Software updates

The NCC 2022 energy efficiency changes are being adopted from 1 May 2023, with a transition period to 1 October 2023. 

The changes will require updates to all NatHERS tools and a phased approach has commenced to reaccredit tools.

Assessors don’t need to wait for the NatHERS software tools to be formally accredited to see the benefits of updates and new inclusions. You can test designs right now and during the NCC transition period while tools become accredited.

There are endorsed beta tools to show the effects of new climate files and starbands and AccuRate Home and pilot tools with appliance modules to help you become familiar with undertaking Whole of Home assessments.

Get ready for NCC 2022 with these tools

AccuRate Home (benchmark software tool)

AccuRate Home will replace AccuRate Sustainability and includes new features and data sets to align with the NCC 2022 changes. These include the thermal bridging changes for steel-framed dwellings and updated heating and cooling load limits. 

AccuRate Home can now be used to produce ratings for all new dwellings.

The AccuRate Home Conditional accreditation means the tool can model all dwellings for regulatory purposes but can’t generate certificates. Once certificates are finalised AccuRate Home will meet the requirements and be fully accredited, this is expected in April.

Test the NatHERS thermal (building shell) performance changes

HERO, BERS Pro and FirstRate5 have released beta versions for NatHERS thermal assessments so users can test the effects of the new climate files and updated starbands. Beta versions are not yet fully accredited and cannot be used for regulatory purposes, but results from testing will be indicative of the ratings generated by fully accredited software. 

The NatHERS Administrator has conducted preliminary quality checks on the following Beta versions of software tools. These do not yet include the NCC 2022 thermal bridging changes for steel-framed dwellings. Their inclusion of the updated heating and cooling load limits are noted below.

  • BERS Pro Release v4.4.1.6 BETA 5 (heating and cooling load limits will be incorporated in subsequent release)
  • HERO (updated heating and cooling load limits will be incorporated in subsequent release)
  • FirstRate5 (includes updated heating and cooling load limits )

As an interim approach for beta tools that do not yet have the updated load limits, we recommend looking at the ABCB’s 'NatHERS Heating and Cooling Load Limits 2022'. As an interim approach for beta tools that do not have the thermal bridging changes, see the Thermal Bridging report for the expected star rating impacts for thermal bridging on homes in different locations.

Learn more about Whole of Home assessments (including major fixtures and appliances)

NatHERS has been expanded to include a new Whole of Home assessments and rating requirements to support the updated NCC 2022 residential energy efficiency provisions. To assist you to better understand and apply the Whole of Home requirements, three tools are now available:

  • CSIRO’s AccuRate Home tool.
  • The ABCB’s easy-to-use NCC Whole-of-Home Calculator (beta version) developed for the Deemed-To-Satisfy (DTS) elemental pathway compliance option. Getting a pass in the ABCB calculator is equivalent to a score of at least 60 for class 1 buildings and 50 for class 2 and class 4 part of buildings in NatHERS Whole of Home tools.
  • Sustainability Victoria’s First Rate5 Whole-of-Home Pilot Tool includes all the key modules for a Whole-of-Home assessment method. The tool will calculate annual energy use, costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Note this tool is for testing purposes only and cannot be used for regulatory purposes.

Conducting a NatHERS assessment during the transition to NCC 2022

Between 1 May 2023 and 30 September 2023

Between 1 May 2023 and 30 September 2023, assessors have the choice of which version of the NCC they wish to comply with (see Option 1 and 2 below). However, state and territory variations may apply where jurisdictions require assessors to use specific versions of the NCC. Assessors performing assessments to meet the NSW BASIX thermal performance standards must continue to use v3.21 software until 30 September 2023. If in doubt about which NCC version to use, check with your local building regulatory authority.

Option 1: Compliance with NCC 2019

If you choose to comply with NCC 2019, you must use:

  • Accredited software based on Chenath Engine v3.21
  • Thermal only NatHERS Certificates
  • NatHERS Technical Note Version June 2019
  • Heating and cooling load limits of ABCB Standard 2019.1
  • Additional requirements for apartments detailed in clause J0.2 of the NCC 2019 Volume One
  • Additional requirements for houses detailed in subclause 3.12.0(a)(i) of the NCC 2019 Volume Two.

Option 2: Compliance with NCC 2022

If you choose to comply with NCC 2022, you must use:

  • Accredited software based on Chenath Engine v3.22, when it becomes available 
  • The new NatHERS Certificate featuring the Whole of Home rating
  • NatHERS Technical Note Version September 2022
  • Heating and cooling load limits of ABCB Standard 2022.1
  • Additional thermal and Whole of Home requirements for apartments detailed in Section J2D2 of NCC 2022 Volume One
  • Additional thermal requirements and Whole of Home requirements for houses detailed in Specification 42 of the NCC 2022 Volume Two

From 1 October 2023 onwards

From 1 October 2023 Chenath v3.21 software versions must not be used for demonstrating compliance to the NCC NatHERS pathway, unless a written request from the relevant regulatory authority has been obtained. Only accredited software based on Chenath Engine v3.22 is allowed.

By 1 October 2023, and as early as 1 May 2023, as software tools become accredited, regulatory authorities will be able to identify compliant NatHERS Software by the use of the new NatHERS Certificate featuring the Whole of Home rating sections.