Green Rate - Building Energy Rating lists out the changes to the energy efficiency provisions in the newly released BCA 2012, volumes 1 and 2.
A key change has been made to Table J1.3a in Section J wherein the required R-Value for roof and ceiling construction in climate zones 4 and 5 has been amended to align with climate zones 1, 2 and 3.
The changes are mostly to do with terminology and explanatory information, and intended to clarify several of the provisions.
BCA 2012 Volume 1 – Section J:
J0.2(a)(ii): The reference to the 2006 edition of the ABCB Protocol for House Energy Rating Software Version has been removed. The deletion is a consequence of the recognition of NatHERS as the appropriate accreditation scheme for house energy rating software.
Table J1.3a: Climate zones 4 and 5 have been amended to align with climate zones 1, 2 and 3 for the required R-Value for roof and ceiling construction.
Table J1.3b: The table has been expanded to include values for when the minimum R-Value of ceiling insulation required to satisfy J1.3(a) is less than R2.5.
Table J2.4c: The heat shading multiplier figure for climate zone 8 South orientation sector, where the G value is more than 100mm but not more than 500mm and has a P/H value of two, has been amended from 0.75 to 0.50.
J5.2(a)(vii): The specific examples of applications described that could attain an exemption for an outdoor air economy cycle have been replaced with the generic term of 'process related applications', with the existing examples now referenced in the Guide to Volume One.
J5.2(b)(ii): The defined term 'outdoor air' has been included in the provision for clarification.
J5.2(b)(iii)(B): Minimum ventilation requirements when an atmospheric contaminant monitoring system is installed in a carpark have been relocated to the more appropriate location of F4.11(b) and revised to include a more practical control strategy.
J5.2(d)(iv): A new sub-clause has been included to exempt a Class 8 electricity network substation from complying with the power for mechanical ventilation requirements of J5.2(b)(iii).
J5.3(b)(iii): A new sub-clause has been included to exempt a Class 8 electricity network substation from complying with the time switch requirements of J5.3.
J5.5(b)(iv): A new sub-clause has been included to exempt a Class 8 electricity network substation from the miscellaneous exhaust system requirement of J5.5(a).
J6.1: The application of part has been reinstated to exempt a Class 8 electricity network substation from compliance with J6.2, J6.3 and J6.5(a)(ii).
Table J6.2a Note: Note 4 to the table has been amended to clarify that a control device, which is required by J6.3 is not an allowable adjustment factor under Table J6.2b.
J6.3(d)(ii)(A): Clarification has been added that a security key card reader must register a person entering and leaving the building.
J8.1: The application of part has been amended to exempt a Class 8 electricity network substation from compliance with the requirements of Part J8.
Specification J5.4: Note 2 has been amended to cover applications where local clearances Table 2a adjoining plant do not allow for the installation of insulation.
BCA 2012 Volume 2 – Part 3.12:
3.12: A new defined term ‘house energy rating software’ has been included to nominate the acceptable accrediting national scheme for software used to assess the thermal efficiency of a dwelling envelope.
3.12 Explanatory Information: New explanatory information has been included to explain the purpose of the NatHERS scheme.
3.12: As a consequence of changes to the Australian Government's Renewable Energy Target scheme the defined term ‘Renewable Energy Certificate’ has been deleted and replaced by a new defined term 'Small-scale Technology Certificate'.
3.12.0 Explanatory Information: The explanatory information regarding the two options for complying with 3.12.1 to 3.12.4 has been amended to clarify the delineation between the Energy Rating and the Elemental Provisions options.
3.12.0.1: Reference to the ABCB Protocol for House Energy Rating Software has been removed. The deletion is a consequence of the recognition of NatHERS as the appropriate accreditation scheme for house energy rating software.
3.12.1.2 Explanatory Information: The explanatory information has been amended to correct the terminology used and to align with the solar absorptance values of Table 3.12.1.1a.
Table 3.12.1.1b: The table has been expanded to include values for when the minimum R-Value of ceiling insulation required to satisfy 3.12.1.2(a) is less than R2.5.
Table 3.12.2.1 Note 2: Note 2 has been amended to clarify the relationship of ventilation opening area and the presence of ceiling fans or evaporative coolers in determining if a habitable room has high air movement.
Table 3.12.2.1 Explanatory Information: Note 4 of the explanatory information has been simplified to a tabular example demonstrating the relationship of ventilation opening area and the presence of ceiling fans.
3.12.4.1(b)(iii): The term 'area of floor' has been replaced with the defined term ‘floor area’ for consistency with Part 3.8.5 and Part 3.12.2.
Table 3.12.4.1: The term ‘area of floor’ has been replaced with the defined term 'floor area' for consistency with Part 3.8.5 and Part 3.12.2.
3.12.5.5(a)(iii): Clarification has been added that the lighting provisions for a Class 10a building only apply to Class 10a buildings associated with a Class 1 building.
3.12.5.6(b): Reference to the defined term ‘Renewable Energy Certificate’ has been deleted and replaced by ‘Small-scale Technology Certificate’ as a consequence of changes made to the Australian Government's Renewable Energy Target scheme.
