We have issued a corrigendum for the Livable Housing Design Standard.
The ABCB Livable Housing Design Standard (the standard) provides a set of technical provisions that enable dwellings to better meet the needs of the community, including older people and people with mobility limitations. The standard includes provisions that specify a step-free pathway to the dwelling.
NCC Volume Two H8D2(2) contains a concession that removes the requirement to provide a step-free pathway to the dwelling in certain circumstances. To clarify application of that concession, the standard has been re-issued with a correction to Clause 1.1(4)(a).
The correction is as follows: ‘The interval between landings must not be more than…’ is replaced with ‘The aggregate length of ramping (excluding landings) must not be more than…’.
This change clarifies that the total ramp lengths and the corresponding gradients nominated in Clause 1.1(4)(a) of the standard are the parameters applicable to the concession in NCC Volume Two H8D2(2). For example, a step-free pathway need not be provided should that pathway necessitate more than 15 m of ramps (not including landings) at 1:20 gradient (see Clause 1.1(4)(a)(ii)).
For further information on the standard, including application of the concession, refer to the ABCB Livable Housing Design Handbook.
The ABCB Voluntary Standard for Livable Housing Design: Beyond Minimum has been updated to align with this change. The Voluntary Standard is a set of non-mandatory technical provisions that, if complied with, will enable dwellings to better meet the needs of the community.