After multiple delays, we have now received confirmation by NatHERS that new modelling software and accompanying protocols will come into effect as of 1 May 2016. The implications of this change are wide-ranging and it is our intention to make this transition as seamless as possible for our clients.

The key changes are:

• Additional fees will apply from 1 May 2016.  Any job completed after 1 May will incur these fees regardless of when it was started. Due to changes in the funding model to the CSIRO (who are responsible for the creation and maintenance of our modelling software) software providers now charged certification fees, the fees for BERS Pro are $20 per dwelling/unit. These fees are not charged by us, they are charged by the software providers and apply equally to all assessors.
• NatHERS have introduced a new Universal Certificate. This will mean that the documentation provided back to you will change and the process of certification is now more detailed and time-consuming.
• 88 New default windows values have been introduced and they are now the only window values that can have a tolerance (+/- 5%) on their solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). If specific manufacturer’s values are modelled the built product values will need to match exactly.

These changes were announced almost two years ago but until this week we could not be confident of their implementation. However, during this time, we have been preparing and developing systems to transition with minimal impact to our clients.

We are confident in our ability to guide you through this change and, as always, we will strive to deliver a friendly, informative, efficient and knowledgeable service that we pride ourselves on.

If you would like more information please feel free to call us on (02) 9970 6181.