Access for people with disabilities to both public and private buildings will improve significantly under the new ‘Access to Premises’ standard being considered by the Federal Government, according to an industry expert.

The aim of the Premises Standard is to make building law and discrimination law align when it comes to access for people with disabilities.  

Blythe-Sanderson Group Director and Access Consultant, Andrew Sanderson, said the Federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992 ( DDA) enacted in 1993 had been a significant step forward for people with a disability, but the new standards set to be implemented next year would make an even greater difference when it comes to access to premises. Subject to adoption by Parliament, the Premises Standards, will take effect from May 1, 2011 and will apply to new buildings and new parts of existing buildings undergoing renovation or upgrade.

“Access for people with disabilities, particularly access to public buildings and the goods and services offered within them, is a major issue. The new standards with the access code also included in the Building Code of Australia in 2011, will see significant improvements,” he said.

Mr. Sanderson said the new standards were not squarely aimed at people who use wheelchairs or people with mobility issues, but attempted to cover all people with a disability including physical, cognitive and sensory.

Blythe-Sanderson has recently merged with international development and construction industry consultants, Davis Langdon.

Mr Sanderson said Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed that one in five people had some form of disability.

“In terms of mobility and people with disabilities, there are more than 500,000 people or 2.6% of the population who require the use of a cane, walking frame or stick, crutches, manual or electric wheelchairs, scooters, specially modified vehicle or other mobility aid,” he said.

Mr Sanderson said the Access to Premises Standard will apply to all new and existing public buildings and is likely to also incorporate access to and within the common areas of residential buildings.

He said the standard’s provisions will apply in their entirety to new buildings inclusive of new parts, major refurbishments and redevelopments to existing buildings.

Areas to be covered will include accessible car parking, signage, hearing augmentation, wheel chair seating spaces, swimming pool access via ramps, aquatic wheelchairs and lifts, general ramps and landings, stairs glazing on access ways, lift installations, sanitary facilities, accessible showers and public transport facilities.

“Building owners, developers, designers and the like have been unable to clearly determine their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act. “This will eliminate the current uncertainty which exists for both building owners and for people with a disability,” he said.

“In addition people with disabilities have been unable to fully participate in the community given the variance, inconsistency and in many cases inadequate amenity offered across public buildings.

“The new standards will go a long way towards rectifying that.”

Davis Langdon Managing Director Mark Beattie said the Blythe-Sanderson Group merger added to the suite of skills provided by Davis Langdon.

“The provision of access consulting will be enabled across Davis Langdon’s Australian and New Zealand network of offices,” he said.

“This will be supported by our compatible services of Building Surveying, Project Management, Town Planning and Cost Management.”


For further information, contact Meaghan Jones on +61 3 9933 8800 or email mjones2@davislangdon.com.au