WHAT IS BASIX AND NATHERS?

BASIX is a web-based design tool that ensures each new residential dwelling design meets the NSW Government's targets of up to 40% reduction in water consumption and a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, compared with the average home. To find out more about BASIX click this link or visit the web site www.basix.nsw.gov.au

NatHERS is software designed by the CSIRO and regulated and managed by ABSA as a rating tool for assessing the thermal performance of residential buildings. To find out more about ABSA click this link or visit www.absa.net.au

NatHERS is currently the only software tool approved for simulating the thermal performance input to BASIX. In some cases the deemed -to-comply method in BASIX can be used for single dwellings but for all other types e.g. multi unit buildings the NatHERS simulation method must be used. NatHERS will be replaced in the future by new software known as Accurate.

All new houses are required to have a BASIX certificate at the time of Development Application (DA) lodgement from the 1 July 2005 and all townhouses and home units (aka multi-units) from 1 October 2005.

WHAT WE DO

We are an organisation accredited by ABSA to carry out NatHERS thermal rating assessments and the issue of ABSA certificates for input to BASIX. Our clients are Architects, Builders, Developers and members of the public.

We provide a complete service from initial advice and assistance in achieving a pass in BASIX to finalising the stamping of the Client's drawings ready for DA lodgement.

We enter on behalf of the Client the thermal, water and energy data into the BASIX web site. When a pass has been achieved we print the required ABSA thermal performance certificates and stamping and affix of BASIX compliance information to the Client's drawings ready for DA lodgement.

WHAT WE CHARGE

We quote a lump sum fee per dwelling. The fee level depends on the complexity of the building form and design and the number of ratings required. The design complexity determines the time taken to measure the NatHERS input.

Call us on 02 9481 7033 and speak to Scott for further advice and the preparation of a quotation.

TO GET THINGS UNDERWAY

You, or your architect, will need to provide:

• building information as listed on our checklist

• a dimensioned set of architectural drawings with materials and finishes noted. CAD files if provided will speed up the measurement and input into NatHERS and save the Client some fee cost.

• a landscape drawing so that the turfed and planted areas can be measured.

• a hydraulic drawing showing stormwater and rainwater tank sizes and the swimming pool capacity (if your scheme includes one)

You will need to sign the acceptance of our quote and pay the deposit required in our quotation before rating work commences.

Once the ratings have been completed, a Thermal Performance Specification will be issued that must be affixed to the final set of drawings for DA submission.  Your documentation will need to allow space on one of the drawings for a text box roughly 120mm wide by 150mm deep.  This drawing will be stamped and signed by us, ready to be submitted to your local council.  In addition each of your drawings will need to be notated to show the relevant materials and finishes used to generate the BASIX and ABSA Certificates.  

We will require a copy of the DA drawings and certificate for our records.  We upload the results to the ABSA & BASIX websites and are kept by them as a permanent record.  Please note that the rating and certificate are only relevant for that set and issue of drawings. 

If the project is amended at any stage after the issue of the ABSA & BASIX certificates the rating will change and as a result the original certificate will no longer be valid. The amended drawings will then have to be re-rated and a new certificate issued. We will quote a separate fee for this service should it be required.