Accessible Path of Travel Requirements to Building Entrances

What This Requirement Covers

An accessible path of travel to building entrances ensures people with mobility, sensory, or cognitive impairments can reach and enter a building safely, independently and with dignity. The requirement covers the horizontal and vertical route from site boundaries, footpaths, accessible carparking spaces and public transport drop-off points to the building’s principal pedestrian entrances, including ramps, thresholds, doors, landings and passing/turning spaces. It exists to meet the NCC performance requirement for access and egress for people with a disability and to harmonise with Commonwealth disability standards where relevant.

These provisions apply to buildings required to be accessible under the National Construction Code (NCC). That typically includes many Class 2 to 9 buildings and some Class 1 and Class 7a/9b situations where access is necessary for the public or occupants. Requirements are primarily found in NCC Volume One, Part D4 (Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions for access for people with a disability) and related clauses in Part D2, supported by Australian Standards such as AS 1428.1 (design for access and mobility) and AS 2890/AS 2890.6 for carparking where relevant.

Key Requirements

1. General scope:
2. Accessway provision: An accessway must be provided from the site boundary, accessible carparking or public transport pick-up to the principal pedestrian entrance and through not less than 50% of all pedestrian entrances, including the principal entrance (NCC Volume One, D4D2(2)).
3. Maximum distance to accessible entrance: Where total floor area is more than 500 m2, any non-accessible pedestrian entrance must not be located more than 50 m from an accessible pedestrian entrance (NCC Volume One, D4D2(2)).
4. Doors and doorways:
5. Clear opening width: Where a doorway on an accessway has multiple leaves (except automatic doors), one leaf must provide a clear opening width of not less than 850 mm, in accordance with AS 1428.1 (NCC Volume One, D4D2(5)).
6. Where a pedestrian entrance has multiple doorways, if there are ≤3 doorways at least 1 must be accessible; if >3 doorways, at least 50% must be accessible (NCC Volume One, D4D2(3)).
7. Ramps, landings and stairs:
8. All ramps and stairways that are part of the access route (except those in exempted areas) must comply with AS 1428.1 ramp and stair clauses (NCC Volume One, D4D4(a)).
9. The NCC replaces some AS 1428.1 carpet and pile limits with specific maximums: pile height or pile thickness must not exceed 11 mm, carpet backing thickness 4 mm, combined 15 mm (NCC Volume One, D4D4(g)-(h)).
10. Passing, turning and clearances:
11. Accessways must provide passing spaces at the end of accessways where continuation is not possible and at intervals not greater than 20 m, and intersections must satisfy spatial requirements for passing and turning in AS 1428.1 (NCC Volume One, D4D4(b)-(d)).
12. Widths and unobstructed clearances:
13. Where an exit discharges to open space, the path of travel to the road must have an unobstructed width of not less than the minimum width of the required exit or 1 m, whichever is greater (NCC Volume One, D2D15(2)).
14. Fire-isolated routes and discharge:
15. Travel via fire-isolated exits and discharge points must meet specific separation and distance limits (for example, discharge path limits of 6 m or 20 m depending on situation) so accessible travel to open space and roads is maintained (NCC Volume One, D2D12-D2D15). Specifics vary by building class and layout.
16. Building classes and application:
17. Applies primarily to Class 2 to 9 buildings required to be accessible under the NCC Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions (see NCC Volume One, D4D1). Some access provisions also apply to public parts of Class 1 buildings, Class 7a and other building types where access is required.
18. Standards and cross-references:
19. Primary Australian Standard referenced: AS 1428.1 - Design for access and mobility (ramps, clearances, door widths, landings, tactile indicators).
20. Carparking and vehicle access referenced where applicable: AS 2890 series and NCC D4D6 for accessible carparking provisions.
21. Other relevant NCC clauses: NCC Volume One, Part D2 (access and egress) and D4 (Access for people with a disability), plus state schedules where applicable.

Residential vs Commercial

1. Residential (Class 1/10):
2. The NCC generally treats private single dwellings (Class 1a) differently from buildings required to be accessible. Most private single dwellings are not required to provide the full D4 access provisions unless they are part of a development that triggers accessibility (for example, multi-dwelling developments, visitor facilities or where a dwelling forms part of a building required to be accessible). When housing provisions apply, refer to NCC Volume Two and the ABCB Housing Provisions for specific requirements (e.g., accessible entrances, door clearances and internal circulation) and to AS 1428.1 for door and threshold design.
3. Commercial/public (Class 2-9):
4. For commercial, institutional and public buildings, the full Deemed-to-Satisfy access provisions in NCC Volume One Part D4 apply. This includes the requirement for an accessway to the principal entrance, minimum door clear opening 850 mm, ramp/stair compliance with AS 1428.1, passing spaces every 20 m, and accessible entrances through at least 50% of pedestrian entrances (NCC Volume One, D4D2-D4D6). Additional requirements such as accessible lifts or ramps may be triggered depending on storey count and building class.

Exceptions and Exemptions

1. Areas not required to be accessible (NCC Volume One, D4D5):
2. An area where access is inappropriate because of the area’s particular purpose.
3. An area that would pose a health or safety risk for people with a disability.
4. Any path of travel that provides access only to an area exempted by the two points above.
5. Some state schedules add exemptions (for example, Tasmania’s TAS D4D5 adds specific exemptions for certain existing Class 2 parts in multi-storey buildings).
6. Limited-scope routes: Where only part of a building must be accessible, accessway requirements may be restricted to those public or common areas rather than every entrance or internal space (see D4D1 and state variations).
7. Alternative solutions: Where Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions cannot be met, a Performance Solution demonstrating equivalent access in accordance with NCC Performance Requirements may be accepted. The Performance Solution must be documented and verified by an appropriate practitioner.

State and Territory Variations

1. NCC schedules: The NCC includes state and territory schedules that may modify or add to the national Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions. For example:
2. Tasmania: TAS D4D5 replaces some exemptions and cross-references in the Tasmanian schedule, including additional exemptions for certain Class 2 parts in existing buildings (NCC Volume One, TAS D4D5).
3. Other jurisdictions may have amendments or additional requirements in Schedules 4-12 of NCC Volume One. Always check the relevant state or territory schedule in NCC 2022 Volume One and any local planning or accessibility codes for variations.
4. Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act: In some public buildings, accessibility obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act and associated standards may impose higher or additional requirements; states may require compliance with those Standards by schedule (see TAS D1P10 as an example).

Practical Compliance Tips

1. Plan access early: Integrate the accessible path of travel at concept design stage so gradients, doorway locations and carpark linkages are coordinated and avoid costly retrofits.
2. Follow AS 1428.1 closely: Ramps, landings, tactile indicators, door clearances and turning spaces are specified in detail in AS 1428.1; using the Standard as a checklist avoids common nonconformances.
3. Check doorway leaf widths: Where doors have multiple leaves, ensure at least one leaf gives a clear opening of 850 mm. Factor in hardware, architraves and thresholds when measuring clear width as required by AS 1428.1 and NCC D4D2(5).
4. Provide passing/turning spaces: Keep continuous accessways clear of obstructions and provide passing spaces at intervals not exceeding 20 m and appropriate turning areas at intersections per AS 1428.1.
5. Mind carpet and floor finish limits: Use carpets or floor finishes that meet the maximum pile/backing limits (11 mm pile, 4 mm backing, combined 15 mm) specified in NCC Volume One D4D4(g)-
6. (h) to avoid trip hazards.
7. Verify distances and entrance distribution: For buildings over 500 m2, ensure any non-accessible entrance is within 50 m of an accessible entrance and that accessible entrances cover 50% of pedestrian entrances where required (NCC Volume One, D4D2(2)-(3)).
8. Check state schedules and performance solutions early: Confirm any state-specific amendments in NCC schedules and, if using a Performance Solution, document equivalence to the Performance Requirements and retain expert verification.

Citations: NCC 2022 Volume One - Building Code of Australia, Part D2 and Part D4 (D2D12-D2D15, D4D1-D4D6), and AS 1428.1 - Design for access and mobility. Note: State schedules in NCC Volume One may modify these provisions; always verify the relevant schedule for your jurisdiction (for example TAS D1P10 and TAS D4D5).