BCA Energy Efficiency Measures
Volume Two (Housing Provisions) of the Building Code Australia (BCA) intcludes
energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency measurements for all classes of buildings are also included
in BCA Volume One (Class 2 to 9 buildings) .
These measures include Performance Requirements and Deemed-to-Satisfy
Provisions for the following building elements:
The thermal performance of walls, ceilings, floors and glazing
including shading in order to avoid or reduce
the use of artificial conditioning (heating and cooling).
The sealing of buildings to reduce energy loss through air leakage.
Natural ventilation and internal air movement,
where appropriate, to avoid or reduce the use of artificial conditioning.
Engineering services including
· Lighting systems.
· Air-conditioning, heating and
ventilation systems.
· Hot water supply systems.
· Maintenance of these systems.
The Performance Based BCA Volume 2 Energy Efficiency Performance Requirements
are:
Volume 2 Appropriate Performance Requirements are:
3.12 Energy Efficiency
3.12.1 Building fabric
3.12.2 External Glazing
3.12.3 Building Sealing
3.12.4 ASir Movement
3.12.5 Services
Volume 1 Energy Efficiency Performance Requirements
are:
Section J Energy Efficiency
Specification JV Annual Energy Consumption Criteria
Part J0 - ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
Part J1 - Building Fabric
Part J2 - Glazing
Part J3 - Building Sealing
Part J4 - * * * * *
Part J5 - Air-Conditioning
& Ventilation
Part J6 - Artificial Lighting
and Power
Part J7 - Hot Water Supply
and Swimming Pool and Spa Pool Plant
Part J8 - Access for Maintenance and Facilities for Monitoring
Specifications
SPECIFICATION J1.2 MATERIAL PROPERTIES
The BCA is a performance-based code that sets out the level of performance
that a building or structure is to achieve. This allows cost savings in
building construction by:
the use of alternative or innovative materials and forms of
construction or designs;
allowing designs to be tailored to a particular building;
being clear and providing guidance on what the BCA is trying
to achieve; and
allowing the designer flexibility while still permitting existing
building practices through the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.
Allowing for innovation is particularly relevant in developing energy
efficiency measures because technologies are rapidly emerging as the community
and industry become more conscious of the issues.
Alternative Solutions
Rather than use the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions, a designer may choose
to use an Alternative Solution. For this, the approval authority needs to
be satisfied that the Alternative Solution meets the Performance Requirements.
There are four means of assessing Alternative Solutions. They are:
Use of a Verification Method;
Equivalence to a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision;
Evidence of suitability; and
Expert judgment or opinion.
Alternative Solutions is not identified in the BCA and must be justified
as complying with the Performance Requirement.
Documentary evidence is required (Not identified in the BCA) but must
be justified as complying with the Performance Requirement
Documentary evidence can be provided by
Registered Testing Authority report
Certificate:
- Conformity or Accreditation
- Proposed CodeMark
. - From a professional engineer
- Issued by certification body that
has been accredited by JAS-ANZ
SSL Product Listing Data Sheet for Fire Protection Equipment
Any other form of documentary evidence
Administrative documentation can be provided by
Certification
Full assessment report
Conditions
Relevant non-compliance to the
DTS
Applicable Performance Requirements
Assumptions, limitations
References, software programs,
etc

Using a Verification Method involves following a specific procedure
to determine whether, under the prescribed conditions, the required
criterion is met. For example, this criterion may be a star rating to
the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme or the energy load per annum
per unit area. The Verification Method can also be a procedure for determining
the required criterion.
For energy efficiency measures, equivalence to a Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision
could mean analysing the subject building with the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
and then adjusting the analysis input using the Alternative Solution.
Provided the estimated energy load of the Alternative Solution does not
exceed that of the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision, the proposed solution
could be acceptable. Acceptable forms of Evidence of Suitability are described
in Clause A2.2 of BCA Volume One.
Expert Judgment is an Assessment Method involving peer opinion and may
be used, for example, where the other forms of assessment are not suitable.
Karl Boeing
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