AS1735.12- 1999 vs 2020

While not a referenced document under the NCC 2022, or proposed to be referenced under NCC 2025, the update to AS1735.12 – Lifts, escalators and moving walks, Part 12: Facilities for persons with disabilities provides valuable detail into lift design, including inclusion of technological advancements such as Destination Control Lifts.

AS1735.12:2020 has been adapted from European Standard EN 81-70:2018, Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts – Particular applications for passenger and goods passenger lift, Part 70: Accessibility for lifts for persons including persons with disability. The key differences between the 1999 version of the Standard and the 2020 version of the Standard are summarised below:

Audible Signals

1999 – The earlier version of the Standard noted that for lifts serving more than 3 floors, automatic audible information, adjustable between 35dB(A) and 55dB(A), shall be provided in the lift car.

2020 – In the 2020 version of the Standard, when an audible signal or voice announcement is required, the sound level shall be adjustable and set no less than 45dB(A).

Door Dwell Time

1999 – This version of the Standard required that when the doors are responding to a landing button, they shall remain fully open for a minimum of 6 seconds, and where there are more than three lifts instilled in line and arranged interconnected in operation, the dwell time shall be extended to 8 seconds in the case of the lift furthermost from the centre of the lift lobby.

2020 – The updated Standard requires that the door dwell time shall be adjustable at least between 2 seconds and 20 seconds, while noting that a door dwell time of at least 6 seconds is needed for persons with reduced mobility.

Handrails in Lift Car

1999 – The 1999 version of the Standard required a handrail to be installed to the following dimensions:

• 600mm in length;
• A diameter of not less than 30mm or more than 50mm;
• The top of handrails shall be between 850mm-950mm above the level of the upper surface of the door sill of the lift car;
• Handrails shall be positioned with clearances to the wall of not less than 50mm.

2020 – The updated Standard requires the following for handrails:

• Overall length of at least 400mm;
• A cross-sectional dimension between 30mm and 45mm;
• The distance between the wall and the gripping part of the handrail shall be at least 35mm;
• The height of the top edge of the gripping part of the handrail shall be 900mm +/- 25mm from the finished floor level.

Hinged Seats in Lift Cars

1999 – In the earlier version of the Standard, hinged seats were not permitted to be fitted in lift cars.

2020 – The newer version of the Standard permits “tip-up” seats provided they meet the following:

• A height from the finished floor level of 500mm +/- 25mm;
• A depth of 300mm-400mm;
• A width of 400mm-500mm;
• An ability to support a load of at least 120kg.

Levelling of Lift Cars

1999 – This version of the Standard permitted a 12mm tolerance on levelling accuracy.

2020 – The updated Standard notes that the stopping accuracy of the car shall be +/- 10mm. For example, if, during the loading and unloading phases, the levelling accuracy of +/- 20mm is exceed, it shall be corrected to +/- 10mm.

Control Buttons/Control Devices and Signals

1999 – This version of the Standard provided the below information on lift controls:

• The centre of the buttons shall be not less than 900mm or more than 1200mm above the landing floor;
• Any security operating device shall be located at a height above the car floor of not less than 700mm nor more than 1250mm;
• Control buttons shall be located adjacent to the lift entrances and shall not be closer than 500mm from an internal corner or fixed obstruction;
• The force normal to the centre of the button required to operate each control button shall not be less than 2N and not more than 5N. Where tactile symbols are provided on the face of the button, the force required to operate the button shall be not less than 3.5N and not more than 5N;
• The smallest dimension of the face of control buttons shall be not less than 19mm;
• The moving part of a control button or its surround shall project not less than 1mm beyond the face of the control panel.

2020 – The updated version of the Standard provides the below information on lift controls (Tables 4 and 5):

• Operating force: 2.5N – 5.0N;
• Height of relief of active part and symbol: Minimum 0.8mm (1mm recommended);
• Minimum height between the finished floor level and the centreline of the lowest button (door close button and additional control devices may be located at different height): 850mm
• Maximum height between the finished floor level and the centreline of the highest button: 1100mm (landing control devices), 1200mm (car control devices)
• Minimum lateral distance between the centreline of any button to the corner of any adjacent walls: 500mm (landing control devices), 400mm (car control devices)

Destination Control Systems

1999 – The earlier version of the Standard does not provide details regarding destination control systems

2020 – The updated version of the Standard details specific requirements for destination control systems in Clause 5.4.3, including landing control devices, car control devices, landing signals, car signals, car lighting and braille content. Information regarding touch screen devices for destination control systems is detailed in Annex C.

Guidance for Increased Accessibility and Usability

The 2020 version of the Standard provides additional considerations for improving accessibility and usability of lifts in Annex D, including details on glazed and transparent elements, reflective surfaces and braille characters.