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Second Generation Energy Efficiency Assessment - Queensland The Building Services Authority (BSA) met with regulators and government representatives on energy efficiency in July. The Australia Greenhouse Office (AGO) advises that the federal government is funding the development of national competency standards for Energy Assessors. The level of competencies developed, along with pre-requisite qualification requirements, are likely to have a significant influence on defining competent persons and maintaining industry standards on accurate and reliable energy rating assessment. BSA Licensing Division acknowledges that if competency standards and a qualification, for energy assessors, are introduced into the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) and if this, now-definable as specialised, work can not be performed by an existing licence class, then the BSA may review the new industry standard to assess if a new and dedicated licence class is warranted. The Department of Local Government, Planning, Recreation and Sport advise that, there is currently no provision in Queensland for competent persons in relation to verification of energy efficiency performance of houses. However, if the BSA found it necessary to introduce a dedicated license class for Energy Assessors, for instance, it would follow that Building Certifiers, under Section 23 of the Queensland Building Regulation, would then acknowledge that field of qualification or licence as competent persons. The AGO confirms the development and introduction of a trial program on improved energy assessment instruments suitable for Class 1 (a) residential buildings. This trial program is expected to be conducted, in Queensland , during September and October 2004. CSIRO, with federal and state funding have been contracted to develop what is being referred to as Second Generation house energy rating software. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS), not to be confused with the software product by the same name, which is essentially a federal government initiative administered by the AGO, calls for the development of uniform systems to regulate the standard of energy assessment across all States and Territories. The Association of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA) is an industry representative body that is developing a national approach to energy assessment. The ABSA has been engaged by the AGO to facilitate the introduction of the Second Generation technology and develop national competencies and procedural standards for this increasingly specialised area. The ABSA, formally the Home Energy Rating Management Body (HMB) has been responsible for the co-ordination and management of the House Energy Rating Accreditation Scheme in NSW for the last 5 years. The Association, currently operational in NSW, is expected to establish head offices for each State and Territory. What may now be called the First Generation of house energy rating software was limited in that it apparently failed to adequately assess the benefits of breezes and supplementary airflow cooling from ceiling fans for naturally ventilated houses. In effect the old software tended to promote the development of air conditioned house design. However, the Second Generation technology promises to assess the cooling effects of natural airflow based on the CSIR0s improved Chenath computer calculation engine. This Second Generation technology, therefore, sets the standard for a new generation of energy software products, such as AccuRate, that will now be more effective for warm coastal settlement from Queensland to the Northern Territory and the Kimberly. AccuRate is an energy rating software product, developed by CSIRO that uses this Second Generation technology. AccuRate is being promoted as having a user-friendly interface and will be trialled, by the Australian Greenhouse Office and State authorities, in regions throughout Queensland (and the Northern Territories) this month. The AccuRate Queensland Trial Program will include trainer-training, Awareness seminars and software training. The trial program will test the performance of AccuRate and demonstrate its capability and suitability for various house designs in a range of local climatic conditions. The BSA working party on the performance of energy assessment includes; government agencies, industry bodies and education institutions. The next meeting with industry representatives, to be conducted this month, will focus on energy efficiency performance in Queensland . A following meeting will call on education specialists to review competency standards in terms of industry needs. Energy Efficiency, Computer Simulation and Building Certification Certifiers (A1BS) are reporting some discrepancy in relation to Energy Efficiency compliance between computer simulation assessments and design details, on building application plan and specification. Currently any person, for example, who does a BERS course (becoming an accredited Simulator); can provide House Energy Rating (HER) simulation certificates. Energy efficiency simulation practices, at this stage, do not fall under a specific license class. Therefore Building Certifiers will need to have sufficient awareness of energy efficiency issues (in the context of town planning schemes), when accepting simulation certificates (5 star ratings). House Energy Rating certificates may be required at: the design stage (i.e. for Building Designers), the certification stage (i.e. for Building Certifiers), at point of sale/purchase (i.e. for Completed Building Inspectors), or for other condition reports (i.e. for Completed Building Inspectors). However, computer simulations can be manipulated for desirable outcomes (cheating). Input-criteria may be hypothetical, that is, not part of contractual documents. HERS Simulators can refer to the Building Codes of Australia and may rely on tools such as point scoring tables or computer software programs, but will also be subject to inputs based on specialist judgement. Therefore HERS simulators will need to be knowledgeable on building regulation, design, building components and material, but Simulators should also be trained in energy efficiency theory, design and systems, to facilitate specialist judgement and competency. Conclusions from random inspections by a major local government authority (in previous years) suggest that inspections are apparently not being conducted on energy efficiency provisions, indicating that up to 50% of completed dwellings (that were inspected) failed to comply. Further, Accredited Simulators and Building Certifiers may not be passing information, on compliance requirements, on to the Builders, i.e. a check-list of input criteria used to produce the simulation certificate. The energy efficiency provisions are intended to be a first step in developing more effective energy standards to reduce greenhouse gas productions, reduce ongoing energy consumption and improve thermal comfort. The Provisions will apply in all local government areas throughout the State and in accordance with IPA section 3.1.3 (5), will override any similar provisions of a local governments planning scheme (Building Codes Queensland Newsflash issue 16.05.03, p. 2). The objective of the BCA is to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGE) through efficient use of energy, based on thermal performance criteria. Verification (for climate zones 1 to 3) is based on annual energy load value, equivalent to a 3.5 star house energy rating. The new energy standards refer to building elements such as insulation, shading, glazing and ventilation. Part 2.6 (performance requirements) and Part 3.12 (deemed-to-satisfy) on energy provisions, of amendment 13 to the Building Code of Australia, came into force, in Queensland, on 1 September 2003 (BCQ Newsflash issue 16.05.03 p. 1). Building certifiers hold discretionary powers when considering the extent an existing building should be up-graded to meet the standards. Assessments should be made on a case-by-case basis weighing up the extent of resulting difficulties in relation to potential benefits. Development applications lodged with the certifier, or approved before, or the commencement of approved building work before 1 September 2003 will not apply to Amendment 13 of the BCA, in accordance with section 10 of the Building Act 1995. Certifiers may consider if there will be significant financial hardship on owners from additional costs incurred as a result of compliance, during the cross-over period, where applications are approved before 1 September 2003 . Energy provisions, in as much as they apply to class 1 and class 10a buildings, will also apply to new alterations and additions. In such cases, it is not intended however, that the entire building be upgraded, nor are minor alterations such as the replacement or relocation of windows, or alterations to internal walls, intended to be subject to the new energy provisions (BCQ Newsflash issue 16.05.03). It is intended that energy provisions apply to extensions/alterations that create a separate definable room with separation walls, including the enclosing of spaces under a raised dwelling. The energy provisions apply to pre-built dwellings brought onto site and to alterations to compliant buildings. Building Code Queensland (BCQ) takes a commonsense approach to the relocation of existing buildings, where, if external cladding is not removed walls need not be upgraded with insulation, but accessible roof spaces should comply. Alterations extending rooms should comply, but compliance need not extend to the whole house. External shading should apply, but eave overhangs need not be extended in the process. However energy provisions are not intended to apply to extensions of existing rooms that are non compliant, nor are separate class 10 buildings applicable. Further applications to rising of non-compliant buildings are not compelled to comply. Applications for changes of building classifications, however, will call on full consideration of energy efficiency provisions (BCQ Newsflash issue 16.05.2003). Two verification methods are referred to in Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO 2003): 1) compliance based on climatic zone, verifying a relevant star rating or prescribed annual energy load, and 2) compliance based on estimated annual building energy loads compared to a reference building that predominantly complies with relevant DTS provisions. Computer simulation software, such as BERS, First Rate or NatHERS, should specify: building fabric, glazing and shading, air infiltration and ventilation, function and use of the building (zoning), with operating hours and casual loads, temperature settings and relevant built-environment and topographical features (AGO 2003). Climatic data should be relevant in terms of a typical year for a proposed location. Documentation should reflect the level of complexity of the proposed building solutions and related decisions. Suitable records, of a performance-based assessment, need to be provided by applicants and copies retained by Certifiers (AGO 2003). The BCA (BCQ 2003 p. 1) allows for compliance through: A local authority, for example, adopts new EE standards by assessing deemed-to satisfy provisions along with computer simulation to confirm equivalence and design compliance. Through the computer simulation process a check list is provided that can aid visual on-site inspection. Further, Builders are required to provide (on letter head) an affidavit that construction and installation processes were completed in accordance with approved plans and specifications that comply with energy standards. The Certifier, in some instances, for example, will needs to be armed with; 1) simulation certification, 2) list of input criteria for visual inspections, 3) documentation that relevant information on compliance (input criteria) has been passed on to the Builder 4) knowledge of what to look for, 5) affidavit of installation, to demonstrate that method of verification (BCQ, 2003). The check list of input criteria that has been entered into the computer software to simulate the thermal performance of the proposed building will need to be verified against application documentation prior to construction and the completed product at final inspection. For example, if entry data (from the check list) specifies carpet in living areas (on suspended timber floors), or drapes (as a trade off for large windows), or ceiling fans (to facilitate cooling where ventilation is lacking), the Certifier will be responsible for ensuring that the relevant products have, in fact, been installed or ensure that the said items are part of the contract documents and obtain a affidavit from the builder accordingly. The BSA conducts audits on Building Certification Documentation, with view to competent persons register of licensees. As accredited energy efficiency simulators are not currently a licensed practice Certifiers will be required to document the basis by which they accept energy efficiency simulations to confirm that applications and installations meet or are equivalent to DTS provisions or satisfying performance requirements. Building Certifiers will need to take particular account of verification documentation on energy efficiency provisions as the industry goes through a transitional period in adopting the new EE regulations. The AIBS has reported discrepancy between computer simulation certificates and DTS provisions. At present accredited HERS computer simulators do not require a licence to operate and therefore may not automatically be defined as competent persons. Therefore, Certifiers will need to justify through documentation their reasons for accepting a HERS simulators certificate. Certifiers are always requested to document decision making processes. Further, Certifiers should be aware of their responsibilities to confirm that construction and installation is in accordance with certified building design applications through on-site inspection reports (i.e. the installation of insulation etc) and with affidavits from Builders on installations that remain inaccessible. References: |
