Factory unit complex disabled access
Until recently Australian strata titled factory units with mezzanine level offices and staff amenities were not designed to provide disabled access in terms of wheelchair access; ramps and landings; doorway widths; continuous travel paths; corridor widths; parking spaces and garages; lighting; alarm systems and toilets.
State Government’s land use planning strategies and local Council’s design guidelines seek to correct this imbalance by requiring disabled access and related facilities in all new and altered factory unit complexes.
The Australian Government is considering draft changes to the Commonwealth Disabilities Discrimination Act to make building owners, property managers and tenants potentially liable to discrimination claims if disabled persons access and related facilities are not provided to new buildings and existing building alterations, approved after the Act’s gazettal date.
Louis Parkinson of Australian Disabled Access Consultants says, “All new strata title factory unit complexes must provide and maintain disabled access and related amenities for disabled workers and customers.”
“All property developers, strata title owners corporations, strata allotment owners, building designers and strata title property managers should provide disabled access and related facilities within all new and altered existing factory unit complexes.
“Strata title owner corporations, strata allotment owners and property owners should ensure that audits are regularly carried out within existing factory unit complexes to ensure that disabled access and related facilities are provided at all times to comply with Australian Standards, local Council guidelines and the Building Code of Australia.”
25-May-2006