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 seat 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.
Provide equal access to seats at the recommended mounting and circulation heights to provide access by people who use wheelchairs.
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).
BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms (kg) by height in metres (m).
Select designs with wide seat and table top slats to accommodate larger bolts to the frame, for strength and durability.
Install equal access seats in consistent locations for ease of recognition by people with vision impairment.
When retro-fitting an accessible seat under an existing shelter, consider the location of the shelter support posts. If there is insufficient circulation space, a new shelter may be required.
Install seats at a minimum 500 mm offset from the edge of a pathway to a seated person, to provide safe clearance for pedestrians and cyclists.
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.
Batter down gently to existing ground level.
Provide a wheelchair/pram space on at least one side of an equal access seat slab and on both sides where demand exists.
Where possible a range of seat heights should be installed
Platform seats should be installed at 450 mm height from slab. Consider installing some platform seats at 350 mm high for children where the seat is close to play areas.
Slab to have a minimum 1.0 m clear area around furniture for wheelchair / pram manoeuvrability.
Provide at least one seat with a back rest and armrest at each end to assist people of varying abilities.
Overall seat height is 750 mm - 790 mm as per AS 1428.2. Actual manufactured seat heights are generally higher than 790 mm.
Ensure a minimum 150 mm gap from the seat front edge to the seat base or legs underneath to enable ease of standing.
In areas where a high proportion of elderly users are anticipated, universal access seats should be no more than 60 m apart along a path of travel, to reduce fatigue.
At least 60% of all seating should be 450 mm high.
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.
See the following:
Figure 5: Elevation – required offset for rising from a seat + seat with armrest dimensions
Figure 6: Seat with back, armrests and wheelchair/pram space
Figure 7: Examples – contrasting colour concrete and seating.
Figure 5: Elevation – required offset for rising from a seat + seat with armrest dimensions
Figure 6: Seat with back, armrests and wheelchair/pram space
Figure 7: Examples – contrasting colour concrete and seating
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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
Sunshine Coast Regional Council (Council) supports and encourages the distribution of its material however, copyright protects this document. Council has no objection to this material being reproduced but only if council is recognised as the owner of the copyright and this material remains unaltered.
