Publications

This report covers results from a recent study by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) investigating the air infiltration rates achieved by newly constructed houses and apartments in five Australian capital cities. The study compared some of these results to the assumed air infiltration rates calculated in the NatHERS software. It also identified air leakage points in each dwelling and tested the specific flow rates for some of these leakage points. The report provides recommendations for some of the common performance problems found in Australian homes. 

The study was supported and funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Air Infiltration of New Dwellings in Australia Report (PDF)

The documents below detail the NatHERS assurance strategy for existing homes: 

• Assurance Strategy Presentation PDF / PPT
• Assurance Strategy Draft PDF / DOCX

Keen to provide feedback?

Download and complete a stakeholder response form below  and submit via email to the NatHERS Admin inbox admin@nathers.gov.au. 

Your response is required by 5pm AEST on 30 August 2024

Assurance Strategy stakeholder response form 

Visit the NatHERS Expansion page to find out more about the existing homes consultation process and supporting webinars.  

The documents below detail the accreditation requirements for existing home assessors (including a draft code of practice), as well as the proposed complaints management policy: 

• Assessor Accreditation Presentation  PDF / PPT
• Assessor Code of Practice Draft  PDF / DOCX
• Complaint Management Policy Draft  PDF / DOCX

Keen to provide feedback?

Download and complete a stakeholder response form below and submit via email to the NatHERS Admin inbox admin@nathers.gov.au. 

Your Response is required by 5pm AEST on 30 August 2024.

Assessor Accreditation stakeholder response form

Visit the NatHERS Expansion page to find out more about the existing homes consultation process and supporting webinars.  

A list of the current material properties used in NatHERS software tools can be viewed in the link below.

Material Properties Used in NatHERS Software Tools - Updated August 2024

The below document outlines the process for updating the NatHERS material properties library to include new building materials in NatHERS Software.

New materials in NatHERS software process - Updated June 2020

If you need advice or cannot find the document you are looking for, please email: admin@nathers.gov.au 

This page focuses on troubleshooting issues relating to regulatory home energy assessments for NCC 2022. This information is to help assessors better understand the updated energy efficiency requirements including the addition of the new Whole of Home rating, and the increase to a 7-star minimum thermal rating. 

• NCC 2022 – Troubleshooting Q&As (last updated 11 June 2024).   

If you can't find the answer to your question here, please see: 

• The Assessor Toolkit page - a range of useful links and documents to support assessors.
• The Assessor Handbook - a step-by-step guide to a NatHERS home energy assessment.
• General information on NatHERS on the FAQs page.

Still not what you're looking for? Please send specific technical questions to the technical team: admin@nathers.gov.au 

Remember to sign up for our NatHERS newsletter to keep up to date with all the latest industry news!

Spreadsheet listing NatHERS Climate Zones by postcode - aligns with the climate zones displayed in NatHERS Accredited Software tools.

• NatHERS Climate Zone Postcodes [csv] - Updated April 2024
• NatHERS Climate Zone Postcodes [pdf] - Updated April 2024

The NatHERS Compliance and Enforcement Framework (Ratings for New Homes) describes how we manage risks of assessor error, non-compliance, or misconduct.  It describes how we make rules and decisions relating to compliance, who has roles and responsibilities for compliance and what they are, and the consequences for non-compliance.  A summary of key obligations is included.

• View current NatHERS Compliance and Enforcement Framework - PDF 
• View current NatHERS Compliance and Enforcement Framework - Docx 

The Technical Note provides a standardised approach to rating a dwelling. It details the requirements that must be followed for a NatHERS assessment in regulation mode when demonstrating compliance with the NCC.

NatHERS Technical Note, 01 May 2024 - Current

This version is for use with software using Chenath engine V3.22 and V3.23 only. Use the current version to comply to NCC 2022 requirements. 

NatHERS Technical Note, 23 October 2023 - Superseded

This version is for use with software using Chenath engine V3.22 and V3.23 only.

NatHERS Technical Note, 29 September 2023 - Superseded

This version is for use with software using Chenath engine V3.22 and V3.23 only.

NatHERS Technical Note, 1 September 2022 - Superseded

This version is for use with software using Chenath engine V3.22 only.

NatHERS Technical Note, 1 June 2019 - Superseded

This version is for use with software using Chenath engine V3.21 only. Use the June 2019 version to comply to NCC2019 requirements.

NatHERS Technical Note, 1 May 2019 - superseded

This version is for use with software using Chenath engine V3.21 only.

NatHERS Technical Note V1.2, 1 October 2014 - superseded

This version is for use with software using Chenath engine V3.13 only. See also: 

• Zoning guide for the Technical Note 1.2 (2014) 
• Technical Note 1.2 Assessor Questions and Answers

NatHERS Technical Note V1.1, 2013, and Addendum 1.2013 - superseded

The NatHERS Assessor Handbook has been developed by the NatHERS Administrator in conjunction with industry experts.

It is designed to help assessors navigate the NatHERS assessment process, by describing how assessments are to be conducted, including the mandatory and recommended steps of the process.

The handbook provides additional guidance to support the NatHERS Technical Note. It presents information that can assist assessors, regardless of which NatHERS accredited software tool is used. For guidance on undertaking activities in a specific software assessment tool, assessors should contact their software tool provider or consult their relevant software tool manual. 

The Whole of Home Guidance Note and Thermal Bridging Guidance Note have been incorporated into the current version of the NatHERS Assessor Handbook. Use the current version to comply to NCC 2022 requirements. 

• View the current NatHERS Assessor Handbook - PDF (published 16 April 2024)
• View the current NatHERS Assessor Handbook - Word DOCX (published 16 April 2024) 

Previous version:

Use the June 2019 version to comply with NCC 2019 requirements.

• NatHERS Assessor Handbook June 2019 PDF Superseded 
• NatHERS Assessor Handbook June 2019 Doc Superseded