Section D requires equitable and dignified access to buildings and the services they provide. Section D and Part F4 are also intended to apply inclusively to people with a disability (see F4P1). Not only must people with a disability be able to access a building’s sanitary facilities, those facilities must be usable by them.

F4D5(a) and (b) refer to F4D6 and F4D7 respectively to determine the numbers of accessible sanitary facilities, and AS 1428.1 for details of the design of accessible facilities. Facilities such as wash basins, a shelf or bench top and adequate means of disposing of sanitary products must be inside the accessible unisex sanitary compartment and not outside in a public area. F4D5 also requires sanitary compartments suitable for use by a person with an ambulant disability to be provided in certain circumstances, in addition to compartments for use by a person using a wheelchair. Where two or more of each type of unisex accessible sanitary facilities are provided in a building, the number of left and right handed mirror image facilities must be provided as evenly as possible. This is required because some people transfer from their wheelchairs from the right hand side and some from the left.

F4D6 provides minimum requirements for the provision of accessible unisex sanitary compartments, commonly referred to as unisex accessible toilets. Unisex accessible sanitary compartments are required on each storey where sanitary compartments are provided. If the male or female compartments are located separately and not in a single bank then the accessible unisex sanitary compartment is only required at one of those banks. However, clear directional information about the location of the closest accessible unisex sanitary compartment must be provided. If there are multiple banks containing male and femalesanitary compartments on a storey, there must be an accessible unisex sanitary compartment at not less than 50% of those banks.

F4D7 provides minimum requirements for the provision of accessible unisex shower facilities in buildings where showers are required (by the NCC) to be provided.

F4D5(e) requires that facilities be constructed in accordance with AS1428.1. It is important to note that AS1428.1 contains provisions for both wheelchair accessible facilities and those for people with an ambulant disability. These provisions include:

• grabrails;
• circulation space;
• access door width and swing;
• height of fixtures;
• lever handles for taps; and
• space under the front of basins.

A sanitary compartment that is suitable for a person with an ambulant disability is not intended for use by a person using a wheelchair. Therefore an accessible path of travel need not be provided to such a compartment.