events

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How can I demand action for portable disabled toilets at events and festivals

Download the template letter requesting Toilet Providers make a change by providing fully compliant accessible toilets for events and festivalsMore

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Outdoors & Events

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What can I do to demand action for portable disabled toilets at events and festivals?

Demand action for providing Transportable Hire Disabled Toilets For Events & FestivalsMore

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Outdoors & Events

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Floor and storm water grates, how big can these openings can be to meet the AS 1428.1?

AS 1428.1 Clause 7.5 accepts that a grate may be used on a continuous accessible path of travel if circular openings are not greater than 13mm in diameter.More

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Outdoors & Events

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Will I need to provide an Accessible (disabled) toilets for my public event?

Most likely. It depends on each states requirements, however Councils usually enforce this as part of the permit requirement to hold public eventsMore

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Outdoors & Events

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Sanitary Facilities

How Big is an Accessible (Disabled) Toilet

One size does not fit all! One of the most common questions we get asked in our office is "how big or what is the size of a disabled toilet or shower"? or more correctly "how big are accessible toilets and showers"? This simple question, however, is not easily answered due to the number of variables that affect the overall size. The guiding legislation we use when designing an accessible toilet is Australian Standard AS 1428.1-2009 Design for access and mobility – General requirements for access – New building work In determining the size of an accessible (disabled) toilet we have to consider WC location and required circulation Hand basin and required circulation Shower location and circulation Door type, location and required circulation.More

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Sanitary Facilities

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Why Can’t I Have A Unisex Ambulant Toilet?

Not permitted under Clause F2.3(a) of the BCA. Note that depending on the situation consideration may be gievn to a ‘Performance Based’ approach to permit a Unisex Ambulant toilet inlieu of Separate Male & Female toilets. More

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Sanitary Facilities

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Can An Accessible (Disabled) Toilet Be Used As An Ambulant Toilet?

No, the features/clearances between the toilets accomodate different user ranges Accessible toilet – Person who uses a mobility chair requiring clearances for tranfer on/off the Pan. Ambulant facility – Person who may be an amputee, Muscular Dystophy, rely on crutches. More

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Sanitary Facilities

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What is the disabled toilet 1400mm exclusion zone?

The 1400mm exclusion zone caters for persons using a mobility chair to approach the Pan in their preferred way i.e. Front on, Diagonal or Side on. More

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Sanitary Facilities

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What’s the difference between Accessible (Disabled) And Ambulant Toilets Within Childcare Centres?

Accessible toilet – Person who uses a mobility chair requiring clearances for tranfer on/off the Pan. Ambulant toilet – Person who may be an amputee, Muscular Dystophy, rely on crutches.More

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Sanitary Facilities

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What is an Ambulant Toilet?

An ambulant toilet is provided for people with a disability who are capable of walking. It is similar to a standard toilet, however the cubicle door opens outwards and has larger easier to use door hardware, there must be a clear space of 900mm x 900mm both inside and outside the cubicle and there must be grab rails within the cubicle, located on each side of the toilet. A coat hook and the toiet paper dispenser must be located at the required height.More

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Sanitary Facilities

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Can I use a Dyson hand dryer in an Accessible (disabled) toilet?

No, there is insufficient reach range for persons using a mobility chair to reach forward and insert their arms down into the air jets.More

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Sanitary Facilities

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Are there compliant transportable hire Accessible (Disabled) Toilets for events & festivals?

To date we have not seen any that meet the requirements of AS 1428.1:2009.More

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Sanitary Facilities

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Signs & Glazing Bands

Why do we need glazing bands visual indicators on glazing?

Glazing bands are needed for people with vision impairment to alert them to a barrier created by clear glass, preventing them from walking through it.More

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Signs & Glazing Bands

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What are the requirements for raised tactile and braille signage?

The following items are required when determining whether raised tactile and braille signage compliesMore

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Signs & Glazing Bands

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What height should I install Braille and Tactile Signs at?

"All Braille & tactile characters on signs are to be located between 1200mm and 1600mm above the floor level. Where accessible toilet signs just have a single line of text they must have the Braille and tactile characters located between 1250mm and 1350mm above floor level."More

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Signs & Glazing Bands

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Specialist Disability Accommodation

What is Specialist Disability Accommodation under the NDIS?

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) refers accommodation for participants who are eligible for specialist housing solutions to assist with the delivery of environmental supports to cater for their significant functional impairment and/or meet their very high (support) needs. More

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Specialist Disability Accommodation

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Stairs & Ramps

When Is A Stairway A Stairway?

Where there are 2 or more continual steps (or risers), it is considered a stairway, and must comply with BCA D3.3(a)(ii) of the BCA, which states that all stairways (except a fire-isolated stairway – see below) must comply with Clause 11 of AS1428.1More

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Stairs & Ramps

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How do internal stair handrails work with intermediate landings and required going (step) setbacks?

The intermediate (mid) landing on stairways needs to be extended to provide a setback to allow the handrail at the top of the first flight to extend the distance of one going, before turning 180 degrees and going up the second flight. More

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Stairs & Ramps

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Tactile Ground Surface Indicators

Why do we need TGSI installations?

The majority of people who are blind or vision impaired have some vision. The provision of sufficient luminance-contrast in the design of signage and the choice of TGSIs will enhance access to information for people with vision impairment and forall pedestriansMore

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Tactile Ground Surface Indicators

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What exactly is luminance contrast?

Luminance contrast is defined in Australian Standard 1428.1-2009 as ‘the light reflected from one surface or component, compared to the light reflected from another surface or component’. It is not the difference in the colour or the colour contrast, but the difference in the light reflective properties of each colourMore

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Tactile Ground Surface Indicators

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As a designer or certifier are the “Discrete TGSIS” you are responsible for comply?

The key issue with the use of Discrete TGSIs is Luminance contrast, especially with the polished stainless steel type which generally do not comply. More

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Tactile Ground Surface Indicators

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Are You Specifying Or Approving Tactile Ground Surface Indicators TGSIs?

Ensure you are using the correct testing equipment and calculation when determining luminance contrast to ensure full compliance is achieved. Slip resistance is also a critical item for consideration.More

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Tactile Ground Surface Indicators

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Our Blogs

A New Inclusive ‘Gender Neutral’ Toilet Sign

  • July 1, 2024
  • Cynthia Ces

A question we have received a number of times within our practice is the provision of and identification of ...

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Why ‘Wave to Open’ and ‘Wave to Lock’ Discriminate against People with Disability

  • May 2, 2024
  • Bruce Bromley

We are now regularly seeing the installation of ‘Wave to Open and Wave to Lock’ buttons used on automated...

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Raised Tactile And Braille Signage

  • November 10, 2023
  • Bruce Bromley

We are often asked to assess signage against the requirements of the Disability Access to Premise...

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