Part H8 Livable housing design

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.

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.

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.

(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.