NCC 2022 Volume One - Building Code of Australia Class 2 to 9 buildings
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Classification
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F5

Part F5 Room heights

Part F5 Room heights

Introduction to this Part

This Part is intended to prevent the construction of rooms or other spaces with insufficient ceiling heights, which can cause injury or loss of amenity for building occupants.

Objectives

The Objective of this Part is to safeguard occupants from injury or loss of amenity caused by inadequate height of a room or space.

 

Basis of Objective
F5O1 is based on the belief that people should not be subject to risk of injury or loss of amenity caused by the inadequate height of a room or space.


Risk of injury
The height of certain rooms and spaces must be controlled to prevent injury to occupants.


Loss of amenity
The height of certain rooms and spaces must be controlled to prevent a loss of amenity to occupants.

Functional Statements

A building is to be constructed to provide height in a room or space suitable for the intended use.

 

Height suitable for use of a room or space
Buildings must provide a height suitable for the intended use of rooms and spaces. ‘Intended use’ recognises that the height required in rooms and spaces is directly related to the room’s function.

Performance Requirements

NCC Blurbs

A habitable room or space must have sufficient size to enable the room or space to fulfil its intended function.

NCC Title
Room or space heights
NCC State
VIC
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Room or space heights

A habitable room or space must have sufficient height that does not unduly interfere with its intended function.

The intent of F5P1 is to ensure that the height of a room or space is sufficient for the intended use of the room or space. ‘Intended use’ recognises that the height required in a room or space is directly related to the room or space’s intended function.

Sufficient height
F5P1 adds the term ‘sufficient’ when describing the required level of performance. The required height must be considered in light of intended function.
The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions specify different heights for different room or building types.


Measurement of height
To achieve the requisite level of performance, it is necessary, when measuring the height of a ceiling, to make the measurement:
•    from the floor to the underside of the ceiling lining; or
•    if there is no ceiling lining, to the underside of the floor or roof above.
Exposed beams are permitted to encroach below the minimum ceiling height, but care should be taken to make sure that adequate height is still available.
In the case of stairs and ramps, the measurement is taken vertically from the nosing line of the stairway treads or the floor surface of the ramp, landing or the like, with no overhead projection encroachments permitted.

Verification Methods

(1) Compliance with F5P1 is verified where the height of a habitable room or space provides an appropriate activity support level that does not unduly interfere with its intended function.

VIC F5V1 Room or space heights2019: FV3.1

Delete subclause F5V1(1) and insert F5V1(1) as follows:

(1) Compliance with VIC F5P1 is verified only in relation to the height of a habitable room or space where the height of habitable room or space provides an appropriate activity support level that does not unduly interfere with its intended function.

(2) For the purposes of (1), the activity support level must consider the dimensions of—

  1. doors, required exits, ramps, barriers, stairs and windows; and
  2. fixed fittings and services; and
  3. fixed and moveable equipment or furniture; and
  4. occupant circulation spaces.

F5V1 is a means to verify that the height of a habitable room or space is suitable for the intended use, and therefore meets the requirement of F5P1.


In relation to the intended function of a room or space, the activities that are likely to be undertaken by occupants in the room or space, as well as the features of the activities, are relevant considerations when determining a suitable height.


For example, if the intended use of a room is a gymnasium, then gymnastic activities are likely to be undertaken in the room. These activities often involve jumps and flips which require significant space in order to be undertaken safely.


In terms of the occupants, their features and needs are also relevant when determining a suitable height. For example, occupant features and needs would differ between rooms or spaces intended as a child’s play area, and rooms or spaces intended for adult’s indoor cricket.


The method requires the consideration of occupant characteristics and activity characteristics through the defined terms ‘activity traits’, ‘occupant traits’ and ‘activity support level’. Refer to Schedule 1 for more information on these terms.


When determining the activity support level, the method requires consideration of the relevant dimensions of items likely to be located in the room or space, as well as occupant circulation spaces.


Some of these considerations are explained below:
•    Stairs and ramps, since the height of the room or the space will change relative to the occupant during incline and decline.
•    Fixed fittings such as lights that may protrude from the ceiling and wash-basins.
•    Fixed services such as air-conditioners, heaters, ceiling fans and heated water systems.
•    Fixed equipment such as manufacturing or processing equipment, permanent signage or displays and lifts.
•    Moveable equipment such as whitegoods.
•    Fixed furniture such as built-in wardrobes and permanent seating.
•    Moveable furniture such as wardrobes, desks and beds.
•    Occupant circulation spaces so that occupants can move comfortably and safely around the room or space.


For example, the location and dimensions of a washbasin is a relevant consideration in determining the activity support level of a bathroom. This is because an occupant will typically need to access the washbasin whilst standing, which will influence the necessary height of the space.


Another example is the consideration of moveable equipment such as a refrigerator in a kitchen. If the intended use of the space is a kitchen, then it would be unrealistic to determine a sufficient height for the room without considering the height of a typical refrigerator that would be located in the room.

Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

NCC Blurbs

Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirement VIC F5P1 is satisfied by complying with F5D2 and VIC F5D3.

NCC Title
Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
NCC State
VIC
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

(1) Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirement F5P1 is satisfied by complying with—

  1. F5D2; and
  2. for farm sheds, Part I3.

(2) Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A2G2(3) and A2G4(3) as applicable.

To clarify that F5P1 will be achieved by compliance with F5D2 and for farm sheds, Part I3 if applicable.

(1) The height of rooms and other spaces in a Class 2 or 3 building or Class 4 part of a building must be not less than—

  1. for a kitchen, laundry, or the like — 2.1 m; and
  2. for a corridor, passageway or the like — 2.1 m; and
  3. for a habitable room excluding a kitchen — 2.4 m; and
  4. in a habitable room, or space within a habitable room, with a sloping ceiling or projections below the ceiling line—
    1. in an attic — a height of not less than 2.2 m for not less than two-thirds of the floor area of the room or space; and
    2. in other rooms — a height of not less than 2.4 m for not less than two-thirds of the floor area of the room or space; and
  5. in a non-habitable room, or space within a non-habitable room, with a sloping ceiling or projections below the ceiling line — a height of not less than 2.1 m for not less than two-thirds of the floor area of the room or space.

(2) For the purposes of (1), when calculating the floor area of a room or space, any part that has a ceiling height of less than 1.5 m is not included.

(3) The height of rooms and other spaces in a Class 5, 6, 7 or 8 building must be not less than—

  1. except as allowed in (b) and (8) — 2.4 m; and
  2. for a corridor, passageway, or the like — 2.1 m.

(4) The height of rooms and other spaces in a Class 9a health-care building must be not less than—

  1. for a patient care area — 2.4 m; and
  2. for an operating theatre or delivery room — 3 m; and
  3. for a treatment room, clinic, waiting room, passageway, corridor, or the like — 2.4 m.

(5) The height of rooms and other spaces in a Class 9b building must be not be less than—

  1. for a school classroom or other assembly building or part that accommodates not more than 100 persons — 2.4 m; and
  2. for a theatre, public hall or other assembly building or part that accommodates more than 100 persons — 2.7 m; and
  3. for a corridor—
    1. that serves an assembly building or part that accommodates not more than 100 persons — 2.4 m; or
    2. that serves an assembly building or part that accommodates more than 100 persons — 2.7 m.

(6) For the purposes of (5) the number of persons accommodated must be calculated according to D2D18.

(7) The height of rooms and other spaces in a Class 9c building must be not be less than—

  1. for a kitchen, laundry, or the like — 2.1 m; and
  2. for a corridor, passageway or the like — 2.4 m; and
  3. for a habitable room excluding a kitchen — 2.4 m.

(8) The height of rooms and other spaces in any building must be not be less than—

  1. for a bathroom, shower room, sanitary compartment, other than an accessible adult change facility, airlock, tea preparation room, pantry, store room, garage, car parking area, or the like — 2.1 m; and
  2. for a commercial kitchen — 2.4 m; and
  3. above a stairway, ramp, landing or the like — 2 m measured vertically above the nosing line of stairway treads or the floor surface of the ramp, landing or the like; and
  4. for a required accessible adult change facility — 2.4 m.

To establish a range of reasonable ceiling heights suitable for particular rooms and spaces.

2.4 metres
Generally, the minimum ceiling height has been set at 2.4 metres:
F5D2(1)(c) deals with habitable rooms (apart from kitchens) in Class 2 and Class 3 buildings and Class 4 parts; F5D2(3)(a) apart from some specified exceptions, in Class 5-8 buildings;
F5D2(4)(a) and (b) deals with Class 9a patient-care areas, treatment rooms, clinics, waiting rooms, passageways and corridors;
F5D2(5)(a) is for school classrooms and smaller assembly buildings;
F5D2(7)(b) and (c) deal with corridors, etc and habitable rooms (apart from kitchens) in Class 9c buildings; and F2D2(8)(b) deals with commercial kitchens.


2.1    metres
A reduced height of 2.1 metres is permitted in areas unlikely to be occupied for long periods, where the reduction from 2.4 metres will not adversely affect occupant safety, health or amenity. Such areas include:
•    kitchens or laundries or the like in Class 2 and Class 3 buildings and Class 4 parts;
•    corridors and passageways or the like in Class 2 and Class 3 buildings and Class 4 parts;
•    corridors and passageways or the like in Class 5-8 buildings; and
•    various bathing facilities, small storage areas, airlocks, garages, carparking facilities, tearooms and the like, which are located in any building, other than accessible adult change facilities required to comply with Specification 27.


2.0 metres
A reduced height of 2 metres is permitted above stairways and ramps as these areas are used for transient purposes and therefore a reduction from the required height in corridors and rooms (2.1 and 2.4 metres generally) will not adversely affect occupant safety, health or amenity.


Ceiling heights above 2.4 metres
Some specific use areas require a ceiling height greater than 2.4 metres in recognition of the activities or equipment likely to be used in those areas, such as:
•    operating theatres or delivery rooms which require a ceiling height of three metres to accommodate special lighting fixtures, air monitoring equipment, and medical apparatus; and
•    larger assembly buildings, including corridors where the corridor serves a building or part of a building that accommodates more than 100 persons.


Accessible adult change facilities required to comply with Specification 27
Unlike other sanitary compartments, where a ceiling height of 2.1 m is acceptable, accessible adult change facilities required to comply with Specification 27 include a ceiling-mounted hoist. These hoists require 300 mm additional clearance to avoid the rails or hoist unit (other than the hook) impinging upon the headroom of users.


Measurement of height
When measuring the height of a room, allowance should be made for floor finishes such as tiles or carpet to ensure that the minimum ceiling height is achieved.

NCC Blurbs

In a residential aged care building or residential care building—

  1. each bedroom must have a floor area of not less than 12 m2 per occupant; and
  2. all other common habitable rooms (other than kitchens) must have a floor area of not less than 7.5 m2 with—
    1. in a Class 3 hostel or supported residential services building or Class 9c building an aggregate floor area of not less than 3.5 m2 per occupant; or
    2. in a Class 9a nursing home an aggregate floor area of not less than 2.5 m2 per occupant.
NCC Title
Class 3, 9a and 9c residential aged care buildings – size of rooms
NCC State
VIC
NCC Variation Type
Insertion
NCC SPTC Current
Class 3, 9a and 9c residential aged care buildings – size of rooms