H4 - Health and Amenity
Short Version
A home can be structurally sound and fire-safe, but if it’s dark, stuffy, damp, noisy, or awkward to live in, it still fails the people using it. Part H4 – Health and Amenity exists to make sure housing provides healthy, comfortable, usable living conditions as a minimum baseline.
H4 is concerned with everyday impacts on occupants, such as:
- Fresh air and moisture control (to reduce condensation and mould risk)
- Natural light and ventilation to habitable rooms
- Room usability (spaces that function safely and practically)
- Acoustic amenity (reducing unreasonable noise transfer in relevant situations)
- Slip resistance where pedestrian surfaces are exposed to wetting
The intent is preventative: reducing foreseeable health impacts and avoidable harm that can result from poor internal environments or unsafe/unsuitable amenity outcomes.
Why a Performance Solution May Be Needed for Part H4
H4 is often challenged by architectural intent, boundary constraints, compact planning, complex roof forms, unusual ceiling geometry, and alternative materials/finishes. Where a design departs from the Deemed-to-Satisfy pathway, a Performance Solution may be used to demonstrate that the proposal still achieves the H4 outcomes typically using a mix of comparison, analysis, product evidence, and risk controls (ventilation strategy, condensation management measures, acoustic treatment, slip resistance evidence, etc.).
Performance Solution Topics - H4
Reduced room heights or non-standard ceiling configurations may require a Performance Solution to demonstrate acceptable levels of amenity, safety, and usability.
Alternative natural light or ventilation strategies may require a Performance Solution to ensure habitable rooms achieve healthy indoor environments.
Non-standard window sizes, locations, or glazing systems may require a Performance Solution to demonstrate compliance with daylight, ventilation, or privacy outcomes.
Non-standard wet area designs, junction detailing, or moisture management strategies may require a Performance Solution to demonstrate that moisture is controlled and does not create unhealthy conditions or damage to building elements.
Non-standard floor finishes in wet or external pedestrian areas (sealed timber, polished concrete, specialty tiles, coated surfaces) may require a Performance Solution to demonstrate acceptable slip resistance in expected wet conditions. .
Want to read how we have helped out with H4 Performance Solutions?
Read about past projects we've helped out with below:
