NatHERS News - 7 March

Western Australia moving to National Construction Code 2022

Western Australia is soon to adopt a minimum 7-star and a Whole of Home rating under the latest National Construction Code (NCC 2022).

Taking effect from 1 May (2025), new homes in WA will be required to meet NCC 2022 energy efficiency requirements and the condensation management provisions.

NatHERS assessors can read more on NCC 2022 software updates in the following resources: 

See the Western Australian Government’s website for specific information on the introduction of NCC 2022 requirements.

National Construction Code 2025 update

There will be minimal changes to residential provisions and NatHERS software tools as part of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 updates. This is because unlike NCC 2022, the cycle is primarily focused on commercial buildings. Final provisions to NCC 2025 will be agreed following the next Building Ministers’ Meeting.

As part of the tool reaccreditation process for NCC 2025, the team has been focused on minor clarifications and improvements to ensure consistency and accuracy in accredited software tools once NCC 2025 goes live.

Tools are being reaccredited relative to the benchmark software tool, AccuRate Home and the Software Accreditation Protocol | Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).

Any updates to software will be shared via our newsletter.

NatHERS tools to include air tightness display 

An update in the air tightness display, developed by CSIRO has recently been included in the user interface of the benchmark tool, AccuRate Home, in regulatory mode. 

This exciting update is now available in the tool’s latest release. NatHERS is expecting this addition in the regulatory modes of the other software tools by its next version update.

This new information assists users to see how the thermal shell of their design is expected to perform with regards to air infiltration. Guidance will be provided in updated versions of the NatHERS Technical Note and Handbook in the coming months. 

Assessors with any urgent technical queries regarding the update can email the team. 

Further details will be updated on the website and in future newsletters. 

NatHERS and CSIRO begin Australia’s biggest apartment energy study

NatHERS is partnering with CSIRO on an important apartment energy study which aims to help make high-rise living more comfortable, energy efficient and sustainable in the future. 

The study, with a sample size of 430 households, will be the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind in Australia. Findings from the research will help shape future apartment design, energy policies, and energy-saving technologies. 

Smart devices will be installed in apartments that will measure real-time data revealing residents’ behaviours such as: 

  • daily cooking habits  
  • appliance usage 
  • air quality and temperature control  
  • opening and closing of windows. 

The research team is looking for both owner occupants and renters from a range of locations including Melbourne, Sydney, south-east Queensland and Darwin.   

Visit the CSIRO Apartment Energy Behaviour Study and Apartment Energy Behaviour Study: FAQ page for more information. 

Hero Software acquired by Software Combined Group

The NatHERS tool provider Hero Software has recently been acquired by the Sydney based software aggregator Software Combined Group. Hero Software and Software Combined have advised that the move will have no significant impacts on Hero users, its server, database, certificate portal or infrastructure. 

See an update from Hero Software and read more from Software Combined here. 

Resources for NCC 2022