The Standards Gap — Anti-Ligature in Australia

The single most significant regulatory gap in Australia's anti-ligature landscape is the absence of a dedicated Australian or joint Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS) for anti-ligature products. This means: • There is no standardised testing methodology for anti-ligature products in Australia • Manufacturers self-certify their products or test to international standards (primarily UK) • No formal product certification or approval scheme exists • Procurement decisions rely on AusHFG guidance and manufacturer claims

While no specific anti-ligature standard exists, related standards apply: • AS1428.1 — Design for access and mobility (applies to grab rails, bathroom fittings) • NCC/BCA — National Construction Code (building-level requirements) • AS3786 — Smoke alarms (relevant for anti-ligature smoke detector covers) • AS/NZS 1680 — Interior lighting (relevant for anti-ligature lighting specification) Many manufacturers reference UK standards such as: • BS 8300 — Design of accessible buildings • PAS 8210:2022 — Anti-barricade door systems • DHF TS 001 — Door hardware in mental health

There is clear momentum toward formalised anti-ligature requirements: 1. Victoria's explicit acknowledgement of the 'absence of national standards' 2. Increasing coroner recommendations citing the need for mandatory anti-ligature provisions 3. A 2025 academic paper questioning whether anti-ligature measures are legally mandatory through negligence and OHS law, even without formal standards 4. Industry bodies calling for AS/NZS anti-ligature product standards 5. State governments independently creating mandatory audit tools and guidance The likely path is: • State-by-state mandatory guidance (already happening) • Industry consensus on testing methodologies • Eventual AS/NZS standard for anti-ligature product performance

Until a formal standard exists, facility managers and specifiers should: 1. Use AusHFG as the baseline specification framework 2. Request manufacturer test data (load-release thresholds, material certifications) 3. Conduct facility-specific ligature risk assessments (Victoria's audit tool is a good model) 4. Document specification decisions and rationale 5. Consider the duty of care implications — courts may hold facilities to 'industry best practice' even without formal standards 6. Work with experienced suppliers (like Anti-Ligature Australia) who understand the regulatory landscape