NatHERS software
Software accreditation
There are currently three NatHERS software tools available for use in rating the thermal performance of homes in Australia which have been approved under the ‘Procedure for Accrediting Software under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme’ (Procedure).
AccuRate is Australia's national benchmark software tool and was designed by the CSIRO based on decades of scientific research about the way buildings operate in Australian conditions. AccuRate is accredited for use in NatHERS.
The software tool BERS Professional (designed by Solar Logic) and the software tool FirstRate 5 (designed by Sustainability Victoria) both offer versions that are accredited for use in NatHERS.
All three software tools use the same underlying calculation engine (Chenath Engine) that was designed by the CSIRO. BERS Professional and FirstRate 5 provide building professionals with alternative user interfaces.
Accredited NatHERS software tools
- AccuRate (Version 1.1.4.1)
- AccuRate Sustainability Version 2.0.2.13x
- BERS Professional (Version 4.2.110811)
- FirstRate 5 v 5.1x
Updates to accredited software tools
Software tool providers who demonstrate compliance with Section 10 of the Procedure may issue updated versions of the accredited software - after approval from the National Administrator. These updated versions will be denoted by suffixes to the software tool version number identified above (for example: AccuRate Sustainability Version 2.0.2.13’x’; BERS Professional Version 4.2.110811’x’ and First Rate 5 v 5.1’x’.
Validation of Benchmark Software
The current version of AccuRate was validated against the international standard ANSI/ASHRAE 140-2001 in 2004 (also known as BESTEST). This testing procedure involved comparing the results produced by AccuRate against the results from a set of international 'reference' programs. Generally AccuRate agreed very well with the reference programs and no major discrepancies were found.
Procedure for Accrediting Software
The Procedure, involves a suitably expert person demonstrating and declaring that particular software produces compatible results across a portfolio of building designs and climate zones. The software accreditation procedure was updated in 2011.
- Download the Software Accreditation Procedure
The document is available for downloading as a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view these files.