SA Part G8 Access for maintenance

The Objectives of this Part are—

1. to safeguard people from injury while cleaning windows; and
2. to safeguard people from injury or illness resulting from the creation of hazardous spaces between buildings.

A building is to provide people with safe conditions for carrying out window cleaning operations.

The space between buildings must not allow hazardous conditions to arise due to accumulation of rubbish that cannot readily be removed.

Where any part of a window in a building is more than 5.5 m above ground level, provision must be made for safe access to the external surface of the window for minor maintenance and cleaning.

The space between buildings must be sufficient to allow access for inspection and maintenance, to avoid hazardous conditions arising due to accumulation of rubbish that could—

1. bridge termite barriers; or
2. harbour vermin; or
3. create a fire hazard.

Performance RequirementsSA G8P1 and SA G8P2 are satisfied by complying with SA G8D2 to SA G8D4.

SA G8D3 and SA G8D4 apply to Class 2 to 9 buildings.

(1) Where any part of a window in a building is more than 5.5 m above ground level, access to the external surface of the window for minor maintenance and cleaning must be provided.

(2) Any of the following methods are acceptable—

1. by means of a movable gantry; or
2. by means of reversible pivoting sashes, each of which has catches that secure the mesh in either the normal or reversed position and give visual indication that the window is secure, provided that where a window sill is less than 900 mm above floor level, safety anchorages are provided; or
3. by means of safety harness, having all anchorages—
   1. designed and installed in accordance with AS/NZS 1891.4; and
   2. constructed of approved corrosion resistant material; or
4. by means of opening sashes, in which the maximum reach to the farthest part of the window must not exceed 500 mm upwards or 1 m sideways or downwards and provided that where the window sill is less than 900 mm above floor level, safety anchorages are provided.

Every part of an external wall of a building must be not less than 600 mm from—

1. the external wall of any other building on the same allotment, unless the two buildings are abutting; or
2. any boundary of the allotment, unless that wall is on or abutting the boundary,

unless the space between external columns is not infilled.