Access Consultancy Services
Equitable access for all
Equitable access for all people is a critical aspect of our communities being better places to live and work in. Our expertise in this area allows us to provide a wide range of Accessibility services across our projects that meet legislative requirements.
Steven Bayer has a Certificate IV in Access Consulting and is working towards full accreditation. Additionally, he is an Associate Member of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia as well as being an accredited Assessor of the LHDG (Liveable Housing Design Guidelines).
Our consultancy services also include specialist design or certification of Specialist Disability Accommodation, under the NDIS.
The strategies for accessibility and compliance with required Standards need to be considered from the concept of a project and monitored through the design and documentation stages. This step can occur as desktop review of drawings, as part of a consultant team, or during construction.
Alchemy Consulting can provide accessibility and compliance reports to assess a variety of accessibility requirements over a wide range of residential, commercial and seniors living projects, depending on the applicable approval process. In most cases, compliance is in line with the AS1428 Suite of Standards, covering General Requirements for Access (AS1428.1-2009) and more specific accessibility elements.
Adapting for mobility needs
There is an increasing need for adaptable housing in multi-dwelling developments, where a proportion of dwellings are required by Councils to comply with AS429995. As the mobility needs of residents change, so do the physical aspects of their homes.
This Standard requires homes to be able to be adapted at a later date to comply with the Australian Standard for General Requirements for Access (AS1428.1-2009). As such, developments are assessed as Pre and Post Adaptation, to show the initial construction and then how they can be easily adapted for accessibility and compliance.
Providing universal access
As part of our Accessibility and Compliance Services, Steven Bayer is an accredited assessor of the Liveable Housing Design Guidelines, issued by Liveable Housing Australia. These guidelines have been prepared to incorporate a wide cross section of community input and are aimed at the providing equitable Universal Access for all people, including those with injuries, pregnant mothers or changing needs of occupants.
While these Guidelines are not legislation, they are considered best practice for developers and have been incorporated into a variety of State Government development standards.
An alternative solution
Many developments are designed in accordance with the Deemed To Satisfy requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA), which in turn refers to Australian Standard compliance. In some cases, it may not be possible or desirable to provide a solution that is strictly in accordance with the Deemed To Satisfy clauses.
Alchemy Consulting can provide Performance Solution reports that assess the BCA requirements, the Australian Standards or other legislation together with the proposed solution. The BCA permits Performance Solutions where they can be proven to comply with the Performance Objectives of the BCA to provide fair and equitable access for all occupants.