AS1428.1 is an Australian Standard that sets out the rules for making buildings safe and accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities, older Australians, and anyone who may have trouble using doors, entrances, ramps or other parts of a building.
It forms part of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requirements, which means businesses and building owners have a legal responsibility to ensure their premises are accessible and not creating barriers for people with disabilities.
In basic terms, AS1428.1 covers things like:
- How wide doorways need to be
- How much force is allowed to open a door
- The correct height for handles, locks and hardware
- Clear floor space so wheelchairs and mobility aids can get through
- Safe approach angles and turning circles
- Requirements for ramps, thresholds, and signage
- Ensuring people can enter and exit a building easily and safely
You’ll often hear the term “DDA compliant.” That simply means the door hardware, access path or building feature meets the accessibility guidelines set out in AS1428.1 and complies with the Disability Discrimination Act.
If a building doesn’t follow AS1428.1, it may be breaking the law and could put people at risk. Which is why correct door hardware, compliant handles, and safe access points are so important.
Contact us at Lockmart today, we can recomend, sell and install all DDA Hardware.
