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Accessible home renovations

The Australian Building Codes Board administers the Building Code of Australia, which sets the design and structure standards of buildings in Australia.

The Building Code of Australia's accessibility requirements apply to public premises, and are not a legal requirement if you are designing or building a private home.

The advantages of accessible design

There are many advantages with designing or building a home that is accessible. Incorporating accessible design principles can help you to:

  • ensure your home meets your needs, and your family's needs, over time.

  • ensure your home is accessible to other people in the community, including your family and friends-as well as prospective tenants or purchasers.

What is universal design?

Universal design supports an approach to building and house design that caters to the needs of people with all abilities in the community.

The Australian Network for Universal Housing Design (ANUHD) is a national network that supports universal design being applied to housing. It provides principles about how universal design can apply with housing and living spaces, including by being:

  • equitable to use
  • flexible in use
  • simple and intuitive to use
  • easy to interpret
  • safe and sensible to use
  • requiring low physical effort
  • promoting ease on approach to housing features and elements.

Examples of design and product features for homes and living spaces that are consistent with each guideline for universal design are available on the ANUHD website.

More information

The following organisations can provide more information about topics relating to accessible home renovations and universal design.

Your local council may also be able to help.

Building accessible places

A construction site.

Information is available for people who work in the building industry about obligations and requirements with building accessible places.

An accessible Brisbane

Brisbane City Council's Brisbane Access and Inclusion Plan 2012-2017 includes information about how the Council is committed to achieving equitable access and inclusion. The Brisbane Mobility Map is also available to support people with accessing services in the city.

Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0)
Last updated:
21 November 2012

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