Energy Efficiency

If the table in Chapter 13 of the NCC Housing Provisions shows an “X” for a construction element, it means that element isn’t allowed in your climate zone under the DTS Elemental pathway. This is because the element isn’t suitable for the local climate and can’t meet the required thermal performance equivalent to a 7-star rating, no matter how high its R-Value is.

To use that construction element under the DTS Elemental pathway, you’d need to adjust another part of its design, such as its solar absorptance or the width of any overhangs (if relevant).

Alternatively, you can choose a different compliance pathway, like NatHERS or a Performance Solution. These options offer more flexibility by allowing trade-offs between elements with higher and lower thermal performance.

If the fume-cupboard needs to be explosion proof, then it is exempted from the fan efficiency requirements through J6D5(2)(e). J6D5(5) also provides an exemption from the fan, ductwork and ductwork component provisions for the power for process-related components. It will be up to the certifying authority to determine if the fume cupboard fan and ductwork are exempt from any provisions in J6D5.

Generally, yes, unless the system is covered by an exemption. There is no generic exemption for unitary air conditioning equipment.

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Generally, state and territory legislation requires that a home or apartment building complies with the edition of the NCC that was current when the building was designed or when the building permit was approved. For your existing home or apartment building, this is likely a previous edition of the NCC. Over time, the energy efficiency requirements have become more stringent, so existing buildings may not meet current provisions. Typically, building regulations do not require existing buildings to be upgraded to meet present-day NCC requirements.

State and territory legislation does prescribe various circumstances under which an existing building is obliged to comply with the current NCC. These circumstances vary among jurisdictions but typically include where the use of the building is to be changed and when the building is substantially renovated.

For more information, refer to ABCB’s handbook for Upgrading Existing Buildings.

If you think there is a compliance issue in your home or apartment, contact the relevant state or territory building administration.

The certifying authority will make a decision about how Part J4 applies to building.

Part J4 applies to building elements forming the building envelope. If a building has no conditioned space or habitable rooms then Part J4 is not expected to apply. Conditioned space excludes spaces served by heating or cooling systems that maintain specialised equipment or processes and spaces that are unlikely by their intended use to have the temperature is to have its temperature controlled by air-conditioning. This means that refrigerated storage warehouses and warehouses that are intended to be open to the ambient air when operating (e.g. to allow vehicles to and materials to move through) are unlikely to be considered to be conditioned space.

The elemental pathway is a specific Deemed-To-Satisfy (DTS) pathway that sets minimum energy efficiency requirements for individual building elements like walls, roofs, floors, windows, based on your prescriptive approach, you must meet each requirement exactly as stated. It’s useful if you want a checklist-style way to comply with energy efficiency requirements. It does not allow trade-offs between elements. For example, you can’t compensate for a poorly insulated wall by having a highly insulated roof.

For standalone houses, Clauses H6D2(1)(b) and (2)(b) in NCC Volume Two set out the scope and application of the Elemental provisions. The provisions themselves are in Chapter 13 of the NCC Housing Provisions.

For sole-occupancy units in apartment buildings, Clauses J2D2(2)(b) and J2D2(3)(a)(i), (b) and (c) in NCC Volume One specify the scope and application of the Elemental provisions.

If your design doesn’t fit within the elemental pathway then an alternative approach is to use NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) – a software-based approach that models the home energy performance. NatHERS is also DTS pathway. Another option is to use a Performance Solution – a flexible method that allows trade-offs and innovation, as long as you can demonstrate equivalent or better performance.