Requirements for the integration of equal access for all users
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines ‘premises’ as the whole of the built environment and includes existing buildings, new or proposed buildings, transport systems, car parks, pathways, and public parks and gardens.
Note: Consult an access consultant accredited by the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA).
Embellishments must be designed in accordance with AS 1428 Design for access and mobility.
Ensure that picnic tables and benches slabs are connected to a ‘continuous accessible path of travel’ to enable equal access for people who use wheelchairs. Ensure that the path of travel is connected to an accessible car park space.
Concrete slab to provide minimum 1.2 m for straight passage and 1.5 m where 90 degree turn is required for wheelchair and pram manoeuvrability around furniture.
Avoid finished height difference between a concrete slab and adjoining surfaces to prevent trip hazards and to prevent ‘tramlining’ of pram, bicycle and wheelchair wheels.
Provide equal access to picnic tables and benches at the recommended mounting and circulation heights to provide wheelchair access and reach heights.
Consider bariatrics when selecting seat designs.
bariatrics is derived from the Greek word ‘baros’ meaning weight and is defined by the Medical Research Council as morbid obesity (where a person has a BMI of more than 40).
Select designs with wide seat and table top slats to accommodate larger bolts to the frame, for strength and durability.
Connection bars should not be located on ground level in one piece settings as these make equal access difficult for older people and people who are injured.
Ensure no leg obstructions under an equal access table and bench combination to enable wheelchairs/mobility frames to fit under the table.
Consider a combination of benches with backrest and without backrest.
To obtain extra height for wheelchair accessible tables, do not ‘surface mount’ tables designed for ‘sub-surface’ mounting, as the result is loss of stability. It is preferable to have the table manufactured to the correct height with surface mounted bolt down legs.
A combination of picnic table and bench/seat heights and locations should be used, for example where multiple installations exist:
the first installation should always be an equal access model.
following the first equal access installation, a standard model can be used (these may vary in heights to provide for a variety for users).
Install picnic tables and benches at an absolute minimum 500 mm offset from the edge of a pathway, to provide safe clearance for pedestrians and cyclists.
Install picnic tables and benches at consistent locations for ease of recognition by people with vision impairment.
When retro-fitting picnic tables and benches under existing shelters, consider the location of the shelter support posts. If there is insufficient circulation space, a new shelter may be required.
Consider that when narrow recycled plastic/wood composite materials are used for table battens on a wheelchair extended table top, they can be subject to bending of the battens when load is applied (when people sit on the table).
See the following figure and table for further guidance:
Figure 4: Elevation – equal access table and benches – extended table top
Table 2: Picnic table and benches preferred height/locations.
Figure 5: Elevation – typical example, picnic table and bench combinations.
Figure 4: Elevation – equal access table and benches – extended table top
Figure 5: Elevation – typical example, picnic table and bench combinations
For people with a vision impairment, provide a minimum 30% luminance contrast between objects and the background they are viewed against, for ease of identification.
Where luminance contrast may not be achieved (such as grey aluminium furniture on grey concrete), luminance contrast can be addressed by introducing colour into the ground surface providing a minimum 30% luminance contrast with the embellishment base, resulting in the embellishment being more visible for people who have low vision.
Consider designing nodes with a contrasting coloured concrete, or a variation in surface texture, to enable people with a disability to identify the location of embellishments along a pathway.
Table 2: Picnic table and benches preferred height/locations
Installation
Height of picnic tables and benches
Typical user group
Installation location
1st installation (please note first installation should always be an equal access model)
Equal access model Table height: 830 mm - 870 mm Table underside: 800 mm - 840 mm Bench/seat: 450 mm - 520 mm (select an appropriate seat/bench height to match equal access table height)
all users including people who use wheelchairs / mobility aids.
all
2nd installation
Standard model Table height: varies Bench/seat: 450 mm - 520 mm
(select an appropriate bench/seat height to match standard table height)
all users including children and short-statured people.
all
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Sunshine Coast Open Space Landscape Infrastructure Manual (LIM) DISCLAIMER
Disclaimer
Information contained in this document may change without notice and you should use the current material available from Council’s website and not rely on material previously printed or stored by you.
All figures and diagrams are intended to be used as an aid to design and include Council’s preferred elements but they are not intended to be prescriptive and may need to be varied as dictated by site specific factors. While Council has exercised reasonable care in preparing this document, it does not warrant or represent that it is accurate or complete. The Council will not accept responsibility for any loss, damage, cost or expense that you may incur as a result of the use of or reliance upon any material contained in this document.
This document is produced to convey general information and is not intended to constitute advice whether professional or legal. Any reference to legislation in this document is not an interpretation of the law. It is to be used as a guide only. Consult relevant authority websites for current documents, revisions and amendments.
Where a particular product or supplier is profiled in this document, Council is NOT nominating this product or supplier as the selected choice. Product/supplier information has been provided to allow users to source products which contain the correct elements required for Council embellishments. Each product profiled states ‘or equivalent’ which means that different products may be supplied provided they satisfy the identified performance criteria, recommended standards, equal access guidance and product specifications.
Product design, manufacture and installation requires appropriately qualified people to provide site specific solutions to ensure the embellishment is appropriately adapted to local conditions and data.
This document does not override requirements stipulated in a development approval. Project specific variations may be appropriate as a result of site, environmental or other constraints. Any variations to these standards must be approved in writing by council prior to commencement of variation works. Components of this document may be used within a contract document but users should undertake their own investigations to confirm the information is suitable for this purpose.
Drawings contained in this document are NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
Details in this document are deemed to be the minimum standard and the user may wish to apply a higher standard subject to approval by council.
Acknowledgements
Council wishes to thank all contributors and stakeholders involved in the development of this document.
Copyright
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