Ramps & Walkways Building Codes & Rules

- Ensure safety and compliance in Access for walkways and ramps including handrails, headroom, and more. Tools™ simplifies NCC with interactive graphics.

AS 1657:2018, 5.1.3 (a)

≥ 600^{AS 1657:2018, 5.1.3 (a)}

Headroom

Crossfall

Guardrail

≤ 3°

Toeboard

- copy

Permanent Structure

Toeboard

Slope

AS 1657:2018, 5.1.3

High visibility to Steps or

other changes in Level^{AS 1657:2018, 5.1.3}

AS 1657:2018, 5.6.2

900

1.1m^{AS 1657:2018, 5.6.2}

AS 1657:2018, 6.2.1.1

900

1m^{AS 1657:2018, 6.2.1.1}

AS 1657:2018, 4.5

Protective Mesh^{AS 1657:2018, 4.5}

Required where
Space below is accessible
Walkway surface is grated or perforated
≤ 15mm gaps to prevent falling debris

Walkways

Clear width measure between Guardrailings, Structures, or width of walking surface^[1]
Ensure crossfall for water drainage^[2]
Provide protection for Ramps ≥ 18m^[3]

Walkways CLEARANCES

NCC 2022 V1

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23 [2019 D2.18]

May 2023

AS 1657:2018, 5.1.3

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23

Clearances for Walkways to the NCC^{AS 1657:2018, 5.1.3}

Clear Width^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23}

≥ 600mm with no edge protection
≥ 550mm with Guardrailing on both sides
≥ 600mm with a permanent structure on one or both sides within 100mm from the Walkway
Measured between structures, or
From the inside of any Guardrails

Slope RULES

NCC 2022 V2

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23 [2019 D2.18]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23

AS 1657:2018, 5.1.1

AS 1657:2018, 5.4.2

Walkways and Ramps slope and protection to the NCC^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23}

Walkways^{AS 1657:2018, 5.1.1}

≤ 3° Slope in all directions to allow water drainage

Ramp

≥ 18m Ramp Length requires Fall & Roll Protection^{AS 1657:2018, 5.4.2}
Barrier, or
≥ 2m Landing, or
90° nom change in direction with Guardrailing installed
15° to 20° must provide Handrail

AS 1657:2018, 5.4.2

AS 1657:2018, 5.1.3

AS 1657:2018, 5.1.1

Clear width measure between Guardrailings, Structures, or width of walking surface^{AS 1657:2018, 5.4.2}
Ensure crossfall for water drainage^{AS 1657:2018, 5.1.3}
Provide protection for Ramps ≥ 18m^{AS 1657:2018, 5.1.1}

Handrail

Required for ramp with slope 15° to 20°^[1]

Handrail RULES

NCC 2022 V2

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D22 [2019 D2.18]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D22

AS 1657:2018, 5.6

Dimension and clearances for Handrails to the NCC^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D22}
Handrail Profile may be^{AS 1657:2018, 5.6}
900 to 1100mm height from Walkway surface
≥ 50mm clearance from adjacent structure
≥ 240mm clearance for longitudinal movement
Ø 30 to 65mm if circular, or
30 to 60mm width if square or rectangular, where
Sum of height and width between 70 to 100mm
Round edges fixed in place to prevent injuries
Clearance as per image below

AS 1657:2018, 5.4.2

Required for ramp with slope 15° to 20°^{AS 1657:2018, 5.4.2}

Headroom

Should allow passage of a person standing upright^[1]

Headroom RULES

NCC 2022 V1

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23 [2019 D2.18]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23

AS 1657:2018, 3.1.5

Height for Headroom to the NCC^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23}
≥ 2m above finished floor level^{AS 1657:2018, 3.1.5}
Increased where helmets are worn, while
< 2m above finished floor level as a limited exception
Padding, highlighting, signage, or additional lighting should be provided

AS 1657:2018, 3.1.5

Should allow passage of a person standing upright^{AS 1657:2018, 3.1.5}

AS 1657:2018, 5.1.1 (b)

≤ 20°^{AS 1657:2018, 5.1.1 (b)}

AS 1657:2018, 5.1.1 (b)

≤ 7°^{AS 1657:2018, 5.1.1 (b)}

AS 1657:2018, 7.2.1

≥ 550^{AS 1657:2018, 7.2.1}

AS 1657:2018, 3.1.5

≥ 2m^{AS 1657:2018, 3.1.5}

Guardrailing

Not required if permanent Structure ≤ 100mm from walkway^[1]
Toeboard installed where no permanent structures within 10mm of edges^[2]

Toeboard RULES

NCC 2022 V2

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23 [2019 D2.18]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23

AS 1657:2018, 5.5

Requirements for Toeboard to the NCC^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23}
Installed on edge of a Walkway where^{AS 1657:2018, 5.5}
There is no permanent structure within 10mm of Walkway edge
An object could fall below and to the side of the Walkway
≤ 10mm Walkway edge clearance from any structure
≤ 10mm Gap between underside of Toeboard and Walkway Surface
≥ 100mm Distance between top of toe board and permanent structure

Guardrailing RULES

NCC 2022 V2

All Building Classes

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23 [2019 D2.18]

May 2023

NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23

AS 1657:2018, 5.4.1

AS 1657:2018, 6.2.1.1

AS 1657:2018, 5.4.1

Requirements for Guardrailing to the NCC^{NCC 2022 Vol 1, D3D23}
Must be installed on all sides of a walkway to prevent people from reaching adjacent area, if adjacent area^{AS 1657:2018, 5.4.1}
Has ≥ 12° slope, or
Is not fit for walking on
≥ 900mm above the floor^{AS 1657:2018, 6.2.1.1}, or
≥ 1m to provide additional safety
Significant fall height or strong wind forces

Exceptions^{AS 1657:2018, 5.4.1}

Points of access from Stairways & Ladder
Permanent structure ≤ 100mm from the edge of the Walkway
≤ 300mm above an adjacent safe area &
≤ 3° cross-slope to Walkway,
≤ 12° downslope to adjacent area, &
≥ 2m width of adjacent area

AS 1657:2018, 7.2.5

AS 1657:2018, 6.1.2

Not required if permanent Structure ≤ 100mm from walkway^{AS 1657:2018, 7.2.5}
Toeboard installed where no permanent structures within 10mm of edges^{AS 1657:2018, 6.1.2}