What it covers
The framework is a tool to inform office design and fit-out. It provides benchmarks to make features more usable and to improve the employee experience, even in areas that may already meet minimum accessibility requirements.
It covers 6 stages an employee will experience during a workday:
- arriving and leaving
- approaching and entering
- moving through buildings
- using work areas
- using amenities
- using communication systems.
These stages show that access is a chain of events or journey. For each stage, the framework:
- identifies key building features that impact on accessibility
- measures how accessible certain building features are
- includes guidance on the accessibility criteria needed to achieve bronze, silver or gold performance levels.
Accessible Office Design Framework Journey Stages
A. Arriving and Leaving
Move to and from a building's property boundary by car, foot, public transport or taxi.
B. Approaching and Entering
Approach the building entrance from site arrival points, then enter or exit through foyers and reception areas.
C. Moving Through Buildings
Navigate inside the building using:
- work areas
- connections between office floors
- corridor links
- emergency exits
D. Using Work areas
Use designated work areas including:
- workstations
- printing areas
- conference and meeting rooms
- collaborative spaces
E. Using Amenities
Use purpose-built amenities like:
- toilets
- kitchens
- personal storage
- assistance animal areas
F. Using communications Systems
Use building and operational systems like – booking, destination control, signage and sign-in systems – to understand and access different areas and services
Accessibility criteria and design requirements help users of the framework prioritise
Two key sections sit within the framework:
- accessibility criteria
- design requirements
The accessibility criteria provide an overview of the benchmark for Bronze, Silver and Gold. This is reflected in the outcome statements for each building element.
Download the criteria (PDF, 4396.52 KB)
Download the criteria (DOCX, 132.35 KB)
Each performance level has a set of accessibility criteria that shows how to incrementally improve building features for an accessible workplace.
Sections within the guide
Accessible Office Design
Accessible Office Design is a performance framework for making office design and fitout more accessible in both new and existing buildings.
Framework Accessibility Criteria
Outlines at a high level the criteria required to achieve the gold, silver or bronze level of design performance.
Framework Design Requirements
The Design Requirements provide detailed technical specifications required to achieve the gold, silver or bronze levels of design
