What is AS.1428 — and who does it apply to?
AS.1428 is the Australian Standard for Design for Access and Mobility. It sets out the minimum requirements for buildings and facilities to be accessible to people with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs, have limited hand strength or dexterity, or rely on mobility aids.
The standard is referenced in the National Construction Code (NCC) and applies to a wide range of building types, including:
- Commercial and office buildings
- Retail and hospitality spaces
- Healthcare and aged care facilities
- Multi-residential apartment buildings
- Government and public buildings
- Educational institutions
In short, if your project involves a Class 2–9 building under the NCC, AS.1428 compliance is almost certainly required — and door hardware is one of the most commonly overlooked areas at specification stage.
Key point
AS.1428 compliance is a mandatory building code requirement, not an optional upgrade. Non-compliant hardware can result in a failed inspection, costly rectification work, and exposure to liability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
What door hardware must comply with AS.1428?
The standard covers a range of door hardware components. The key requirements that directly affect hardware specification include:
Force and operability requirements
Door hardware must be operable with a single hand, without requiring tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. The maximum force required to operate a door handle must not exceed 20 Newtons for handles on accessible routes.
Lever handle geometry
Lever handles on accessible doors must meet specific dimensional requirements to ensure they are graspable by people with limited hand function. The key parameters are:
| Requirement | AS.1428 Specification |
|---|---|
|
Handle projection from face of door |
Minimum 35mm, maximum 70mm |
|
Handle return clearance |
Must return to within 40mm of the face plate or door |
|
Handle length |
Minimum 100mm graspable length |
|
Mounting height (centre of handle |
Between 900mm and 1100mm from finished floor level |
|
Door opening force (push/pull) |
Maximum 20N on the accessible route |
The “return” requirement — why it matters
One of the most important — and most frequently misspecified — requirements in AS.1428 is the handle return. The standard requires that the end of a lever handle returns to within 40mm of the door face or backplate, so a person’s sleeve, arm brace, or prosthetic cannot become trapped when the hand slides off the handle. This is why standard commercial lever handles without a return are not AS.1428 compliant, even if they otherwise look appropriate.
AS.1428 door hardware compliance checklist
AS.1428 compliant lever handles: what to look for
or a lever handle set to be AS.1428 compliant, the handle must have a returned end — meaning the tip of the lever curves or returns toward the door so that it cannot trap clothing or a limb. Many contemporary lever designs fail this requirement, which is why specifiers need to pay close attention to product data sheets rather than relying on handle aesthetics alone.
Return-style levers
Return levers are the most reliable way to achieve AS.1428 compliance. These are lever handles where the free end bends back toward the door face, meeting the 40mm return clearance requirement. They are also sometimes called D-return levers or loop-return levers.
Integrated privacy sets
For accessible bathrooms and sanitary facilities, AS.1428 also requires that privacy turn-and-release mechanisms be operable without tight grasping. This typically means an integrated privacy set with a thumb-turn or lever-style snib, rather than a small twist knob. If using a twist knob separate privacy, the Zanda 10421 Privacy Turn & Release Set works well.
Specifier’s tip
Always check the product’s individual data sheet for the AS.1428 compliance symbol before specifying. A product that looks like a return lever may still fail if the projection or grip length doesn’t meet the dimensional requirements of the standard.
AS.1428 compliant pull handles: what to look for
Pull handles on accessible entry doors must be graspable by a person who cannot form a full fist. The standard requires:
- A clearance of 35-45mm between the bar and the door surface (projection), to allow a full-hand grip
- A circular or near-circular cross-section is preferred, or a profile that can be gripped without tight pinching
- A mounting height of 900mm–1100mm from finished floor (measured to the centre of the graspable section)
- Smooth, unobstructed gripping surfaces with no sharp edges
Straight bar pull handles are often the most accessible option when they meet the above criteria, particularly round-profile and D-section handles with appropriate projection.
AS.1428 compliant door closers: what to look for
Door closers are frequently overlooked in accessibility compliance, but they are critical. A door closer that is set too stiff will prevent many people — including wheelchair users, elderly people, and those with limited upper body strength — from being able to open the door independently.
AS.1428 requires that doors on accessible routes have a maximum opening force of 20 Newtons. To achieve this, the door closer must:
- Have an adjustable closing force (power size)
- Have adjustable latch speed and closing speed settings
- Be capable of a delayed action setting to give additional time before the door begins to close
- Be fire rated if installed on fire doors
Cam action closers are generally preferred for accessible applications because they apply a consistent, lower opening resistance through the full opening arc — making them easier to use than standard rack-and-pinion closers, which peak in resistance near the end of their travel.
Other hardware items that must comply
Beyond handles and closers, AS.1428 also covers:
- Escutcheons and cylinders: Must be operable with one hand; oval profile cylinders are preferred over round for easier grip. Accessible turn-and-release escutcheons with an AS.1428 thumbturn are required on accessible sanitary doors.
- Sliding door hardware: Recessed flush pulls or loop pulls must meet grip clearance requirements. Privacy lock kits for sliding doors must be operable without tight grasping. Often builders would use a 300mm or smaller Pull Handle, along with the Zanda 10422 Sliding Door Privacy Set which complies with AS.1428.
- Door stops: Must not create a trip hazard; floor-mounted stops should be low-profile where accessible routes pass.
- Hinges: Must allow the door to open to a minimum 90° clear opening width for accessible routes (typically 850mm clear).
AS.1428 Compliant Lever Handles
Zanda’s Futura range of return-style lever handles is designed from the ground up to meet AS.1428, combining accessible geometry with a contemporary architectural aesthetic.
Available in passage, privacy, entrance & dummy sets
Zanda rapidFIT® system — saves 4 minutes per handle install
AS.1428 Compliant PULL Handles
Zanda’s pull handle range covers straight, offset and entrance configurations — all with adequate projection and graspable profiles to meet AS.1428 requirements on entry doors and accessible routes.
DUKE PULL HANDLES
polo PULL HANDLES
round profile PULL HANDLES
STREAMLINE PULL HANDLES
nitro & nitro+ offset PULL HANDLES
toorak PULL HANDLES
duke offset PULL HANDLES
polo offset PULL HANDLES
AS.1428 Compliant door closers
Zanda’s Futura range of return-style lever handles is designed from the ground up to meet AS.1428, combining accessible geometry with a contemporary architectural aesthetic.
Available in passage, privacy, entrance & dummy sets
Zanda rapidFIT® system — saves 4 minutes per handle install
TS.8016 Standard Arm Closer
TS.8015 Cam Action Closer
TS.11205 Cam Action Closer
ITS.11205 Concealed Closer
Why choose Zanda for accessible hardware?
Zanda is 100% Australian owned and operated, with warehousing and distribution in Perth — meaning you get local stock, fast dispatch (98% of orders dispatched within 2 hours), and a team who understands the Australian building code. All trending finishes — Brushed Nickel, Graphite Nickel, Satin Brass, Matt Black, and Ember Bronze — are stocked as standard lines.
Zanda Accessible Door Hardware Brochure
Download our full accessible door hardware catalogue, including product codes, dimensions, finish options, and compliance information for the complete Zanda range.
