Lifts, escalators and moving walks - Part 12: Facilities for persons with disabilities

AS 1735.12-1994: Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks - Part 12: Facilities for Persons with Disabilities

Ensuring equitable access to buildings for all individuals is a fundamental responsibility for engineers and designers. AS 1735.12-1994 provides the authoritative framework for achieving this goal, offering essential guidance on the design and implementation of accessible lifts, escalators, and moving walks. This standard is crucial for creating inclusive environments, impacting the safety, usability, and regulatory compliance of vertical transportation systems.

What is AS 1735.12-1994?

AS 1735.12-1994, published by Standards Australia, is the twelfth part of the comprehensive AS 1735 series concerning lifts, escalators, and moving walks. This specific standard focuses exclusively on the design and operational requirements necessary to accommodate persons with disabilities. Its primary purpose is to ensure that these vertical transport systems are usable and safe for a wide range of individuals, facilitating independent access within buildings.

Scope & Purpose

This essential standard governs the design, installation, and modification of lifts, escalators, and moving walks intended for public use, with a specific emphasis on accessibility for people with disabilities. It details requirements for aspects such as car dimensions, door widths, control panel accessibility, visual and audible information, and tactile indicators. While it aims to cater to the majority of users with disabilities, it acknowledges that it is not feasible to accommodate every conceivable disability due to cost and practical limitations. The standard does not typically apply to lifts in sole-occupancy private dwellings or to specialized systems designed exclusively for individuals with particular disabilities.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Building Design Engineers, Architects, Accessibility Consultants, Elevator Installers and Manufacturers, Facility Managers, and Building Code Officials.
• • Industries affected: Construction, Building Management, Manufacturing (of vertical transport equipment), Transportation, and Public Infrastructure Development.
• • Compliance nature: While primarily a voluntary industry standard, compliance is often mandated through building codes, local government regulations, and project specifications, making it effectively mandatory for new construction and significant renovations.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically checked by local council building surveyors, building certifiers, and workplace health and safety regulators during the construction and commissioning phases, and during periodic facility inspections.

Key Requirements Overview

AS 1735.12-1994 outlines several critical provisions to enhance accessibility:

• • The standard requires specific minimum dimensions for lift cars and doorway widths to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
• • Professionals must ensure that control panels, including buttons for floor selection and door operation, are positioned at accessible heights and are easy to operate, often with tactile and Braille indicators.
• • Key provisions include the requirement for clear visual and audible signals to indicate floor arrival, car direction, and door status, aiding users with visual or hearing impairments.
• • The standard mandates specific features for doors, such as adequate opening times and reliable passenger-protection systems to prevent entrapment.
• • Consideration is given to the visual contrast and surface properties of controls and surrounding areas to assist individuals with visual impairments.

Related Standards & References

AS 1735.12-1994 functions