Access for people with a disability

ASSESSMENTS OF PROPOSED AND EXISTING BUILDINGS FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY: Accessibility Consulting Auditors of buildings and structures have acquired experience from university studies, research, practising design for people with a disability, from construction and project management roles.

Assessments are for proposed new development of buildings and for the built environment when proposed alterations and additions occur. Example of buildings include officers, retail, restaurants, shopping malls, housing, factories, car parks and many other public places including churches.

Our client base come from the business sector, the authorities, developers, building designers, engineers and architects, and when purchasers and vendors are involved.

Scope of the assessment

Generally, our assessments consider whether the access provisions of a proposed new development or changes to an existing building as detailed on our clients’ drawings comply with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) as per the Class type of the new or altered building, and whether the provisions are consistent with the objectives of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

General overview what we assess?

Our consultancy is for assessments and advice on architectural and engineering floor plan layouts, site drawings and whenever possible we prefer to inspect the property. We check for proper and safe access throughout the building especially at access and egress locations, passage ways, doorways, bathrooms, toilets and parking areas to accommodate various levels of people with a physical disability to avoid any discrimination circumstances.

Specific things we look for

Signage of Braille and Tactile Signage, Tactile Ground Surface, Indicators, Accessible Sanitary Facility, Full glazing including doors and sidelights, Door handles, Lighting, Location of switches, Slip-resistant floor surfaces, Ramps to avoid steps, Hand rails and landings, and Parking locations and access.

Our expert reports

Reports and our services are in accordance with our client's instructions and Council DA conditions.
We issue expert reports at the initial designing stage and when local council’s DA conditions require assessments of buildings and car parking, public spaces, and the workplace environment.

Our certified and appropriate qualified and experienced consultants provide their opinions and reports without excluding relevant information and in accordance with applicable aspects of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the Australian Standards as listed below.

We comply with References & Australian Standards (AS): 

• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
• Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HREOC)
• HREOC Notes - Advisory Notes on Access to Premises
• Building Code of Australia
  • Section 1 - BCA Compliance Requirements
  • Section 2 - Access Requirements for Consistency with the DDA
• AS1428.1 Design for Access and Mobility - New Building Work
• AS1428.2 Design for Access and Mobility - Enhanced and Additional Requirements
• AS1428.4 Design for Access and Mobility - Tactile Indicators
• AS2890.1 Parking Facilities - Off-street Car Parking.

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)

This is an important Act when it comes to buildings and structures. They are required to be suitable with respect to access to premises under the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act. This is to provide the same level of access to people with a disability as it does to people without a disability.

We take the time to explain the responsibilities and obligations for our clients and the users of buildings and structures when we are engaged and in producing our report documentation.

Users of buildings would include customers, visitors, management, maintenance personnel and most importantly employees with some kind of a disability.

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