Required facilities for Class 1 buildings (Nat)
This information sheet has been prepared to explain the requirements for private amenities
and facilities in all Class 1 buildings as set out in BCA Volume 2 - Housing Provisions.
The BCA defines Class 1 buildings as either Class 1a or Class 1b as follows:
• Class 1a – a single dwelling being a detached house or one of a group of two or more
attached dwellings, each being a building separated by a fire-resisting wall, including a
row house, terrace house, town house or villa unit; and
• Class 1b – a boarding house, guest house, hostel and the like with a total area of all
floors not exceeding 300 square meters measured over the enclosing walls and in
which not more than 12 persons would ordinarily be resident, which is not located
above or below another dwelling or another class of building other than a private
garage.
All Class 1a and 1b buildings must be provided with the following private amenities and
facilities:
• A kitchen sink and facilities for the preparation and cooking of food; and
• A bath or shower; and
• Clothes washing facilities, comprising of at least one washtub and space in the same
room for a washing machine; and
• A closet pan and washbasin.
If any of the above facilities are detached from the main building, they must be set aside for
the exclusive use of the occupants of the building.
Construction of sanitary compartments
The BCA sets out detailed requirements for the design of sanitary compartments (toilets).
The door to a fully enclosed sanitary compartment (room or space containing a closet pan
or urinal) must:
• open outwards; or
• slide; or
• be readily removable from the outside of a compartment, unless there is a clear space
of at least 1.2m between the closet pan within the sanitary compartment and the
nearest part of the doorway.
This requirement provides a means of removing an unconscious occupant from a fully
enclosed sanitary compartment. If the enclosure has gaps that are large enough to allow
access for a person into the sanitary compartment, the compartment is not considered
enclosed for the purpose of the above requirements.
For Tasmania, there are additional requirements on the Installation of Closet Fixtures as
Part 3.8.3.4 of the BCA.
More detailed information is available in Part 3.8.3 Facilities of the BCA and in the HIA
Guide to Kitchen & Bathroom Construction, which has clear illustrations on how to
comply with the BCA requirements on the construction of sanitary compartments.
For further information
HIA members can contact HIA’s Building Services staff on 1300 650 620 or
[email protected].
Ref No. NAT BCA 07-25
Nov 2007
The above is intended to provide general
information in summary form. The contents
do not constitute specific advice and should
not be relied upon as such. Formal specific
advice should be sought by members with
respect to particular matters before taking
action. ABN 99 004 631 752