Blog
Complex Commercial Building – Should I use J1V3 or DTS for Section J compliance?
Deemed to Satisfy (DTS) is a simple, quick and powerful tool for Section J compliance, even for complex buildings. JV3 is a longer and more expensive method that is suited for buildings with specific unusual features that make DTS unsuitable.
Tell me about the move from 6 to 7 Stars for Home Energy Assessments
(Click here to view our primer on: Designing for 7 Stars) Recently BERA was invited to speak on a panel regarding the anticipated inclusion of 7 Star Ratings in the upcoming NCC 2022. Here are our thoughts. What challenges do builders and designers face to meet a...
Double-glazing in Warm Climates?
A client recently asked whether they should consider double glazing for their new home in Queensland. Here's what we advised: 1. Double glazing absolutely assists in keeping heat out during summer, and providing increased insulation during winter, as well as...
NCC 2019 Section J Assessments – Reflections 6 months down the track
BERA has been conducting Section J (DTS) assessments under NCC 2019 for over six months now, so we thought it would be a good time to put down some thoughts on how it’s going. If you’re a fellow Energy Efficiency assessor, we’d love to hear how you’re going with it...
HERO NatHERS Software
There is a new player in the NatHERS Software space, and it could be a game changer. Background For the last ten years, there have been only three accredited software providers able to satisfy the NCC's requirement for reducing the heating and cooling loads of...
How NCC 2019 Will Make it Easier to Comply with Section J
From May 1st 2020, the NCC 2019 regulations will be mandatory for new building designs. Whilst generally the energy efficiency requirements are more stringent under NCC 2019 (giving rise to some design and costing changes), there are some new ways that the code...
Changes to Walls and Glazing, NCC 2019, Vol.1
Walls and Glazing (J1.5) In the past, a building's external walls, internal envelope walls, and glazing, were assessed as three separate components. With NCC 2019, the conditioned envelope wall-glazing construction is assessed as a whole, either for the whole building...
Changes to Deemed To Satisfy Energy Efficiency Assessments, NCC 2019, Vol.1
As mentioned in a previous blog article, there are numerous and significant changes to the way that Section J (Deemed to Satisfy) assessments are to be carried out under NCC 2019, Vol 1. These changes take mandatory effect on 1st of May, 2020. So what are the main...
Changes to Commercial Energy Efficiency Assessments, NCC 2019, Vol.1
New energy efficiency provisions aiming to increase energy efficiency by 30-40% were introduced with the release of NCC 2019 on 1st May, 2019. As the changes were quite significant, compulsory adoption was delayed until 1st May, 2020. For the last 12 months, the...