National Construction Code (2022) - Hearing Augmentation Requirements.

National Construction Code (2022) - Hearing Augmentation Requirements.

D1P9 Communication systems for people with hearing impairment (2022) [2019: DP9]

An inbuilt communication system for entry, information, entertainment, or for the provision of a service, must be suitable for occupants who are deaf or hearing impaired.

Limitations

D1P9 does not apply to—

  1. a Class 4 part of a building; or
  2. an inbuilt communication system used only for emergency warning purposes.

D4D7 Signage (2022) [2019: D3.6]

(1) 

In a building required to be accessible—

  1. braille and tactile signage complying with Specification 15 must—
    1. incorporate the international symbol of access or deafness, as appropriate, in accordance with AS 1428.1 and identify each—
      1. sanitary facility, except a sanitary facility associated with a bedroom in a Class 1b building or a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 3 or Class 9c building; and
      2. space with a hearing augmentation system; and
    2. identify each door required by E4D5 to be provided with an exit sign and state—
      1. “Exit”; and
      2. “Level”; and 
      3. the floor level number or floor level descriptor, or a combination of the two.
  2. signage including the international symbol for deafness in accordance with AS 1428.1 must be provided within a room containing a hearing augmentation system identifying—
    1. the type of hearing augmentation; and
    2. the area covered within the room; and
    3. if receivers are being used and where the receivers can be obtained; and
  3. signage in accordance with AS 1428.1 must be provided for accessible unisex sanitary facilities to identify if the facility is suitable for left or right handed use; and
  4. signage to identify an ambulant accessible sanitary facility in accordance with AS 1428.1 must be located on the door of the facility; and
  5. where a pedestrian entrance is not accessible, directional signage incorporating the international symbol of access, in accordance with AS 1428.1, must be provided to direct a person to the location of the nearest accessiblepedestrian entrance; and
  6. where a bank of sanitary facilities is not provided with an accessible unisex sanitary facility, directional signage incorporating the international symbol of access in accordance with AS 1428.1 must be placed at the location of the sanitary facilities that are not accessible, to direct a person to the location of the nearest accessible unisex sanitary facility.

(2) 

In a building that is subject to F4D12 and is required to be accessible, directional signage complying with Specification 15 to direct a person to the location of the nearest accessible adult change facility within that building must be provided at the location of each—

  1. bank of sanitary facilities; and
  2. accessible unisex sanitary facility, other than one that incorporates an accessible adult change facility.

D4D8 Hearing Augmentation (2022) [2019: D3.7]

(1) 
A hearing augmentation system must be provided where an inbuilt amplification system, other than one used only for emergency warning, is installed—

  1. in a room in a Class 9b building; or
  2. in an auditorium, conference room, meeting room or room for judicatory purposes; or
  3. at any ticket office, teller’s booth, reception area or the like, where the public is screened from the service provider.

(2) 

If a hearing augmentation system required by (1) is—

  1. an induction loop, it must be provided to not less than 80% of the floor area of the room or space served by the inbuilt amplification system; or
  2. a system requiring the use of receivers or the like, it must be available to not less than 95% of the floor area of the room or space served by the inbuilt amplification system, and the number of receivers provided must not be less than—
    1. if the room or space accommodates up to 500 persons, 1 receiver for every 25 persons or part thereof, or 2 receivers, whichever is the greater; and
    2. if the room or space accommodates more than 500 persons but not more than 1000 persons, 20 receivers plus 1 receiver for every 33 persons or part thereof in excess of 500 persons; and
    3. if the room or space accommodates more than 1000 persons but not more than 2000 persons, 35 receivers plus 1 receiver for every 50 persons or part thereof in excess of 1000 persons; and
    4. if the room or space accommodates more than 2000 persons, 55 receivers plus 1 receiver for every 100 persons or part thereof in excess of 2000 persons.

(3) 

The number of persons accommodated in the room or space served by an inbuilt amplification system must be calculated according to D2D18.

(4) 

Any screen or scoreboard associated with a Class 9b building and capable of displaying public announcements must be capable of supplementing any public address system, other than a public address system used for emergency warning purposes only.