Training and Development
Regional Seminars – Updates to BCA
Each year, Building Management and Works conducts a series of regional seminars and workshops to coincide with the amendments to the Building Code of Australia which occur annually in May. These seminars, held in March and April, are designed to inform industry of the changes to the provisions in the BCA. A small fee is charged for these seminars and workshops.
The regional seminars on BCA updates have been completed for 2009. To download a handout of the BCA 2009 presentation, please click here.
Building Australia's Future Conference
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is calling for papers for its biennial Building Australia’s future conference to be held on the Gold Coast from 20-23 September 2009. The conference will be a combined Refereed and Non-refereed industry conference and as such the ABCB is seeking papers from both industry and academia.
More information can be found through the ABCB’s direct link http://www.abcb.gov.au/go/training/bafpapers.
Further information on the conference can also be found at http://www.abcb.gov.au/
Housing Energy Rating Software (HERS)
HERS software is an Alternative Verification method of achieving compliance under the BCA. The tools estimate the heating and/or cooling energy required to maintain a home's interior temperature within comfortable parameters. The software allocates a star rating between 1 and 10, with 5 being the minimum standard required under the BCA.
The Association of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA), Central TAFE and the Housing Industry Association (HIA) conduct training courses on HERS software AccuRate, BERS Pro and FirstRate 5. Assessors in WA are accredited by ABSA under an agreement with the Sustainable Energy Development Office. Accredited Assessors can also provide advice on achieving the required 5 star energy rating using the HERS software. A list of accredited assessors is available on the ABSA website http://www.absa.net.au/.
For more information on software accreditation please contact Mr Andrew Fairs, Manager SEDO, on (08) 9420 5648 or visit www1.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au
Further Information
Visit the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Energy web-page
ABCB Western Australian climate map
Energy Efficiency Rating Software
ABCB Regulatory Impact Statement
The final Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS), which has been endorsed by the Office of Regulatory Review (ORR), assesses the impact of the BCA Amendment 12 energy efficiency provisions for houses.
Overall the proposed measures are found to be cost-effective and will ensure that the house building sector contributes to the achievement of Australia's greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
