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As confirmed by Dr Paul Bannister, director innovation and sustainability at Energy Action, “committee has rewritten section J in its entirety”. He further added, “no stone has been left unturned and each and every component has been re-examined”
For the ones who are new to this topic, Section J is the part of the Australian building code and ensures the energy efficiency of the new building.
Why the change?
Why the change?
This obvious question has a meaningful answer. After being introduced in the year 2006, the changes were much overdue and then it became necessary to in line with the on-going trends and practices. A lot of tasks have been performed and suggestions and feedback are taken from the industry. After this, the ABCB has decided to roll out the potential changes in BCA section J in 2019. The goal for this amendment are listed below:
To become more stringent:
To become more stringent:
Things are made tough so that they achieve a cost/benefit ratio between 1 and 1.5. Any changes that come into planning should have a logical and economic meaning. The total cost associated to comply with the new regulation should be less than the benefit expected from the change.
Simplification:
Simplification:
The regulations are simplified so that even a layman can understand. Let’s hope that that goal is achieved.
To give more emphasis to verification methods:
To give more emphasis to verification methods:
Initially, builders aimed at getting the certificate and start constructing. Currently, they go through the compliance process of Deemed-To-satisfy clauses but now would have to check if the design complies according to Section J. DTS only covers some average requirements, and hence the new set of rules is introduced to comply with the performance set JV3.
The computer simulation program is expected to give better results.
Other things covered…
Other things covered…
Thermal comfort:
Thermal comfort:
This will be the first time that thermal comfort will be included in section J. The focus will shift from reducing energy to implying thermal comfort Same as BASIX Certification, the building needs to comply with the thermal comfort standards defined in section J. The new set of rules will be using GreenStars and NABERS rating system.
Glazing:
Glazing:
Glazing analysis has been reformed to a great extent. Glazing at each floor in any 8 orientation was assessed using a calculator but now, walls and glazing would be treated as one system. The new regulation is based on U/SGHC¹ ratio of the wall/glazing. The rules are made more strict for betterment.
Artificial lighting:
Artificial lighting:
The new regulations are based on LED 2017 technology and would almost half the lighting power availability. It would not be adding any further difficulties.
Lifts:
Lifts:
The new lifts would have to be of the international standards, ASHRAE 90.1 and ISO 2574.2(2015)
A bit more technical and mechanical changes have also been introduced in section J which are available in depth on the official site. Hope Eco certificates have brought to you all the change list beforehand.
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