A disability access audit examines how people with disability approach, enter, move through and use a building or public environment. The exact inclusions depend on the property, its use and the client’s purpose, so a good audit begins with a clearly defined scope.
Because access requirements are project-specific, the correct answer depends on the building, proposed work, approval pathway and evidence available. This guide explains the practical questions to ask before making a decision.
Need advice on a live project? Request a fee proposal from ASN.
The key factors
- Arrival, parking, drop-off and paths to the entrance
- Entrances, doors, internal circulation, ramps, stairs and lifts
- Accessible and ambulant sanitary facilities
- Counters, seating, signage, tactile indicators and hearing augmentation where relevant
- Operational barriers, maintenance conditions and links between buildings or facilities
A qualified access consultant can help connect these factors to the relevant NCC provisions, Premises Standards, Australian Standards and project documentation. The review scope should identify the criteria being applied and any important limitations.
Common mistakes
Commissioning an audit without defining priorities, treating every observation as equal, excluding important external routes, or receiving a defect list that does not explain locations, significance or recommended action.
These mistakes are easier to correct in drawings and project planning than after approval, procurement or construction. Early review also gives the architect, building surveyor, owner and contractor a shared record of the issue.
A practical way forward
- Define why the audit is being commissioned and who will use the report
- Confirm buildings, areas, customer journeys and exclusions
- Provide existing plans, previous reports and known concerns
- Agree the reporting format, photographs, priority method and follow-up process
What useful advice should contain
A useful assessment should state the purpose of the review, the documents or areas assessed, the applicable criteria, material findings, assumptions, exclusions and recommended next actions. It should be written for the people who need to resolve the issue, rather than simply reproducing clauses.
Where a design changes after the assessment, the affected access findings should be reviewed again. One altered doorway, level, fixture or route can affect connected parts of the accessibility strategy.
Relevant ASN service
ASN’s primary service for this issue is DDA Compliance Audits. Access Solutions National has provided disability access and inclusion advice since 2002. Our consultants are qualified and Accredited Members of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA).
Frequently asked questions
Should I wait until the design is complete?
No. Early advice usually provides more options and reduces the chance of redesign. The scope can be updated as documentation develops.
Does an access consultant replace the building surveyor?
No. The access consultant provides specialist advice. The building surveyor or relevant authority remains responsible for statutory approval decisions.
What should I send ASN?
Send the address, project description, current drawings or photographs, project stage, question to be answered and required date. ASN will confirm the appropriate service and scope.
Discuss your project
Request a fee proposal or call 1300 276 222 for practical disability access advice.