Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to assess the thermal performance of complex residential buildings using a software tool accredited under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) for regulatory purposes.
The unit supports the work of NatHERS assessors engaged in assessing, and making recommendations for improving, the thermal performance of complex residential buildings.
In some jurisdictions, this unit of competency may form part of the accreditation, licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements for NatHERS assessors.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Plan and organise thermal performance assessment. | 1.1. | Need for assessing thermal performance of a residential building is clarified with client. |
1.2. | Features of design requiring complex modelling techniques are determined and appropriate assessment strategies are identified in line with organisational procedures, software developer recommendations, and regulatory requirements. | ||
1.3. | Cost of assessment is communicated to client in line with organisational procedures. | ||
1.4. | Effective communication strategies are used to assist in establishing rapport with the client and in responding to client questions and concerns. | ||
1.5. | Potential risks are identified and suitably managed. | ||
1.6. | Computer equipment and software required for the assessment are identified and checked for serviceability. | ||
1.7. | Documentation required for the assessment is obtained. | ||
1.8. | Authority to proceed is obtained from client before commencing, and reconfirmed as appropriate during the assessment. | ||
2. | Enter information into thermal performance assessment tool. | 2.1. | Building information is extracted from the full range of available sources. |
2.2. | Building information on complex features of building envelope is gathered, checked for accuracy and where necessary verified with other building professionals. | ||
2.3. | Software technical support and advice are identified and sourced as required. | ||
2.4. | Limitations of software are identified and considered during assessment. | ||
2.5. | Building information is correctly and consistently entered into the thermal performance assessment tool. | ||
2.6. | Methods for entering information on non-standard and complex building materials and designs are used correctly. | ||
2.7. | Complex constructions are built from standard construction materials library. | ||
3. | Apply thermal performance assessment tool. | 3.1. | Relevant functions of thermal performance assessment tool are used to generate outputs in relation to thermal performance of the building. |
3.2. | Thermal performance assessment tool outputs are identified and analysed. | ||
3.3. | Impact of external factors on thermal performance of building are identified and assessed. | ||
3.4. | Methods for entering information on non-standard building materials and designs are used correctly. | ||
3.5. | Errors in data entry and assessment are identified and corrected. | ||
3.6. | Software scratch file is read and interpreted. | ||
4. | Identify options for improving thermal performance. | 4.1. | Sources of technical advice on building thermal performance are identified. |
4.2. | Assumptions and limitations inherent in thermal performance assessment tool are considered when interpreting outputs. | ||
4.3. | Thermal performance tool outputs are interpreted to identify strengths and weaknesses in thermal performance of building. | ||
4.4. | Options for improving thermal and environmental performance and for meeting regulatory requirements are identified based on criteria. | ||
4.5. | Interactions of thermal performance improvements on other aspects of building performance are identified and advice is provided to client. | ||
4.6. | Impact of options is evaluated by reassessing the building using the thermal performance assessment tool. | ||
4.7. | Cost of options for improving the thermal performance of the residence is estimated in line with organisational procedures. | ||
5. | Report outcomes of thermal performance assessment. | 5.1. | Results and recommendations, along with supporting evidence, are collated and documented. |
5.2. | Estimated cost of proposed recommendations and potential associated reductions in energy use, costs and greenhouse gas emissions are documented in line with organisational procedures. | ||
5.3 | Results and recommendations of thermal performance assessment are explained to the client. | ||
5.4. | Reports and other documentation associated with thermal performance assessment are lodged with regulatory authorities if required, and securely stored to be readily retrieved in line with organisational requirements. | ||
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.
The person must also assess the thermal performance of one of the following residential buildings:
a building with complex levels, shading, irregular shapes and void arrangements
a building with non-conventional building materials and configurations.
The assessment must be undertaken using a Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) software tool accredited under NatHERS for regulatory purposes in a mode appropriate to the type of assessment.
In doing the above, the person must:
gather the required building information from building plans, specifications and other supporting documents required for a thermal performance assessment and correctly enter this information into a NatHERS software tool
identify and analyse the outputs of a thermal performance assessment tool
identify interactions of thermal performance with other health, safety, amenity and sustainability aspects of a dwelling
make recommendations to improve the thermal performance of a planned residential building.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
Australian climatic zones:
climate data used in thermal performance assessment:
diurnal temperature range
humidity
irradiance
maximum and minimum temperature
solar geometry
wind speed and direction
climatic zones and characteristics
building thermal performance:
benefits of thermal performance assessment
constraints on choice of building materials:
availability
compliance with codes, standards and legislation
cost
practicality
size
space
heat flows
impact of building materials on building thermal performance
impact of building design on building thermal performance
properties of building materials:
capacitance
material thickness
resistance heat flow up and down
thermal bridging
relationship between building thermal performance and thermal comfort
thermal performance principles:
glazing, shading and insulation for controlling temperature
orientation for heating
thermal mass for storing
ventilation for cooling
thermal performance properties of common building materials
thermal performance ratings:
current rating requirements
documentation of ratings
legal requirements
uses
ways of improving the thermal performance of residential buildings:
condition of building
construction materials
draught proofing
floor coverings
glazing
insulation levels
landscaping and planting
orientation
overshadowing
passive heating and cooling
shade
siting of building
structural changes
thermal mass
ventilation
window coverings
window size, location and type
building zoning and layout
commonwealth, state and territory, and local government legislation and regulations impacting on thermal performance assessment relating to:
building and construction
building thermal performance
consumer protection and trade practices
environment protection
occupational licensing
work health and safety
energy and power:
terminology:
energy loads
energy efficiency
heating and cooling loads
latent heat
power
primary energy source
units of measurement
uses, cost and environmental impact of energy use in residential buildings
greenhouse gas emissions:
relationship between building design, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through building design
NatHERS software tools:
assumptions inherent in software protocol
criteria for the selection of particular software tools
properties of materials, such as heat transfer coefficients and U-value, thermal resistance and R-value, reflectivity, absorptance, solar heat gain coefficient and emissivity
scratch file
types of software tools
passive energy design:
benefits of passive design
passive design standards
Passivhaus (Passive) House Standard
principles of passive design
relationship between passive design, energy use and operational greenhouse gas emissions
thermal comfort:
definition of thermal comfort
models
physical factors that influence thermal comfort
requirement for and importance of thermal comfort
role of thermal comfort in building thermal performance assessments.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
NatHERS software tool
computer equipment suitable for using NatHERS software tools and generating printed copies of reports
materials:
relevant codes, standards and government regulations
building documentation for residential building to be assessed
technical reference library with current publications on:
Australian climatic zones
building design and materials
house energy rating system (HERS)
building thermal performance for planned buildings
manufacturer product information on building products and materials
NatHERS
relationships with team members and supervisor:
assessment activities are performed on an individual basis under general supervision.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment. Assessors must also hold current accreditation with a NatHERS Assessor Accrediting Organisation.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Learning skills to: | maintain up-to-date knowledge of information required to make recommendations based on the outputs of NatHERS software tools. |
Numeracy skills to: | calculate and interpret the outputs of NatHERS software tools data associated with conducting thermal performance assessments, such as U-value, R-value, reflectivity, absorptance and emissivity interpret and extract data from building plans and specifications. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions to clarify customer requirements. |
Reading skills to: | identify and interpret documents and information on key matters associated with thermal performance assessments, such as climatic zones and the thermal properties of building materials. |
Technology skills to: | operate computer equipment and peripherals enter data and use the functions of NatHERS software tools and other general purpose software packages. |
Writing skills to: | complete standard forms prepare routine reports on the outcomes of NatHERS assessments. |
Self-management skills to: | interact with clients from diverse social, economic and cultural backgrounds. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Information must include at least four of the following: | air leakage features, including fans and wall vents attachments to other buildings externally building sealing construction materials dimensions electrical fittings, including ceiling fans and exhaust fans glazing insulation levels, including ceiling, floors and walls orientation overshadowing shading thermal mass ventilation windows, including size, style, type of frame and type of glass zoning and layout. |
Complex features of building envelope must include: | buildings with complex levels, shading, irregular shapes and void arrangements buildings with non-conventional building materials and configurations. |
Options must include at least two of the following main groups: | construction materials glazing insulation levels landscaping and planting orientation overshadowing passive heating and cooling size style thermal mass type of glazing ventilation window: adjustment of window areas to gain maximum solar gains without over heating the design shading size style type of glazing use of advanced window technologies zoning and layout. |
Criteria must include at least one of the following: | cost outputs of thermal performance assessment practicality thermal performance properties of building elements type of building. |
Sectors
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