New industry regulations

2020-05-18 by Hanso

When it comes to the latest industry standards, the NCC (National Construction Code) 2022 introduces updated requirements for "Liveable Housing Design," aimed at improving building designs to better accommodate the housing needs of elderly individuals. These adjustments reflect concerns arising from common issues in the housing and construction markets in recent years, particularly focusing on spatial accessibility and bathroom design to facilitate aging in place.

Regarding passageways and corridors, the main changes involve adjustments to required space dimensions and clearances:

• There must be no steps from the street to the entry door.
• At least one entry door must have a clear width of 820mm, and the threshold height should not exceed 5mm (facilitating wheelchair access).
• Interior corridors leading to rooms must be no less than 1 meter wide.

For bathroom spaces, new restrictions include:

• If a toilet is positioned facing the entrance, there must be a minimum 1200mm clear space in front for maneuverability.
• If the toilet is wall-mounted, its centerline must be 450mm away from the wall, and the adjacent wall must be reinforced for grab bar installation.

Regarding shower areas:

• At least one shower facility in the house must have a step-free entry and a waterproof floor.
• Walls adjacent to shower facilities should be structurally reinforced for future grab bar installation.

For bathtub areas:

• Walls near bathtubs must have reinforced structures for future grab bar installation.

In summary, these changes in design and building standards primarily aim to provide a more convenient living environment for elderly individuals. It's important to note that while referred to as NCC 2022, these regulations are set to be implemented from October 1, 2023, allowing projects approved before this date to be exempt from these new planning requirements.