Hoardings and our Requirements

General Advice

Construction hoardings have a considerable impact on the pedestrian amenity and public spaces.  The purpose of this advice note is to improve the design quality of construction hoardings throughout Ashfield.

Any proposed hoarding shall, where possible not impact or create disturbance on the public domain and the pedestrians using the footways.

Construction hoardings are fences or scaffolds erected on the ground to form a barrier between pedestrians and building sites and/or overhead protective structures that are required for the protection of adjoining public areas and persons on a construction site.

Construction hoardings are currently classified as Type A (fences) and Type B (overhead protective structures), and are composed of elements, a number of parts, which fit together to form a whole. For example a fence (ie a Type A hoarding) is considered as one of the elements of the construction hoarding ‘kit of parts’.

All hoardings are subject of a Development Application to Council and are applicable to fees charged on the proposed type and the month per frontage per lineal meter.  Further advice can be obtained by contacting Councils Customer Service Centre

Existing legislation

The design, supply and installation and construction of hoardings is guided presently by WorkCovers’ Code of Practice - Overhead Protective Structures.  This Code is aimed at improving health and safety standards on new building and construction sites, as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

The Code of Practice deals with:

  • Planning and preparation for users and suppliers
  • Structural design including loads, stability, foundations, vehicle impact and
  • Waterproofing of decks
  • Safety
  • Access for pedestrians, vehicles and services
  • Miscellaneous items such as drainage, crane area, handrails and the protective fence
  • User responsibilities and legal requirements.

The Code of Practice - Overhead Protective Structures refers to additional requirements of the local Council and acknowledges Council’s role in reviewing and inspecting the installation of construction hoardings in public areas.

Standards and Codes

There are also a number of relevant Australian standards and other trade codes of practice. Hoardings are to be designed to the relevant standards, including AS 1725-2003, AS 1158 - 2007, AS 1170 Part 1-2002, AS 1170, Part 2- 2002, AS 1742 Part 3 - 2008 and Guide to Traffic Engineering Practice.

Summary of hoarding materials

The predominant systems used for the installation of overhead protective construction hoardings are structural timber, structural steel, prefabricated steel and scaffolding. Of these, the majority of overhead type construction hoardings are constructed from structural steel and structural timber or a combination of both. Prefabricated structural steel and scaffolding systems constitute less than one third of those installed.

Desirable improvements to construction hoardings

A number of desirable improvements to hoardings are sought through and they are described as follows:

  • Minimised obstruction of the footpath, eg through the siting of hoarding supports and site fence as close to site boundary as possible
  • Visual openness of footpath, eg through improved height clearance over

footpath and non-continuous counterweights at the kerb

  • Better standards of detailed design and finish as appropriate
  • Masking of site sheds by fascia from view from the street
  • Co-ordinated information and integrated graphics on both fascia and site fence
  • Visibility of the in-ground site works for the city’s pedestrians
  • Creative use of colour, images and graphics
  • High quality street lighting
  • Water and weather protection above pedestrians
  • Improved maintenance and use of durable materials
  • Safety in accordance with the WorkCover Code of Practice

Design requirements

The aims for the design of construction hoardings are as follows:

  • Maintain the highest possible standard of pedestrian amenity on city streets
  • Provide hoardings which contribute as positively as possible to the streetscape
  • Provide a high quality designed hoarding appropriate to its location in the city
  • Inform pedestrians about the proposed development
  • Allow for the provision of safety and structural adequacy in accordance with  the WorkCover Code of Practice - Overhead Protective Structures
  • Maintain materials, finishes, structure and graphics in a good condition

Documents required

An application for a hoarding permit shall be submitted with drawings and information which is sufficient to allow a proper assessment of the proposal against the design requirements. This should include the following material:

  • Site plan at 1:100 scale, showing all footpath detail
  • Architectural plans, sections and elevations at 1:100 scale
  • Construction details, structural drawings and details.
  • Lighting plan.
  • Statement regarding the length of time that the hoarding will be installed on the site as well as the nature of the works that are to be undertaken duringthis period.
  • Description of the need for the use of footpath area adjacent to the boundary.

The application must also contain the following:

  • A completed application form for approval
  • Evidence of the required Public Risk Insurance Policy indemnifying the City of Ashfield
  • Certification by an appropriately qualified person
  • Council’s hoarding fee (if on a public place), to be paid with application or at time of issue of permit, in accordance with Council’s Fees and Charge
  • A bank guarantee or cash bond as security deposit on a Type B hoarding, in accordance with Council’s Fees and Charges.
    The funds shall be available to Council for reasons including:maintenance or rectification of hoarding:
    • Removal of hoarding
    • Cost of restoration of footway
  • Long service levy, to be paid with application or at time of issue of permit

If the application does not include a photomontage or sketch adequately describing graphic design and information and any proposed location for advertising panels/signs, then Council will impose a condition requiring that either this material be submitted within a specified period or the hoarding be painted the standard colours.