m) Appoint new TAC members TAC meeting organised NA New TAC members appointed in October 2015. Next round of appointments proposed for October 2017. Accreditation of rating tools Strategic Goal: The consistency of NatHERS accredited tools with the benchmark software will be improved and all updates of software will be managed in a way that provides certainty and sufficient time to adjust for software providers, assessors and the housing industry. Key Achievements Software Updates – To remain current with recent science and respond to the needs of new technology, NatHERS software must maintain a cycle of continuous development. Substantial progress was made during 2015-16 to update the climate files and fix bugs. Action Deliverable Participants Status a) Review and update the NatHERS Software Accreditation Protocol to provide certainty to software developers and about the process for the updating and release of NatHERS accredited tools New Protocol published on the NatHERS website NA EEAT Development of the new Software Accreditation Protocol extended into 2016-17 to incorporate new directives arising from the Governance Review. b) Implement clear consultation times to introduce new versions or changes to the NatHERS tools. New Protocol includes agreed consultation timeframes. NA EEAT Timeframes for consultation will be detailed in the updated Software Accreditation Protocol in 2016-17. c) Release dates for software to align with the NCC dates, with a standard transition period. Software timing dates and transition periods stated in the Protocol. NA EEAT ABCB Discussions commenced with stakeholders in on aligning Chenath updates with NCC 2019. These processes will be further defined in 2016-17. d) Plan next update of software to include: new climate files and other changes as agreed by the Steering Committee. New update of NatHERS software implemented. NA EEAT TAC ABCB Climate files update work progressed. New project prioritisation list drafted and due to be approved by October 2016, followed by implementation. e) Develop a standard procedure and timetable for review and updating of the Technical Notes, and provide a suitable notice period to assessors of when changes will come into effect. Procedure and Timetable developed in alignment with the Software Accreditation Protocol NA EEAT TAC Procedure and Timetable scheduled for development after updated Software Accreditation Protocol established.
Encouraging research and development Strategic Goal: The benchmark software and the accredited software tools will have improved functionality and ability to accurately model building thermal performance. Key Achievements: Research Collaboration – Maintaining the currency of the NatHERS software with new science and materials, and ensuring existing assumptions are robust, is essential to maintaining its efficacy as a modelling tool. Through 2015-16 the NatHERS Administrator worked on activities that improved the efficacy of the software tools, and engaged through the TAC and in collaboration with the CRCLCL to ensure the latest information has been included. The Technical Advisory Committee developed and prioritised a list of NatHERS software updates in 2015-16. This list is being used as a basis for the forward work plan and the 2019 National Construction Code updates. Action Deliverable Participants Status a) Review the universal assessment certificate in response to the experience of assessors and certifiers and the results of NEEBP phase 2 projects. Amendments to the assessment certificate format if required. NA EEAT AAOs Software providers NEEBP Phase 2 commenced and paper released. Additional work on NEEBP during 2016-17 will be used to inform a review of the certificate. b) Encourage consistency in use of software tools by all assessors through investigating how internal rule and logic checks and help information from the Technical Notes can be incorporated into the software. Work with software providers to see what is viable. Incorporate any changes in the next version of NatHERS tools. NA TAC Software providers Due to a change in priorities this activity was not progressed in It remains on the forward work plan. c) Obtain agreement with CSIRO regarding the maintenance and further development of the Chenath engine. New MOU between the NatHERS Administrator and CSIRO NA CSIRO Significant progress was made in 2015-16 on the CSIRO/NatHERS agreement. This will be finalised in 2016-17. d) Research on the impacts to ratings from proposed expansion of the number of climate zones and update of climate files (and inform if a formal RIS is necessary) Preliminary Impact Analysis undertaken and presented to EEAT. NA EEAT EWG CSIRO Preliminary analysis performed in 2015 and reported to EEAT in March 2016, but inconclusive results led to a call for an extension of research which now continues. e) Look at design features and software settings for apartments as a growing sector of residential building Incorporated in the work program of the TAC NA TAC Included in list of priorities for TAC during 2016-17.
b) Evaluate the effectiveness of the Certificate IV in association with relevant qualification bodies and including active engagement from the assessor industry Reform of the Certificate IV where necessary to better match competency requirements with industry needs. NA EEAT AAOs TAC RTOs A review of Certificate IV is scheduled to take place in early 2017. Affected stakeholders will be consulted to inform the terms of the review. c) Review the findings and develop strategies to address issues related to NatHERS that were raised in the National Energy Efficient Building Project phase one report and the phase two projects. Paper presented to the EEAT NA South Australia EEAT ABCB AAOs Complete. NEEBP phase one recommendations supported the Review of NatHERS Governance Arrangements, reviewing the information provided on the Universal Certificate (expected in 2016-17) and improving communications to address misconceptions about NatHERS. No specific NatHERS recommendations resulted from NEEBP Phase 2. d) Conduct another assessor benchmark study to measure level of assessor skills and capability and any change since the 2014 study. Benchmark study undertaken and results reported to EEAT NA AAOs Discussions with stakeholders has indicated that a follow benchmark study is not supported in the short term. The NatHERS Administrator is considering better ways to track and improve assessor skills and capability. e) Investigate options to do QA reviews of assessments done by non-accredited assessors (e.g. through the software portals) Paper presented to the EEAT NA EEAT Software providers Due to a change in priorities this activity was not progressed in It remains on the forward workplan. f) Complete current update of the AAO Protocol New version of the AAO Protocol released on website NA AAOs Complete. Update to AAO protocol published on NatHERS website in March 2016. g) Investigate means for electronic linking of AAO assessor accreditation details and QA requirements with NatHERS software portals Automatic checking of assessor accreditation validity and level 1 QA of ratings when certificates NA AAOs Software Providers Due to a change in priorities this activity was not progressed in It remains on the forward workplan.
produced by software portals h) Review the requirements for continuing professional development (CPD) to ensure they are contributing fully to improving assessor skills Update of AAO Protocol with revised CPD requirements NA AAOs A new Protocol for AAOs came into effect in July 2016. The NatHERS Administrator will commence discussions with AAOs on CPD in 2016-17. Monitoring and evaluation Strategic Goal: Mechanisms will be put in place to monitor and evaluate the scheme, including the use of the software, the validity of ratings and performance of assessors. Key Achievements: Reporting Framework – The establishment of a clear and consistent set of performance measures is necessary to maintaining a clear view of the operation of the NatHERS Administrator and the overall success of the Scheme in achieving its goals. An Annual Report has been completed, the Strategic Plan revised and KPIs established. These will be reviewed and monitored annually. Action Deliverable Participants Status Undertake a scoping study into the development of a national ratings dataset, to provide jurisdictions and stakeholders with and comprehensive information on new dwellings being constructed around Australia. Data management Issues paper for consideration by EEAT NA EEAT Software providers AAOs Draft Issues paper produced in late 2015, scheduled for completion in 2016-2017 (and will need to incorporate data requirements to report on the final version of KPIs). Develop a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure scheme effectiveness and administration. KPIs developed NA EEAT Draft KPIs sent for comment to key stakeholders in August 2016, scheduled to be finalised in October 2016. Publish an annual report on the outcomes of NatHERS against the KPIs and including statistics from software providers and AAOs. Annual report published on website NA EEAT Complete. Annual Report scheduled to be published in October 2016.