Access To and Through Buildings

Solutions for architectural limitations  

NCC 2019 Volume One

Area of NCC Requirements:

•  Access for People with Disability
• Safe Movement and Circulation
• Relevant NCC Performance Requirements for Access & Egress
  

The Challenge

The commercial development in question presented three distinct departures from the Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) provisions set out in the NCC. Specifically, two doorways lacked adequate latch-side clearances, a grabrail within an accessible toilet was encroaching on the required circulation space, and a ramp landing at a 90-degree turn fell short of the minimum size requirements. Each of these shortfalls risks compromising the building's accessibility and safety outcomes, particularly for occupants with mobility limitations. Without adequate justification through performance-based compliance methods, these issues could present a significant barrier to project approval.

What This Really Means

While the DTS provisions of the NCC offer clear and prescriptive guidance on accessibility, they are not the sole pathway to achieving compliance. The NCC recognises that strict dimensional adherence is not always feasible, and permits performance-based solutions where it can be demonstrated that the design delivers equivalent outcomes in terms of usability, safety, and dignity for building occupants.

The central question therefore shifts from whether a space precisely matches a prescribed diagram, to whether that space continues to function as intended for the people who depend on it most.

The Solution 

A performance-based assessment methodology was applied to determine whether the proposed design met the underlying intent of the NCC's accessibility requirements.

The assessment examined:

• The way occupants interact with doors, fixtures, and circulation areas under practical, real-world conditions
• Whether the reduced clearances or minor encroachments caused any meaningful impact on usability
• How body dimensions, reach ranges, and movement patterns affect functional access through the spaces
• Whether the proposed layouts continued to facilitate safe and dignified movement for people relying on mobility aids
• How the design measured up against the outcomes achieved by fully DTS-compliant arrangements

Rather than applying prescriptive dimensions as the only measure, the assessment centred on how the spaces actually perform for occupants and whether the overall result remains safe, functional, and inclusive.

Why This Matters

The final assessment report confirmed that the design satisfied the relevant NCC performance requirements using acceptable assessment methods, including expert judgement and direct comparison with DTS-compliant outcomes. The building was demonstrated to provide levels of access and usability equivalent to those the prescriptive provisions are designed to achieve.

This project highlights how performance solutions can effectively resolve real-world design constraints without compromising accessibility objectives. For commercial developments, it reinforces that a well-reasoned, evidence-based assessment approach can support compliance while avoiding costly redesigns or unnecessary loss of usable space.

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