Understanding LHS requirements for the Sanitary compartment and Shower.

This is one of the areas where we see the most errors in documentation, and it's not always obvious until someone checks your drawings closely.

When does it apply:  Applies to class 1a &  2buildings.

Why does this matter: Because getting it wrong at the documentation stage means costly changes on site, or worse, a non-compliant build that needs rectification.  These aren't "nice-to-haves." They're the baseline.

You require at least one sanitary compartment in an apartment or a house that complies with the requirements below.

1. The sanitary compartment must be on the entry level of the apartment or house.

2. A clear minimum circulation space of 1200mm (depth) × 900mm (width) must be provided from the front edge of the WC pan. This zone cannot be encroached upon by the door swing. 

3. The WC centre line must be positioned a minimum of 450mm away from any fixed obstruction (wall, vanity, blocking zone).

4. Noggings must also be installed within the walls to allow for future grab rail installation (Extent shown in blue in the image below). Noggings are not required when the walls are constructed out of concrete, masonry or another material capable of supporting grab rails without reinforcement. There are two options for WC nogging, which one applies depends on where your WC sits in the room:

   1. Side Wall Nogging: Use this when the WC is in a corner with a wall within 460mm of the WC centreline.

   2. Back Wall Nogging: Use this when there's no adjacent side wall, or a door or window cuts into the side wall zone.

5. The doorway providing access to the compliant LHS Sanitary compartment must provide a minimum clear opening of 820 mm and feature a step-free, flush transition.

You require at least one shower in the apartment or house that complies with the requirements below: 

1. Hobless / Step-Free Entry to the shower that complies with livable housing standards. The entry must be hobless and step-free. A lip of 5mm max may be provided for water retention only, and it must not constitute a step.

2. Noggings must also be installed within the walls to allow for future grab rail installation (Extent shown in blue in the image below). Noggings are not required when the walls are constructed out of concrete, masonry or another material capable of supporting grab rails without reinforcement. 

3. The doorway providing access to the compliant LHS shower compartment must provide a minimum clear opening of 820 mm and feature a step-free, flush transition.

4. NOTE: The shower doesn’t need to be in the same compartment as the sanitary compartment. It is also not required to be on the ground floor.

We teach this and so much more at ARCHI UPSKILL. Head to our documentation & detailing courses to learn more.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute professional advice; users should verify all specific project requirements against the ABCB Livable Housing Design Standard, as called up by NCC Volume One (Part G7) and Volume Two (Part H8), to ensure full compliance.