Lift and Elevator Access Requirements for Multi-Storey Buildings

What This Requirement Covers

Lift and elevator access requirements in the National Construction Code (NCC) set the minimum design, safety and accessibility provisions for passenger lifts, emergency lifts and associated equipment in multi-storey buildings across Australia. These provisions exist to ensure lifts are safe and usable by all occupants including people with disability, provide facilities required by emergency services (for example stretcher access and fire service controls), and ensure occupants are warned not to use lifts during certain emergencies such as fire.

The requirements apply to designers, builders, building certifiers and owners of buildings where passenger lifts are provided. They cover lift type limits and permitted travel, stretcher and emergency lift provision, controls and communications, fire service interfaces, accessibility features (audio/visual indicators, control buttons and lighting), and signage and warnings required for safe operation and emergency use.

Key Requirements

1. Stretcher clear space: Where a stretcher facility is required, provide a clear space of at least 600 mm wide x 2000 mm long x 1400 mm high above the lift floor (NCC Volume One, E3D3(2)).
2. Emergency lifts required: Buildings with an effective height greater than 25 m must provide one or more passenger lifts fitted as emergency lifts to serve every floor served by the lifts (NCC Volume One, E3P2). This also applies to Class 9a buildings with patient care areas above levels without direct road/open space access (E3P2 Applications).
3. Lifts serving more than 2 levels - audible/visual information: For lifts serving more than 2 levels, provide automatic audible information within the car to announce levels, and audible and visual indicators at each landing to indicate lift arrival. Audible information and indicators must be provided in a range of 20 - 80 dB(A) at a maximum frequency of 1500 Hz (NCC Volume One, E3D( j )(i)-(iii)).
4. Emergency hands-free communication: An emergency hands-free communication system (including a call button that alerts a call centre and a light indicating call receipt) is required for all lifts except stairway platform lifts (NCC Volume One, E3D( k )). Specific requirements for controls comply with AS 1735 series as referenced.
5. Fire service controls for lifts: Where lifts serve any storey above an effective height of 12 m, provide:
6. A fire service recall control switch complying with E3D11 for a lift group or single lift serving that storey; and
7. A lift car fire service drive control switch complying with E3D12 for every lift (NCC Volume One, E3D9).
8. Lift types and travel limitations (NCC Volume One, E3D7 and Table E3.6a/b):
9. Electric passenger lifts and electrohydraulic lifts - no limitations on use where accessible building provisions apply.
10. Stairway platform lifts - must not be used where the space accommodates more than 100 persons, in high traffic public use areas, where another lift type can be installed, to connect more than 2 storeys, or where folded position encroaches on minimum stair width (E3D7(1)(b)).
11. Low-rise platform lifts - travel not more than 1000 mm (E3D7(1)(c)).
12. Low-rise, low-speed constant pressure lifts - enclosed type travel not more than 4 m, unenclosed not more than 2 m (E3D7(1)(d)).
13. Small-sized, low-speed automatic lifts - travel not more than 12 m (E3D7(1)(e)).
14. Passenger lifts must not rely on constant pressure devices if the lift car is fully enclosed (E3D7(2)).
15. Lift installations compliance: Electric and electrohydraulic passenger lift installations must comply with Specification 24 in the NCC (NCC Volume One, E3D2).
16. Warning signage: A warning sign saying do not use lift in fire must be displayed near every call button for passenger lifts or groups of lifts; the warning can be provided via a sound system complying with relevant provisions of AS 1670.4 and flashing sign per AS 1670.4 (NCC Volume One, E3D4 and E3D(5) content).
17. Accessibility: When a passenger lift is provided in a building required to be accessible, it must be suitable for use by people with a disability (NCC Volume One, E3P4). Lift car and landing control buttons, passenger protection systems, and lighting must comply with AS 1735.12 where referenced (NCC Volume One, E3D( f ), E3D( h ), E3D( i )).
18. Landings and egress: Access and egress to and from lift well landings must comply with Parts D2, D3 and D4 (NCC Volume One, E3D6).

Relevant references in the NCC cited above: NCC Volume One, Part E3 - Lift installations including clauses E3D1 - E3D12, E3P1 - E3P4 and verification methods E3V1 - E3V2; Specification 24 for passenger lift installations.

Relevant Australian Standards commonly referenced or required: AS 1735 series (lifts and escalators) including AS 1735.12 for controls, protection systems and lighting; AS 1670.4 for fire detection, warning, control and intercom systems; and other applicable standards for structural and services interfaces such as AS 4100 where structural steel supports are required, and accessibility standards referenced in the NCC (for example, AS 1428.1 for ramps as an alternative in some care buildings described in E3D10).

Residential vs Commercial

1. Residential low-rise dwellings (Class 1 and non-habitable Class 10 structures) rarely require passenger lifts under the NCC unless the building’s effective height, use or accessibility obligations trigger lift requirements. Where a multi-dwelling building (Class 2) provides a passenger lift, the lift must comply with accessibility and stretcher provisions where those provisions apply (NCC Volume One, E3P4, E3D3).
2. Multi-storey residential apartment buildings (Class 2) and other commercial and public buildings (Class 3 to Class 9) are more commonly subject to lift requirements. For many commercial occupancies (Class 5 to 9) lifts must meet accessibility, emergency lift and fire service controls based on building effective height and occupant load. Emergency lift provisions (E3P2/E3D5) apply where effective height exceeds 25 m or for certain Class 9a patient care areas; stretcher provisions (E3D3) apply where lifts serve storeys above 12 m if an emergency lift is not provided.
3. Small-scale residential buildings (single dwelling houses) are primarily regulated under NCC Volume Two where different, generally less prescriptive, accessibility and services requirements apply. Where a passenger lift is installed in a dwelling, compliance with the relevant parts of the NCC and AS 1735 will still be required; consult NCC Volume Two, Section references applicable to lifts.

Exceptions and Exemptions

1. Stairway platform lifts and low-rise devices: Stairway platform and low-rise platform lifts are permitted alternatives for limited-use or low-rise applications but are restricted by travel limits and are not permitted in high-traffic public areas or where the building accommodates more than 100 persons (E3D7(1)(b)-(d)).
2. Where emergency lift not required: If a building does not meet the effective height or occupancy conditions requiring emergency lifts, stretcher facilities are still required in at least one lift where passenger lifts serve storeys above 12 m (E3D3(1)(b)).
3. Performance Solutions: The NCC allows Performance Solutions as alternatives to Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions. Where a Performance Solution is adopted the relevant Performance Requirements (E3P1-E3P4) must be satisfied and verified per A2G2(3) and A2G4(3) (E3D1(2)).
4. Minor residential: Single dwellings or very low-rise buildings may be exempt from full passenger lift provisions but must still meet applicable safe design, services and accessibility regulatory obligations under NCC Volume Two and referenced standards.

State and Territory Variations

1. The NCC is nationally adopted but each state and territory may have schedules or amendments that modify or add requirements. For instance, state schedules in NCC Volume One Schedules 4-12 can introduce jurisdiction-specific rules for fire services, lift operation or additional accessibility obligations. Designers should check the relevant state schedule in NCC Volume One for local amendments (NCC Volume One - Schedules section).
2. Example notes to consider (verify for the project state): some jurisdictions impose additional requirements for evacuation lifts in tall residential towers or for health-care buildings beyond the national clauses. Always confirm the applicable state schedule and local authority practice for fire brigade access, lift machine room location restrictions, and any licensing or service obligations for lift contractors.

Practical Compliance Tips

1. Plan lift capacity and stretcher space early - incorporate the required 600 mm x 2000 mm x 1400 mm stretcher clear space into the initial car size and shaft design if lifts will serve storeys above 12 m or where emergency service access is needed.
2. Check effective height triggers - determine the building’s effective height early; >12 m and >25 m thresholds trigger different requirements (stretcher space, emergency lifts, fire service controls). Reference NCC Volume One clauses E3D3, E3D9, and E3P2 when confirming obligations.
3. Specify compliant controls and communications - ensure lift car and landing controls, lighting and passenger protection meet AS 1735.12 and that emergency hands-free communications and audible/visual indicators meet the dB and frequency ranges specified in the NCC (E3D clauses).
4. Avoid inappropriate platform lifts in high-traffic or multi-storey public areas - use stairway platform lifts only where their travel and occupancy limits comply with E3D7 limitations.
5. Provide clear emergency signage and automatic warning - install “do not use lift” signage and audible/visual automatic warnings linked to the smoke hazard management system in accordance with E3D4 and AS 1670.4.
6. Coordinate with fire service requirements - where lifts serve storeys above 12 m, incorporate fire service recall and drive controls to comply with E3D9 and related E3D clauses; confirm any state schedule additions.
7. Use Deemed-to-Satisfy or Performance Solutions consciously - if proposing a Performance Solution for a non-standard lift arrangement, document how the solution meets Performance Requirements E3P1-E3P4 and verify in accordance with A2G2(3) and A2G4(3).

Sources: NCC 2022 Volume One - Part E3 (Lift installations) including clauses E3D1-E3D12, E3P1-E3P4, and Verification Methods E3V1-E3V2; Specification 24 (lift installations) and referenced Australian Standards such as AS 1735 series and AS 1670.4. Note: check the relevant state or territory schedule in NCC Volume One for local amendments that may alter these requirements.