There are a number of guidebook and handbooks available for reference when developing accessible building design solutions. These are discussed on this website. Over the coming months, we will be adding more helpful resources under this section.
Guidebooks and Handbooks
Designing for Inclusion and Independence – An Explanatory Guide to support the Briefing and Design of Accessible Housing
Designing for Inclusion and Independence aims to support stakeholders in the briefing, design and specification of high-quality accessible housing. Inclusion of current design benchmarks such as Livable Housing Australia (Platinum Level) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (High Physical Support).
Evacuation Lift Handbook
The ABCB released this non-mandatory Handbook to provide guidance on risks, equipment limitations and other matters a designer should address when considering a Performance Solution involving the use of lifts during evacuation. It is not a definitive design reference for specialists and provides general introductory knowledge on the subject, the major issues that need to be considered and how the BCA is applied.
Evacuation of People with Disability and Emergent Limitations
The objectives of the Guide are to help workplaces and employees work collaboratively, provide guidance to employers, facility managers and employees to reduce risk and provide a safer environment, understand legislative requirements, determine who is responsible for personal safety and evacuation planning, and to provide knowledge and resources to ask the right questions and to work with employers to develop an individual PEEP.
Read more Evacuation of People with Disability and Emergent Limitations
Guide to the specification and testing of slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces
HB 198 provides guidance on the application of AS 4586 and commentary on relevant parts of the National Construction Code (NCC) Building Code of Australia Volume 1 (BCA) in Table 3A. Best-practice recommendations for ratings in other types of buildings and room uses are provided in Table 3B. A great reference to ensure slip-resistance ratings in areas like hotel rooms, pool areas, change rooms etc.
Read more Guide to the specification and testing of slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces
Premises Standards Guidelines
The Guideline on the application of the Premises Standards has been developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission to assist building professionals and those concerned with access to better understand how the Premises Standards apply to new and upgraded public buildings. Throughout the Guidelines there are references to ‘good practice’ or recommendations that are not a legal requirement.
The Livable and Adaptable House
Many people, when building a new home anticipate spending a number of years, if not decades, living in it. Others may conceive of a shorter stay. Whatever the intention, any new home is likely to have to accommodate changing needs over its lifetime. A livable and adaptable house is one that is able to respond effectively to these needs without requiring costly and energy-intensive alterations.
Livable Housing Design Guidelines
The Livable Housing Design Guidelines describes 15 livable design elements. Each element provides guidance on what performance is expected to achieve either silver, gold or platinum level accreditation. Livable homes include key features that make them easier and safer to use for all occupants including people with disability, ageing Australians, people with temporary injuries, and families with young children.
Victorian Building Authority Access Practice Note
PN 2011-14, Access to Buildings for People with a Disability, provides guidance for building practitioners on how to work with the access provisions in the BCA and what are exemptions from those access provisions. The PN defines new part and affected part, discusses unjustifiable hardship, available concessions for existing accessible toilets and lifts and the potential for a lessee concession in multi-tenanted buildings.