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Reporting Compliance & Pre-Start

Published: 22 October 2011 / BCA 2011

This Local Practice Note is to be read in conjunction with the:

  • BCA Part 3.12 Compliance Report Local Practice Interpretation,
  • Ceiling Insulation Area Local Practice Interpretation,
  • Ceiling Insulation Penetrations Local Practice Interpretation, and
  • Artificial Lighting Local Practice Interpretation, and
  • Vented Recessed Light Local Practice Interpretation

BCA PART 3.12 COMPLIANCE REPORT LOCAL PRACTICE INTEPRETATION

Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Provisions

Prior to BCA 2010 there was only one DTS compliance option – assess the house using the provisions contained in Part 3.12 Energy Efficiency. If the house complied with each of the Part of these provisions it was deemed to have satisfied Performance Requirement P2.61 Building and P2.6.2 Services.

BCA 2010 introduced a second DTS compliance option that included the use of House Energy Rating Software (HERS) to verify the heating and cooling load calculations (prior to this HERS calculations could only be used as part of an Alternative Solution that satisfied P2.6.1).

Local Practice Project: 6-Star – DTS or Modelling?

Outcomes from the “6-Star – DTS or Modelling?” project suggest that the DTS option using HERS calculations is likely to deliver better outcomes.

Based on these outcomes a second project “6-Star – Planning for Better Outcomes” was undertaken. This project investigated design, construction and cost decision-making that is likely to deliver better HERS calculation outcomes.

DTS compliance options

For the DTS option using HERS calculations, 3.12.0 Application of Part 3.12 states that Performance Requirement P2.6.1 Building is satisfied by 3.12.0(a)(i) and Performance Requirement P2.6.2 Services is satisfied by 3.12.0(b).

3.12.0.1 Heating and cooling loads states the minimum star rating that is required. For WA, in BCA Climate Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6 a minimum 6-star rating is required, whilst in BCA Climate Zone 1 the rating is reduced to 5 or 5.5 star rating when specific outdoor living area criteria are achieved.

The other DTS provisions nominated under 3.12.0(a)(i) and 3.12.0(b) require both the HERS calculations and the subsequent building work to comply with the nominated DTS design and construction provisions.

In addition to the above, compliance with the WA Additions is also required.

Design and construction provisions

The DTS Provisions listed in 3.12.0 include design and construction clauses. For Building Licence purposes, evidence of:

  • Design compliance – can be verified by referencing the applicable DTS Provisions in a report and providing calculations that verify that the required minimum or maximum building performance is achieved, and
  • Construction compliance – can be verified by referencing the applicable DTS Provisions in a report and making a compliance statement.

The BCA Part 3.12 Compliance Report Local Practice Interpretation adopts this approach.

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