Passive House Standard method
Passive House, or Passivhaus as it is known in Germany where it originated, is a performance-based standard that sets stringent benchmarks for thermal performance including:
- Heating demand and/or heating load
- Cooling and dehumidification demand
- Air tightness
- Primary energy demand for all energy consumption
Achieving Passive House certification (Classic, Plus or Premium) requires high levels of insulation, minimal thermal bridges, very good air tightness, high-performance windows and doors, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). For Plus and Premium certification, renewable energy generation is also required.
Certification and quality assurance
The Passive House Institute (PHI) administers an international certification scheme, carried out by a PHI-approved Passive House Certifier. A certified Passive House undergoes a quality assurance process to ensure it is built as designed and meets the comfort standards required by the Passive House standard.
The Passive House standard method is available to both single and multi dwelling developments.
Using the Passive House standard method in BASIX
In the Passive House standard method, you will need to:
- engage a certified Passive House designer or Passive House certifier who will verify, using the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP), that the dwelling design meets the requirements; and
- enter the name of the certified Passive House designer into BASIX.
The Australian Passive House Association can help you locate a certified Passive House designer for your project.
Location eligibility
Currently, the Passive House standard method is only available in certain locations in NSW, where the thermal performance of dwellings meeting the Passive House standard has been shown to be at least as good as those passing the BASIX Simulation method. Note that Passive House assessments do not directly correlate with outcomes from the Simulation method using NatHERS accredited software.
If the Passive House standard method is not available for the location of your dwelling, please contact your certified Passive House designer or the Australian Passive House Association.
Documentation requirements
After you generate the BASIX certificate using the Passive House standard method, you will need to attach a PHPP software report issued by the certified Passive House designer to the BASIX certificate and submit it to the council or certifying authority. The verification section of the PHPP software report needs to show that your dwelling satisfies the space heating, space cooling and air tightness requirements of the Passive House standard.
The certified Passive House designer or Passive House certifier needs to provide a written endorsement that the plans and documentation have been assessed in accordance with the Passive House standard.
Air tightness testing
After the construction of your dwelling is completed, you will need to engage a tester registered with the Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association to conduct an onsite blower door test. Results from the onsite blower door test must show that air tightness of the dwelling does not exceed 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals pressure (ACH50) as required by the Passive House standard. You need to attach the results of the onsite blower door test to the BASIX certificate when applying for the occupation certificate.