Building: New detached pool house, alfresco and decks on a rural residential lot (Class 1a and 10a)
Location: North east Victoria
NCC edition: NCC 2022, Volume Two and ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design
Area of NCC requirements: H8P1 livable housing design; H8D2 step free path and entrance
Raised by: The relevant building surveyor
Year: 2026
The challenge
The drawings showed a 1:14 timber ramp rising about 300 mm from the driveway to the pool house porch, to give a step free path under the Livable Housing provisions. The owner wanted steps instead. The main house is about 72 metres away on its own driveway, and its entrance is not affected by the works.
The performance solution
Expert judgement and comparison with the Deemed to Satisfy Provisions, built on the wording of H8P1:
H8P1 requires a step free path to a dwelling entrance door, not to every building or door on the lot.
The pool house has a living area, kitchenette and bathroom but no bedroom or laundry, and is not a separate place of residence. Its door is not a dwelling entrance door.
Objective H8O1 and Functional Statement H8F1 are about the home where people live and age in place. That remains the main house, which is unchanged.
Building and Plumbing Commission guidance says extra works for a step free entrance are not mandatory where the works do not affect the dwelling entrance.
The report also showed the pool house still meets the spirit of the provisions. The porch is level with the floor and there is no step at the door. Doors have 920 mm and 820 mm clear openings, everything is on one level, and the bathroom has a step free shower. With only 300 mm to climb, a ramp can be added later without touching the building.
Conditions
Drawings amended to delete the ramp and show the steps, steps built to H5D2 and Housing Provisions Part 11.2 with a slip resistant finish, and the level threshold and internal features kept as documented.
Outcome
Report issued in October 2026 and successfully accepted by the relevant building surveyor.
Lesson for owners and designers
The Livable Housing provisions apply to the dwelling, not every structure on the lot. Check whether an outbuilding is really a dwelling before designing ramps to it.
Related: Access performance solutions | Performance solution report
Need a performance solution for a similar problem? Request a fee proposal or phone 0407 560 708.