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Window or door overshadowing

Find out about various forms of overshadowing

BASIX considers overshadowing from:

  • existing permanent buildings, but not outhouses, sheds or temporary structures;
  • parts of your proposed building;
  • a future building on an adjacent site, if it has an approved DA or CDC; or
  • existing vegetation, if it is subject to planning control for removal.

Note: You must specify overshadowing if it is present.

Overshadowing will increase the estimated heating load and reduce the cooling loads to different degrees depending on the level of obstruction and climate zone.

Only specify overshadowing if there is an obstruction directly in front of the centre of the base of the window in plan and elevation. That is, if you were to look out the window, the obstruction would be directly in front and not wholly below or to the side. If there is a large obstruction offset to the side and you want to get the benefit of the obstruction, consider using the Simulation method.

For existing vegetation, overshadowing can be specified if it is directly in front of the window, or where there is a bare tree trunk in front of the window and the canopy is above the plane of the window.

You will need to know:

distance (away)



 

  • the leading edge of the building— the eaves if present or otherwise the wall; or
  • the trunk of the tree.

    (measured from the wall in which the glazing is located to)

height

    

  • the part of the building providing the most overshadowing— typically the eaves, but may be the ridge line if the roof has a steep pitch; or
  • the top of the tree.

    (measured from the base of the glazing to)

 For existing adjacent buildings, future adjacent buildings with an approved DA or CDC, or a parallel part of the proposed building:

This is an image of BASIX overshadowing

 

 
This is an image of BASIX overshadowing measuring height horizontally
This is an image of a tree overshadowing a house
This is an image of a tree overshadowing a house
 
This is an image of a tree overshadowing a house
 
       

 

Last updated: 21/09/2023