BASIX Newsletter May 25

Welcome to the first edition of BASIX News. The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will publish further newsletters covering issues of interest to our users, including BASIX tool updates and guidance on BASIX requirements. 

A new guide is available to support review of BASIX and NatHERS certificates 

The Department has published new advice to help local councils and certifiers check the validity of BASIX and NatHERS certificates. Applicants that have used the simulation method are required to include both NatHERS and BASIX certificates when lodging development applications or complying development certificate applications. Local councils and certifiers are required to review these certificates, alongside other documentation, as part of approval processes. To support consent authorities in their review, the Department has published the BASIX Guide: Checking thermal performance for the Simulation method . The new guide provides accessible, step by step instructions on how to check the validity of BASIX and NatHERS certificates and supporting documentation. A one-page checklist is also provided for quick reference.  To further support compliance with BASIX standards and processes, we have updated the front page of the BASIX certificate to automatically populate the NatHERS certificate number entered for the BASIX project (where the simulation method has been used).  

Updates to the BASIX tool continue 

The Department continues to update the BASIX tool to address ‘bugs’ and technical issues experienced by users. Information about all updates, including the most recent updates on 28 March and 17 April can be found on the Planning Portal – News and Announcements webpage.

 Explainer – differences between Simulation method and DIY method 

In response to frequent questions, we are providing information about the key differences between the two main methods for assessing the thermal performance of new dwellings in BASIX: 

• DIY method – a simple Deemed-to-Satisfy method within the BASIX tool that covers most, but not all, design options for single dwelling houses. It does not require a user to have any form of accreditation. Learn more about the DIY method and the scenarios where it can be used.
• Simulation method – requires modelling using separate NatHERS software and covers a wide range of dwelling types and designs. It offers greater design flexibility but needs to be undertaken by an accredited assessor and is suitable for complex designs or apartments.

Two areas where the methods for assessing thermal performance differ include: 

Roof solar absorptance / roof colour:

• DIY method - dark roofs are not permitted for the warmer regions of NSW, but they are still an option in cooler climate regions because they reduce the heating demand.
• Simulation method - dark roofs are an option for all areas in NSW, although using darker roofs may require other thermal performance improvements such as better insulation or higher performance windows to offset their higher solar absorptance levels.

Floor types:

• DIY method – to align with the National Construction Code Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions, suspended floor above open sub-floor cannot be selected for some climate zones. If you wish to use this floor type, you must use the Simulation method.
• Simulation method - the full range of options are available.

Project transfers and address change requests 

We typically receive more than 25 requests each week to transfer ownership and change addresses for projects within the BASIX tool. So that we can process these requests as efficiently as possible, please be sure to provide the following information: 

Project transfers – please include an email from the owner of the BASIX project agreeing to the transfer. If you cannot contact the project owner, you need to provide:

• evidence that you have made efforts to contact the owner (e.g. an undeliverable email reply or an ASIC/ABN search showing the business is no longer operating), and
• authorisation from the owner of the development for the transfer.

Address change requests – addresses in the Planning Portal and the BASIX tool are aligned with the NSW Address Policy and User Manual which includes information on how addresses are decided. 

When submitting an address change request for a project, please check that the requested address and lot / deposited plan details match what is in the Planning Portal Spatial Viewer, and include a screenshot of that with your request.  

Alternatively, if the details you’re requesting don’t match the spatial viewer, please provide supporting evidence such as the planning certificate issued by the council. We will then arrange for the master NSW address database to be updated before approving the address change. 

Share and subscribe to the BASIX mailing list for updates 

If you’ve received this email, then you’re already on our BASIX mailing list. We encourage you to share this newsletter with your colleagues and/or your organisation members, so that they can receive regular updates about BASIX. Ask them to subscribe for program updates by selecting ‘BASIX program updates’.