Creative Tiling Qld Pty Ltd

All involved parties, including architects, designers, building surveyors, access consultants, contractors, and hydraulic engineers, must be familiar with the recent updates to NCC standards and their impact. Creating accessible bathrooms presents numerous challenges, particularly in unisex facilities which require precise placement of fixtures to accommodate individuals of all abilities. A recurrent challenge observed by us as access consultants involves correctly situating the floor wastes and managing slopes in both shower areas and the broader bathroom space.

Accessible showers are required to have floor wastes positioned to meet specific slope requirements as per AS 1428.1:2009 standards:

• The waste must be positioned between 525-575mm from the mixer and rail wall,
• And between 555-605mm from the wall where the fold-down seat is attached.

Furthermore, the bathroom must maintain certain gradients to ensure water flows effectively:

• A gradient between 1:60 and 1:80 is required in the shower area,
• While the rest of the bathroom should have a gradient between 1:80 and 1:100.

These gradients ensure that water is efficiently drained and provide a stable surface for individuals with mobility impairments to use a commode or transfer from a wheelchair to a shower seat safely. Additionally, the strategic placement of the floor drain aims to minimize the slope and guide misplaced items like soap to a retrievable location, enhancing overall safety and convenience.

When floor waste isn’t aligned with prescribed standards, two issues can arise:

1. If the shower’s incline exceeds 1:60 or if the waste is too close to the wall, mobility devices like commodes and wheelchairs can become unstable. This instability, confirmed by occupational therapists, raises the risk of falls during transfers between wheelchairs and shower seats.
2. Conversely, if the shower’s slope is under 1:80 due to near-edge waste placement, it doesn’t compromise access but increases slipping hazards due to poor drainage. This necessitates frequent checks and maintenance.

The 2022 NCC update, effective May 2023, mandates:

• A minimum 1:80 gradient towards drains in wet areas,
• And a maximum 1:50 gradient.

In unisex accessible showers, this means the NCC’s lowest allowed slope matches the maximum under AS1428.1, leaving no margin for error. Furthermore, insufficient slopes below 1:80 can lead to drainage issues, typically beyond an Access Consultant’s scope.

Moving forward, it’s crucial for professionals like architects and contractors to grasp the new NCC demands, ensuring collaboration with various experts to comply with AS 1428.1:2009 for these facilities.

With AS1428.1:2021’s release, an alternative is using a linear drain to achieve a consistent slope. Though not yet NCC-recognized, this solution must meet or exceed traditional standards and requires holistic planning to avoid being merely a stopgap.

At Architecture & Access, we engage with all relevant parties to forge solutions that not only adhere to laws and norms but also fit each project’s unique needs and challenges.