Summary:
Australian Standard AS 1428 (often written AS1428) sets the minimum design standards for accessibility in Australian buildings, with different sections addressing mobility, vision, and hearing impairments across various building types.. Compliance covers everything from ramp gradients and circulation spaces to accessible toilet requirements, which are mandatory for new public builds under the NCC. As these standards continue to evolve, staying compliant with AS1428 is key to ensuring buildings remain accessible and welcoming for all patrons.
Key Points:
- AS1428 is the minimum design standard for new and existing buildings, focused on accessibility for people with disability, including wheelchair access ways.
- The standard is made up of several sections, including AS 1428.1, AS 1428.2, AS 1428.3, AS 1428.5, and AS/NZS 1428.4.1, each addressing different accessibility needs such as mobility, hearing, and vision impairment.
- Under the NCC, any new public building with toilets must include at least one accessible toilet, meeting specific requirements for grab rails, circulation space, hoists, and slip-resistant flooring.
- Meeting AS1428 requirements is essential for ensuring buildings and venues remain compliant and accessible to all patrons, and these standards are regularly reviewed and updated.
Outline:
- What is AS1428 in Australian standards?
- What are the AS1428 standards?
- What are the requirements for disabled toilets in Australia?
- Maintain AS1428 compliance with Placeable Solutions
There are specific Australian standards and compliance legislation that applies to built spaces, ensuring that these areas are accessible to people with a disability. These standards can vary depending on several factors, including the type of building class as well as the type of vision, sensory, or mobility disability that is being accommodated.
What is AS1428 in Australian standards?
The AS1428 is the minimum design standard for new and existing buildings, ensuring building accessibility for people with disabilities. These standards primarily look at wheelchair access ways and their ability to move around the space — the underlying assumption is that creating room for the vertical and horizontal space occupied by a standard wheelchair will benefit all users of the space. Using access standards can be helpful, as they set out the minimum dimensions for circulation spaces and ramps, and for the placement of structures and fixings.
AS1428.1 is the disabled toilet standard used across Australia, setting out exactly what makes a toilet fully accessible and legally compliant. If you’re checking the new disabled toilet standards in Australia, always confirm you’re working from the current published edition of AS1428.1 before you design, build, or renovate.
What are the AS1428 standards?
The specific list of sections for AS1428 standards includes:
- AS 1428.5-2010
This is the design for access and mobility that would provide the means to assist with communication for people who are deaf or hearing impaired
- AS 1428.1-2009
This is the general requirement of designs for access and mobility, encompassing new building work.
- AS 1428.2-1992
This is the enhanced and additional requirements of designs for access and mobility, encompassing buildings and facilities.
- AS 1428.3-1992
This is the enhanced and additional requirements of designs for access and mobility, encompassing the requirements of children and adolescents with physical disabilities.
- AS/NZS 1428.4.1:2009
This is the design for access and mobility that would provide the means to assist the orientation of people with vision impairment, such as tactile ground surface indicators
These building standards include the design and location of accessible bathrooms, the inclusion of hand and grab rails, the use of tactile flooring, the gradient of ramps, and more. They are all designed with the intention of making spaces equal access for those with and without disabilities.
What are the requirements for disabled toilets in Australia?
The AS1428 accessible toilet requirements cover pan height, clear floor space, door width, and fixture placement, which are all critical to a compliant installation.
Accessible toilet requirements are listed in the NCC and are mandatory for any new public builds. If other toilets are provided, one accessible toilet must also be provided. It must also exist in the same or similar location as the other bathrooms. There are specific standards as outlined in the AS1428 for within the bathrooms themselves, including hoists, toilet pan layouts, grab rails, circulation spaces, automated sliding doors, and slip-resistant flooring.
It is important to make sure all these requirements are met for a truly accessible and compliant disabled toilet. For commercial spaces, Access POD Elevate offers a hire solution built to these requirements.
Maintain AS1428 compliance with Placeable Solutions
The objective of the AS1428 standards is to provide guidance on the minimum design requirements to enable access for people with disabilities. It is important to make sure your building or venue is compliant, to ensure it is accessible for all patrons. These standards are continually reviewed as there is always scope to include a greater range of disability concerns and environmental settings to any access standards.
At Placeable Solutions, we are AS1428 compliant and keep up to date with all changing legislation to ensure we continue to meet Australian standards.
Contact us today to speak to our experienced team and let us provide solutions for your accessible bathroom challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions About AS 1428
What does AS 1428 stand for?
AS 1428 stands for Australian Standard 1428, the Design for Access and Mobility series published by Standards Australia. It is often written as AS1428, and each numbered section addresses a different area of accessibility, such as mobility, hearing, or vision impairment.
Is AS1428 mandatory in Australia?
Yes, in most cases. AS1428.1 is referenced in the NCC and the Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010, making it mandatory for new public builds and for upgrades to existing buildings. Other sections, such as AS 1428.2, generally only apply where they are specified for a project.
Does AS1428 apply to existing buildings?
Yes. AS1428 applies to new and existing buildings. For existing buildings, the requirements are generally triggered when building work, such as an extension or renovation, requires approval, at which point the affected areas need to be brought up to standard.
Do portable accessible bathrooms need to meet AS1428?
Where a portable bathroom is provided as the accessible toilet for a site, it should meet the same AS1428 requirements as a permanent facility. For commercial spaces, schools and workplaces, Access POD Elevate is built to meet AS1428 accessibility standards without the need for major construction.