Stairways, barriers and handrails

No. General landscaping stairs that do not serve a building do not need to comply with the NCC. The relevant Performance Requirement, H5P1, specifies that stairs need to have features that facilitate safe movement so that people can move 'safely to and within a building'. General landscaping stairs do not provide access to or within a building; therefore, NCC provisions do not apply.

For houses (Class 1 buildings) and non-habitable buildings and structures associated with houses (Class 10, such as decks and sheds), NCC Volume Two and the ABCB Housing Provisions do not specify a minimum stairway width.

Further, stairways within a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2 or 3 building or within a Class 4 part of a building also do not have a minimum stairway width requirement. However, the internal parts of some Class 3 sole-occupancy units are required to be accessible by people with a disability (see D4D2(5)(b)). Stairways within accessible sole-occupancy units are required by D4D2 to comply with AS 1428.1, which requires stairways to be at least 1 m wide.

For Class 2 to 9 buildings (other than within sole-occupancy units as described above), stairways that are within paths of travel to an exit or are exits are required by D2D8 to be at least 1 m wide. However, D2D8 also specifies scenarios where a stairway must be wider than 1 m on account of the number of people accommodated.

Further, where a part of a Class 1b, Class 10a or Class 2-9 building is required to be accessible by people with a disability (see D4D2, D4D4 and D4D5), D4D2 requires stairways in that part to comply with AS 1428.1, which requires stairways to be at least 1 m wide.
 

Yes. A wall may serve as a barrier, provided it meets all the requirements outlined for barriers under the NCC (D3D17 in Volume One for Class 2-9 buildings and 11.3.3 and 11.3.4 of the Housing Provisions for Class 1 and Class 10 buildings and structures). Note a handrail may also be required (see D3D22 for Class 2-9 buildings noting D3D2, and 11.3.5 of the Housing Provisions for Class 1 and Class 10 buildings and structures).

Per Housing Provisions 11.3.4(8), horizontal elements within a barrier are permitted when the potential fall height is less than 4 m (measured from the floor level of the trafficable surface vertically to the surface beneath). However, if the fall is or exceeds 4 m, horizontal components that could facilitate climbing are not allowed within the zone between 150 mm and 760 mm (measured from the floor level of the trafficable surface). 

Where a change in level exceeds three risers or a height of 570 mm at a door threshold, a landing must be provided in accordance with Clause 11.2.5 of the ABCB Housing Provisions. Therefore, a door must not open directly onto a stairway described above.

Clause 11.2.2 of the Housing Provisions allows a maximum of 3 consecutive winders a in lieu of a quarter landing and a maximum of 6 consecutive winders in lieu of a half landing in a flight of stairs. There are no limitations on how many quarter or half landings are allowed on a set of stairs.

Yes, stairways serving non-habitable rooms—such as storerooms—must still comply with the NCC. However, Clause 11.2.2(2) of the Housing Provisions contains a concession: where a stairway serves only a non-habitable room that is not used regularly, such as a storeroom or attic, the standard slope relationship requirement may be substituted with the alternative dimensions specified in Table 11.2.2b. The concession also allows gaps in risers to exceed 125 mm.

In most cases, staircases that provide access to a Class 1 building must comply with the NCC's slip resistance requirements. Table 11.2.4 of the Housing Provisions outlines different slip resistance classifications for surfaces exposed to wet versus dry conditions. The classification applicable to a particular stairway depends on its design and intended use. For example, an external entry stair located in an uncovered outdoor area is reasonably expected to be exposed to rain and other moisture. In such cases, a building certifier or surveyor may determine that the stairway must meet the slip resistance requirements for wet conditions.

Clause 11.2.5(c) of the Housing Provisions requires that a landing be provided at a doorway threshold if a stairway adjacent that doorway provides a change in level greater than 3 risers or 570 mm. Where the change in level is equal or less than this, no landing is required.

Likely not.
Building codes have typically increased in stringency over the years, balustrades being one such example where the current required minimum height of 1 m (see Volume One D3D18(1)) exceeds that typically installed during the mid-20th century.
Generally, legislation regulating buildings does not require completed buildings to be retrospectively upgraded should the building code’s stringency increase. However, state and territory legislation sometimes specifies situations in which an existing building will need to be upgraded. These situations may include when new work is occurring, or the building is being substantially renovated. For further information, contact your jurisdiction’s state or territory building administration.

Not always.

Housing Provisions 11.3.5(1)(a) and (b) requires a handrail to be provided to at least one side of a stair flight (where the flight changes elevation of 1 m or more – see 11.3.5(2)(a)) and extend for the full length of the flight. However, if the handrail is associated with a barrier (e.g. when the top of the balustrade comprises the handrail), then the handrail may terminate where the barrier terminates. Housing Provisions 11.3.3(1) only requires provision of a barrier where it is possible to fall 1 m or more; therefore, it is possible for some of the lowest steps of a flight to be without a handrail.

Yes. Housing Provision 11.3.3(1) requires a barrier to a deck, besides stairways, balconies and other similar trafficable surfaces.

Yes. Volume One D3D22(c) requires both a conventional handrail fixed at least 865 mm above the nosing line and an additional handrail between 665 mm and 750 mm.

Yes. This is required by Volume One D3D22. However, D3D22(5) and (6) contain some concessions. For example, a stairway or ramp that provides a change in elevation of less than 1 m does not require a handrail.

Volume One D3D18 specifies a minimum height as follows:
(a) For stairways or ramps with a gradient of 1:20 or steeper – 865 mm.
(b) For landings to a stair or ramp where the barrier is provided along the inside edge of the landing and does not exceed 500 mm in length – 865 mm.
(c) For all other locations – 1 metre.

Note that many existing buildings, built before current building codes came into effect, are not obligated to meet this requirement.