AS 1428.1-2021 Is Now the Referenced Edition: What It Means for Access Compliance

AS 1428.1 is the Australian Standard most designers reach for when detailing accessible paths of travel, doorways, ramps, circulation spaces and sanitary facilities. For years the Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards and the NCC referenced the 2009 edition. That has changed.

What changed

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has stated that the parliamentary process for the amended Premises Standards was completed on 28 July 2025, that the updated Standards took effect on 29 July 2025, and that the 2021 edition of AS 1428.1 is now the currently referenced edition. NCC 2022 Amendment 2 was published on 29 July 2025 to align the NCC with that change.

Why it matters

If your drawings were detailed years ago, or by a designer working from habit, they may reflect the 2009 edition. An access report that cites the wrong edition can lead to requests for further information, late redesign, or a Performance Solution that did not need to exist.

What to check on your project

• Which edition does your design reference? Check the access report, specification and drawing notes.
• When was your application lodged? Confirm the transitional position for applications already in the system rather than assuming the new edition applies or does not.
• Re-check critical dimensions. Do not rely on memory of the 2009 text. Review circulation spaces, toilet layouts and door clearances against the 2021 edition.
• Keep the edition on the record. State the edition in every access report and certificate so there is no ambiguity later.

Access compliance is also where aged care, health and community projects are most often scrutinised. If you are unsure which edition applies, or if a design cannot meet it, our access consulting team can review the design and, where appropriate, prepare an access report for your development application or a Performance Solution.