Parking Standards And Guides

As avid cyclists ourselves, Cora Bike Rack understands the type of bike parking facilities that work best for different applications.  Development Approval conditions and Green Star ratings now require compliant bicycle parking facilities to be a part of most new developments.  It is more important than ever to know what your project may be required to provide. As a contributor to the drafting of AS2890.3 (2015), Cora Bike Rack can provide professional advice to guide you through the new standards to ensure your project is a success.

The requirement to provide bicycle parking facilities will usually be determined by the local government responsible for providing development approval. It is important to check with the appropriate local government office to determine their current rules and avoid providing bicycle parking facilities that do not comply with special rules.

Australian Standards

Most local government and Green Star rules will defer to AS2890.3 (2015) to determine the requirements for compliant bicycle parking facilities. Standards Australia published AS2890.3 (2015) in September 2015 to supersede AS2890.3 (1993). This standard provides a set of minimum requirements for the layout, design and security of bicycle parking facilities for architects, planners, builders, property managers and service providers. AS2890.3 (2015) represents a significant change to the 1993 version by introducing new concepts, spacing requirements and definitions. In addition, AS2890.3 (2015) includes clear requirements and criteria for selecting compliant bicycle parking products.

Cora Bike Rack is proud to have been an significant participant and contributor to the development of AS2890.3 (2015). Standard Australia’s Certificate of Appreciation awarded to Cora Bike Rack can be viewed here. The AS2890.3 (2015) is available for purchase at the Standard Australia online shop here.

*TIP – download Cora Bike Rack’s free AS2890.3 White Paper and become your own Bike Parking Expert!

The difference between Compliance and Certification

A product that has “certified” compliance to Australian Standards provides superior safety characteristics compared to one that has “stated” compliance but does not have the certification to prove it.

Standards are set specifications designed to ensure products, services and systems are safe, reliable and consistently perform the way they are intended to. However, Standards compliance is often voluntary – unless it is mandatorily adopted by Government.

What is Compliance?

Compliance to a Standard, whether that Standard is voluntary or mandatory, is not enforced or monitored in Australia. Thus, manufacturers may claim compliance based on self-testing.

Furthermore, there is no requirement that demands the manufacturer to test products on an ongoing basis. Given manufacturing variances over time, a product that complies at launch may not necessarily comply with the standard two years later. This situation arises if the product is not tested periodically.

This lack of testing independence and inconsistency means products are being sold with unsubstantiated self-declarations of compliance. In addition, a claim of compliance may not be relevant to the Standard for your specific industry or application.

If your supplier claims compliance but that compliance is not certified, ask them when it was tested, and who did the testing. Also, ask the supplier why they haven’t had the compliance certified.

What is Certification?

Independent Standards certification of compliance requires a product be tested and examined by an independent certification body such as SAI Global. Unlike claims of compliance, there is no grey area in certification.

Third party certification provides assurance that a particular product or process meets the requirements of a nominated Standard. It supplies assurance that the said product or process is tested regularly, in line with the recommendations within the Standard.

Global GreenTag

Cora Bike Rack products have been assessed and verified by Global GreenTag as compliant with Global Green Building Rating Schemes and Australian Standards.  See Cora’s listing here.

As the only third party certification recognised by all major green building, interiors, operations and infrastructure rating tools and the only single source certifier for all documentation needs together with our ACCC Approval and Certification Mark status GreenTag is unique in the sector, providing the evidence you need for all current rating tool, green design, procurement, facilities management project and specifier needs.

Recognised internationally for building, interiors, room amenity and other consumables, cleaning, hygiene and amenities products as relevant by:

• Green Mark® International– Singapore BCA’s international tool incl Malaysia and countries as below
• MyHIJAU – Malaysian Government’s Green Technology Corporation
• EarthCheck® – 0ver 70 countries
• Green Star NZ® & Home Star® New Zealand
• Green Star SA® South Africa

Compliant with credits for:

• LEED v4.0 – USA, Australia, India, China & 140 other countries
• BREEAM International – UK and more than 40 other countries

Recognised In Australia for all projects and all construction, interior, green cleaning and consumable products as relevant within the following rating tools:

• Green Star® ‘Design & As Built’ (base building & integrated fitout, e.g. hospitals, schools, universities etc.)
• Green Star® ‘Interiors’ (tenancy fitouts including commercial offices and retail)
• Green Star® ‘Performance’ (existing building facilities management and refurbishment)
• EnviroDevelopment™ (communities, seniors & aged care, multi-unit, mixed-use, retail, education)
• EarthCheck® (hospitality, tourism, airports, conferences and exhibitions)
• Infrastructure Sustainability (infrastructure, associated buildings and interiors).

GreenTag’s virtually universal recognition or relevance makes your task a whole lot easier by simplifying product research, minimising risk and providing a single access point for all documentation needs.

Simply put, you can trust GreenTag Certified Products. 

Green Star

Green Star is a sustainability rating tool for commercial buildings created by the Green Building Council of Australia.

The Green Building Council assesses projects from office developments to schools based on Innovation, Management, Indoor Environment Quality, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Land Use and Ecology as well as emissions produced. Bicycle parking falls under the Transport category.

Green Star rating tools use six stars to measure performance. Buildings are rated from 4 stars and above (projects assessed as under a 4-star rating are not eligible for rating). A 4-star rating is 'Best Practice', a 5 star rating is 'Australian Excellence' and a 6 star rating is 'World Leadership'.

The GBC rating tool currently offers points 'to encourage and recognise developments that facilitate the use of bicycles by occupants and visitors'.

The Transport category is described in more detail in the technical manual for those seeking to earn maximum points.  For example, the technical manual says that 'Railings, lamp posts and other non-purposeful bike parking facilities do not comply' with the rating for visitor parking.  Secure bicycle parking is defined as that which is in accordance with AS2890.3.

End of trip facilities are defined as showers, changing amenities with appropriate drying space, and lockers. End of trip facilities must be provided at a rate in line with an appropriate standard.  The design of the end-of trip facilities must be appropriate to encourage their use over that of private vehicle use. Therefore, the project team is expected to justify how their location, locker sizes, privacy requirements, and size are conducive to this aim.  Cora Bike Rack can assist with all End of Trip facility planning and fit outs including bicycle parking racks and change room lockers.

For more information and the most current GBC rating tools, contact Green Building Council.

Austroads

Austroads provides information to assists in the design and installation of bicycle parking and end-of-trip facilities that are fit for purpose.  Austroads Report AP-R527-16 provides recommendations, principles and examples of best-practice facility design. It also highlights common mistakes and suggests ways to improve flawed designs.  The report expands on and complements information that is provided in the Australian Bicycle Parking Standard AS2980.3 and is available here.

*TIP – download Cora Bike Rack’s free AS2890.3 White Paper and become your own Bike Parking Expert!