NCC 2022 Volume Two - Building Code of Australia Class 1 and 10 buildings
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H8

Part H8 Livable housing design

Part H8 Livable housing design

Introduction to this Part

This Part sets out requirements for dwellings to include features that are designed to improve their accessibility and usability for occupants and visitors, including those with a mobility-related disability.

Notes

Part H8 Livable housing design does not take effect until 1 October 2023.

Notes: Tasmania Part H8 Livable housing design

For Tasmania, Part H8 does not take effect until 1 October 2024.

Objectives

The Objective of this Part is to ensure that housing is designed to meet the needs of the community, including older people and those with a mobility-related disability.

Applications

H8O1 only applies to a Class 1a building.

Functional Statements

A dwelling should be designed such that it is—

  1. easy to enter; and
  2. easy to navigate in and around; and
  3. capable of easy and cost effective adaptation; and
  4. responsive to the changing needs of occupants.

Explanatory information

H8F1 only applies to a Class 1a building.

Performance Requirements

A Class 1a building must be provided with—

  1. a continuous and step-free path to a dwelling entrance door from either—
    1. the pedestrian entry at the allotment boundary; or
    2. an appurtenant Class 10a garage or carport; or
    3. a car parking space provided for the exclusive use of the occupants of the dwelling; and
  2. at least one level and step-free entrance door into the dwelling from the access path required by (a); and
  3. internal doors and corridors on the ground or entrance level which facilitate unimpeded movement between spaces; and
  4. a sanitary compartment that—
    1. facilitates independent access and use; and
    2. is located on the ground or entry level; and
  5. a shower that facilitates independent access and use; and
  6. the walls of the sanitary compartment referred to in (d), the shower referred to in (e) and a bath (where installed, other than a freestanding bath) constructed so as to facilitate future installation of grabrails, or the like, in a way that minimises the removal of existing wall linings.

Exemptions

H8P1(a) need not be complied with if—

  1. step-free access cannot be provided from an appurtenant Class 10a garage or carport or a car parking space provided for the exclusive use of the occupants of the dwelling; and
  2. due to site conditions, there is no other suitable location on which to construct the access path.

Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

(1) Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirement H8P1 is satisfied by complying with H8D2.

(2) Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A2G2(3) and A2G4(3).

(1) A Class 1a dwelling must comply with the ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design.

(2) Clause 1.1 of the ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design need not be complied with if—

  1. step-free access via an appurtenant garage, carport or parking space in accordance with Clause 1.1(1)(b) or (c) is not provided; and
  2. one or more of the following conditions exist:
    1. The average slope of the ground on which the access path would be constructed exceeds a gradient of 1:14.
    2. To provide an external step-free access path would necessitate construction of ramping that exceeds the length and gradient allowed by Clause 1.1(4).
    3. There is insufficient space available on the site on which to construct a step-free access path complying with Clause 1.1.
    4. Subject to (3), the difference in level, measured vertically from the pedestrian entry at the allotment boundary or parking space to the floor level at the entrance door on the nearest floor containing habitable rooms, would necessitate construction of ramping that exceeds the length and gradient allowed under Clause 1.1(4).

(3) For the purposes of (2)(b)(iv), the difference in level must be measured from the floor level at the entrance door, or if there is an attached deck, balcony or the like that provides a step-free connection to the entrance door, from the lowest point of that deck, balcony or the like above the surface beneath,

(4) Even if Clause 1.1 is not complied with, all other relevant provisions of the ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design must still be complied with.

Explanatory information: Exemptions

The exemptions listed at H8D2(2)(b)(i) and (ii) provide for situations where the ramping necessary to provide a step-free access path would become too lengthy or too steep to be used regularly by a person with limited mobility, and therefore would offer little benefit to dwelling occupants or visitors. Such situations may occur due to a number of factors including (but not limited to) the following:

  • The slope of the land upon which the ramp would be constructed. For example, if the required step-free access path cannot be provided in one continuous direction, meaning it would instead need to be cut into the slope, or would run back and forth across the face of the slope, in order to stay within maximum gradient limits.
  • The height of the lowest floor containing habitable rooms is too high to be reached by a ramp within required length and gradient limits. Floor heights can be influenced by factors such as dwelling style, defined flood level, location of the dwelling in an alpine area, or construction of the dwelling directly above a private garage (including garage-top dwellings).

The exemption listed at H8D2(2)(b)(iii) provides for situations where the amount of available space on the site is insufficient to accommodate a step-free access path. This may be due to the physical size of the site, or regulations outside of the NCC which limit the proportion of a site that can be covered by structures and/or impervious ground coverings.

It is important to note that under H8D2(2), an exemption may only be applied if, in a particular case, both (a) and (b) are applicable, not just one or the other.