TECHNICAL INSIGHTS
TECHNICAL INSIGHTS Is AS1428.1 approriate?
Howard Moutrie ACAA Accredited Access Consultant, ACAA Accredited Fellow, Accessible Building Solutions
The articles featured in Technical Insights are to prompt thought and discussion to assist our members' questions and evaluate their understanding of the technical requirements of Australian Standards and other national/international source material. Technical Insights is intended to provide background information, a different viewpoint, a perspective from an individual with lived experience of disability or to prompt further discussion and/or research by you as an access professional.
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have been somewhat critical of Certifiers for being overly pedantic with the application of AS 1428.1. Certainly in NSW it has become ridiculous and I believe other states may be following suit. However, I have been softening to the plight of the Certifier. In NSW, at least, they are being reprimanded or having their certification cancelled for not applying statutory requirements to the letter – no common sense or objectivity is allowed. So when applying AS 1428.1 and it says something should have a particular
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dimension, they apply that, without any question even though we, as access consultants, may consider it not so critical. I am now thinking that the problem is not with the Certifier but perhaps with the Standards. I will explain. AS 1428.1 provides requirements to allow people with a disability use public buildings. The requirements are primarily based on the spatial requirements of a person using an overly large, non-existent wheelchair, on the basis that if the space is
ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTANTS IN ACCESS AUSTRALIA / ACCESS INSIGHT / SUMMER 2023-2024
