Compliance & Workmanship Information
Primary reference page:
Regulators & Regulation
Useful Technical Manuals
Local Practice Notes report findings from As-Built Learning Exchange (ABLE) Local Practice Projects.
When a project is undertaken to investigate the compliance and workmanship issues related to a major BCA change or the like, Local Practice Notes are published to report the project findings.
When a project is undertaken to develop a specific resource, the published Local Practice Note provides background information about the research and investigation that was undertaken and a link to the resource.
In each case, the titles of published Local Practice Notes are listed under Local Practice Project headings with a brief description and a link to the main text.
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BCA Part 3.12 - Energy Efficiency
Artificial Lighting (update)
This Local Practice Note updates Building Professionals on these issues and explains why the ambiguous wording of the provisions allows for differing interpretations.
Read summary text3.12.0 Application of Part 3.12
6-Star - DTS or Modelling?
This project was undertaken to discover the local practice information that builders and designers will need if they are to make a timely and informed 6-Star assessment choice.
Read summary text6-Star - DTS or Modelling? - Outcomes in Brief
This is an Outcomes In Brief summary for BCA Climate Zone 5. Refer to the the Local Practice Notes for a detailed description of the project outcomes.
Read summary textLocal Practice Snapshot - BCA 2010 6-Star Public Comment Draft
In July 2009 the Building Commission (formerly DHW) engaged As-Built Learning Exchange to undertake a 6-Star Local Practice Snapshot to assess the likely impact of the draft BCA2010 Energy Efficiency provisions (commonly referred to as 6-Star Housing).
Read summary textReporting Compliance & Pre-Start
The shift to the DTS compliance option that uses HERS calculations provided the opportunity to develop a compliance reporting framework that resolves current issues between building licence reporting and the post approval changes that occur with pre-start selections and contract variations.
Read summary textWA Alterations & Additions Protocol
It became apparent that “6 star” compliance was likely to be difficult for additions. If the Elemental Provision option is used, then it is likely that existing glazing limitations will result in the Glazing Calculator reporting non-compliance. If the House Energy Rating Software option is used, when a Kitchen is not included in the new work it cannot be assessed and, for whole-of-house (new and existing work) assessment, achieving a “6 star” outcome is likely to be very difficult and/or place an “unreasonable” compliance burden on the existing portion of the work.
Read summary text3.12.0(a)(i)(A) Reducting heating or cooling loades (Star rating)
Batch files - Thermal performance analysis
BERS Pro software (see sidebar) has the capacity to generate batch files that report star rating, Total MJ and Heating/Cooling MJ data for a combination of Climate Zone and/or orientations.
Read summary textConstruction Based Performance Gain
For each of the 25 houses used in the project, Baseline House data was generated for eight orientations in each of the four nominated Climate Zones and the worst-case orientation for each house was used to generate construction based performance improvement data.
Read summary textDesign Based Performance Gain
In the context of this project, “design” decisions range from the house floor plan and making better orientation choices through to decisions about glazing configuration (size, orientation, shading, ventilation etc), room configuration (open or separated spaces, internal doors etc), selections (external colours, floor coverings etc).
Read summary textNatHERS Climate Zone Boundaries
This Local Practice Note correlates NatHERS Climate Zone Boundaries to Local Government areas, suburbs and towns.
Read summary text
Process and Construction Cost
For this project, the Baseline House (see Sidebar Note) cost used was the 5-Star DTS compliant sales price (as of early 2010) provided by each of the participating builders.
Read summary textProject Outline: 6-Star - Planning for Better Outcomes
ABLE invited metropolitan and regional builders and designers who undertake Project, One-Off and Alterations & Additions work to participate in this project. Five builders accepted the invitation and 25 houses were selected to use in the project.
Read summary textStar Bands & Mega Joules (MJ)
This Local Practice Note reports on how Star Bands correlate with the MJ amounts set for each NatHERS Climate Zone.
Read summary text3.12.1.2 Roofs
Insulation R-Value of Suspended Concrete
Whilst BCA 2009 Volume Two Part 3.12.1.2 Roofs only provides a limited number of typical details for roof and ceiling construction the “Specification” sections in BCA Volume One provide information that can be used to calculate the Total R-Value of non-standard construction details.
Read summary textBalustrade & barrier, enclosure, fencing
Retaining walls
BCA 2009 introduced a new provision that excluded retaining walls from requiring a balustrade or other barrier – when specific conditions applied.
Read summary textPaving
Paving: Concrete - Limestone Concrete
Local practice suggests that the lower strength provides sufficient structural performance in residential applications (driveways and paths) but serviceability performance (risk of cracking) can be an issue.
Read summary textRoof and wall cladding
Sunscreens Can Damage Colorbond
Damage to the surface of Colorbond steel caused by contact with nanoparticle sunscreen products is not covered by BlueScope warranties.
Read summary textStructural concrete
Structural concrete - Unformed surfaces
Research suggests direct-stick flooring companies exclude surface preparation from their scope of works. If the owner accepts these purchase conditions and presumes that the concrete surface can be used as is, then failure is likely to occur – with defective concrete seen as the cause.
Read summary textWater supply & sanitary drainage plumbing
Floor wastes (FW)
3.8.1.10 Wet area floors states “where a floor waste is installed, the floor must be constructed so that water flows to the waste without ponding. Therefore, the BCA does not require that a floor waste is installed, it only prescribes what is required if a floor waste is installed.
Read summary textGeneral items
Insulation & moisture barriers
Location of sarking-type material
When sarking is located over metal roof cover battens the thermal bridge effect (especially with metal battens) is likely to mean that the battens and adjacent sarking mirror the temperature of the roof cover. This increases the risk of condensation forming on the underside of the batten and adjacent sarking and moisture dripping onto the ceiling below.
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