McIldowie Partners Architects of Melbourne invited Australian Disabled Access Consultants to provide a fee proposal for disabled access and wheelchair access into and within the new Library building for Blue Mountains Grammar School at Blackheath, funded under the Australian Government’s Nation Building program.  

The new library building contained:

  • Reading area
  • Student class study area
  • Class break-out room
  • Offices
  • Accessible toilet
  • Book shelving area
  • Computer area

The library additions development application by the Blue Mountains Grammar School Blackheath Campus was approved by the Blue Mountains City Council on 15 September 2009.  

Australian Disabled Access Consultants’ disabled access and wheelchair access design assessment identified the scope of work to address compliance with the principles of the Disabilities Discrimination Act 1992, Part D3 of the Building Code of Australia standards, Australian Standards AS1428.1–2009 and AS1428.2–1992 guidelines for:

  • Footpaths, kerb ramps and hand rails
  • Stairs and steps
  • Ramps, walkways and landings
  • Tactile ground surface indicators and hand rail tactile indicators
  • Continuous safe paths of travel
  • Doorways, doors and hardware
  • Door and window glazing
  • Accessible toilet
  • Lighting illumination
  • Signage
  • Emergency evacuation plan

Australian Disabled Access Consultants are equipped to provide the following disabled access consultancy services for schools: 

  • Disabled access project design advice to ensure compliance with disability access and wheelchair access design guidelines
  • Drawing assessment at the end of the project design process to ensure compliance with disabled access and wheelchair access design guidelines prior to lodgement of the Construction Certificate Application
  • Accessibility Assessment Reports at the completion of the project design to certify compliance with disabled access and wheelchair access design guidelines for development applications and construction certificate applications
  • Project design drawings certification for compliance with disabled access and wheelchair access design guidelines
  • Disabled access audit inspections of new building works during construction stages and at the completion of building works to ensure compliance with disability access and wheelchair access guidelines
  • Building Audit Inspection Reports after each new building work audit inspection to certify the project’s compliance with disabled access and wheelchair design guidelines, or identify details of non-complying building works that need to be corrected
  • Disabled access audit inspections of existing buildings and action plans for works needed to be carried out with priority timetables for works