The following are the minimum mandatory requirements for new buildings works, with requirements prescribed in:

  • The National Construction Code, Building Code of Australia, Volume 1 (adopted into each State and Territories building legislation); and
  • Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010 (known as the ‘Premises Standards’) (and referenced under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 at a Commonwealth level).
  • Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (known as the ‘Transport Standards’) (and referenced under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 at a Commonwealth level).
Reference Clause Accessible Feature Deemed-to-Satisfy Requirement
BCA & Premises Standards Table D3.1 inter alia AS 1428.1 (2009) AS 1428.1 (2009), Clause 6.6 Visual indicator / glazing bands on any glazed section capable of being mistaken for an opening Contrasting visual indicator bands on glazing must provide a minimum of 30% luminance contrast when viewed against the floor surface or surfaces within 2m of the glazing on the opposite side. This must be considered on both sides of the glass.
BCA & Premises Standards Table D3.3(a)(ii) inter alia AS 1428.1 (2009) AS 1428.1 (2009), Clause 11.1(f) Stair tread nosing strips Each stair tread must have a strip of 50mm to 75mm deep across the full width of the path of travel.
The strip may be set back a maximum of 15mm from the front of the nosing. The strip must have a minimum luminance contrast of 30% to the background (i.e. stair tread surface).
BCA & Premises Standards Table D3.1 and Clause D3.3(a)(ii) inter alia AS 1428.1 (2009) AS 1428.1 (2009), Clause 11.1(g) Stair tread nosing strips Where the luminance contrasting strip is not set back from the front of the nosing then any area of luminance contrast shall not extend down the riser more than 10 mm.
BCA & Premises Standards Table D3.1 and Clause D3.2 inter alia AS 1428.1 (2009) AS 1428.1 (2009), Clause 13.1 Doorways All doorways shall have a minimum luminance contrast of 30% provided between—
(a) door leaf and door jamb; OR
(b) door leaf and adjacent wall; OR
(c) architrave and wall; OR
(d) door leaf and architrave; OR
(e) door jamb and adjacent wall (i.e. just one of these, not all).
The minimum width of the contrasting area must be 50mm.
BCA & Premises Standards Table D3.1 and Clause F2.4(a) inter alia AS 1428.1 (2009) AS 1428.1 (2009), Clause 15.2.3(e) Accessible toilet seats An accessible toilet seat must have a minimum luminance contrast of 30% to the background when viewed from the doorway of the facility (e.g., pan, wall or floor against which it is viewed).
BCA & Premises Standards Table D3.1 and Clause D3.8 inter alia AS/NZS 1428.4.1 (2009) AS/NZS 1428.4.1 (2009), Clause 2.2(b) Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (or TGSIs) Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (or TGSIs) must have luminance-contrast to the base surface as follows:
(i) Where the integrated TGSIs (i.e. tactile tiles) are of the same colour as the underlying surface they require not less than 30% across its entire area.
(ii) Where discrete TGSIs (single cones) are used they require not less than 45%.
(iii) Where composite discrete TGSIs are used (i.e. single cones using two colours or materials), the raised surface shall have a section that has 60% luminance contrast for a diameter of 25 ±1 mm tested as required below.
Transport Standards AS/NZS 1428.4.1 (2009), Appendix D, Note 6 (Informative only) Bus stop access point paving Bus door access point may be indicated by the use of luminance contrasting flat pavers to assist wheelchair manoeuvrability.
BCA & Premises Standards Table E3.6b inter alia AS 1735.12 AS 1735.12, Clause 7.4.8 Passenger lift control buttons Lift control buttons require a 30% contrast to the background if they do not have either of the following:
1. Continuous internal illumination from within the button; OR
2. A coloured border on or around each button at least 3 mm wide.
BCA & Premises Standards BCA, Specification D3.6, Clause 4 Signage Accessible signage with Braille and tactile text must have:
(a) The background, negative space, fill of a sign or border with a minimum width of 5 mm must have a luminance contrast with the surface on which it is mounted of not less than 30%.
(b) Tactile characters, icons and symbols must have a minimum luminance contrast of 30% to the surface on which the characters are mounted.
(c) Luminance contrasts must be met under the lighting conditions in which the sign is to be located.
BCA BCA, Clause H2.2(e) Accessways (defined as a continuous accessible path of travel) Obstacles that abut an accessway in a public transport building must have a luminance contrast with a background of not less than 30%.
BCA BCA, Clause H2.24(a)
AS 1428.2, Clause 10.1.2		 Stair handrails in public transportation buildings (i.e. airports, train stations, bus terminals, ferry terminals and the like) Handrails along the sides of ramps and stairs in a public transport building must have a minimum 30% luminance contrast to the wall surface.