Skip to main content

Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls in Buildings – COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Building Codes Board

On 8 December 2011, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) informed stakeholders of the decision to revise the National Construction Code to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls in residential buildings. The decisions made by the board include requiring:

  • handrails in private residences in National Construction Code 2012;
  • openable window barriers have a one-metre sill height barrier, or limit the window opening, or install a screen; and
  • non-climbable balustrades where the floor is more than two metres above the ground (no climbable or horizontal elements).

The Board decided to support stakeholder suggestions to delay the implementation of openable window barriers and non-climbable balustrades until May 2013 to allow time for the ABCB to work with industry to refine some details and to allow industry more time to prepare for the changes. The Regulation Impact Statement prepared by the ABCB was assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation. Further information was considered by the Board which examined the requirements of openable window barriers and non-climbable balustrades. A peer review report of the information was also provided to the Board. The information and the peer review report were not assessed by the Office of Best Practice Regulation but are provided here to increase transparency.