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From 1 February 2006, Accredited Assessors are listed on a newly created
National Assessor Register. This Register and the accreditation of Western
Australian assessors is now administered by the Association of Building
Sustainability Assessors (ABSA) in line with SEDO policy. The Sustainable
Energy Development Office recognises ABSA Accredited Assessors and ABSA
Certificates for compliance with the BCA Energy Efficiency requirements
in Western Australia. Accredited Assessor Rating Certificates will be
bear the ABSA stamp as shown below.
To find an accredited assessor go to:
http://www.absa.net.au/findass/find.aspx
Building surveyors and other interested parties may check the authenticity
of Assessor Rating Certificates on-line at:
http://www.absa.net.au/checkass/check.aspx
Download Guide
to Council Staff (PDF 604 KB) and Need
Help with your energy rating (PDF 61 KB).
Why is it prudent for Local Authorities to accept ratings from
Accredited Residential Thermal Performance Assessors?
The Building Code of Australia (BCA) requires that Local Building Approval
Authorities (Building Surveyors at Local Councils) obtain evidence that
a design meets a Performance Requirement or a Deemed to Satisfy Provision
of the Energy Efficiency Regulations. This evidence may be in the form
of a certificate from an appropriately qualified person. The Sustainable
Energy Development Office defines an 'appropriately qualified person'
as an Accredited Residential Thermal Performance Assessor who is listed
on the newly established National Assessor Register.
National Assessor Register
The National Assessor Register has been established by the National Framework
for Energy Efficiency, which is a Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
agreement between all Australian States and Territories and aims to deliver
significant improvements in energy efficiency through coordinated action
by federal, state and territory government agencies. The specific aims
of the National Framework as it relates to the energy efficiency of residential
buildings are to:
- Launch the second generation NatHERS tool, AccuRate version 1.0
- Establish a national approach to residential thermal performance
assessor registration, and
- Establish a national training framework and course for residential
thermal performance assessors.
The Sustainable Energy Development Office is the agency that is responsible
for delivering energy efficiency policy in Western Australia, including
Stage One of the National Framework. The Sustainable Energy Development
Office has agreed that national administration of the Register be vested
in the Australian Greenhouse Office, with funding for the establishment
of the Register being provided by all States and Territories. Through the
National Framework, the Australian Greenhouse Office has engaged the Association
of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA) to administer the Register.
Eligibility for listing on the National Assessor Register
The Register identifies those Assessors who are members of a body of professional
sustainability practitioners that deliver a quality-assured service to improve
the sustainability of our built environment. Assessors shall only be eligible
for listing on the National Assessor Register if they:
- Complete the 'Short Course in Building Thermal Performance (Residential)'
- Are accredited by an approved accrediting body
- Practice under an approved Code of Conduct
- Operate under a national protocol for residential thermal performance
assessments
- Maintain software competency
- Be subjected to annual audit of residential assessments
- Participate in a Continuing Professional Development scheme for residential
thermal performance assessors
- Take out Insurance for Professional Indemnity.
Assessor Training Course
The 'Short course in Building Thermal Performance (Residential)' has been
established for residential thermal performance assessors under the National
Framework. It is comprised of three parts:
- Design Theory (12 hours)
- 2nd Generation Software (16 hours)
- Professional Practice (4 hours).
The Sustainable Energy Development Office has agreed that ownership and
national administration of the course be vested in the Australian Greenhouse
Office. Accordingly a Registered Training Organization may apply to the
Australian Greenhouse Office for permission to teach the course and will
require to provide evidence of capability before the training organization
is permitted to deliver the course of training.
Approved Accrediting Body
ABSA is the only organization that has demonstrated the capacity to undertake
the task of accreditation of residential thermal performance assessors in
accordance with the aims of the National Framework. Accordingly, ABSA administers
the accreditation of Western Australian assessors under agreement with the
Sustainable Energy Development Office. The Sustainable Energy Development
Office retains policy control of residential thermal performance assessment.
Code of Conduct
Members of ABSA operate under a Code of Conduct that is approved by the
Sustainable Energy Development Office.
Maintenance of software competency
Members of the Association of Building Sustainability Assessors are required
to complete two ratings per year in order to maintain competency in the
use of the software, in accordance with the Sustainable Energy Development
Office policy.
Annual Audit
The accuracy of information input into thermal performance software is critical
for the output to be valid. Without regular audits, assessors would otherwise
remain unchecked, quality assurance could be subject to question, and confidence
in the scheme lowered.
In line with the National Framework, the Sustainable Energy Development
Office requires that assessments completed by accredited assessors be audited
on a regular basis. To meet this policy, ABSA requires its members to submit
to a random audit of an assessment that was made in the previous year. ABSA
audits aim to check:
- Correct interpretation of documents
- Correct data entry
- Correct application of national protocols
- That the assessor is conducting ratings in accordance with the Code of Conduct.
On-going participation in a Continuing Professional Development scheme for residential thermal performance assessors
The Sustainable Energy Development Office conducts on-going Continuing Professional Development workshops for residential thermal performance Assessors who operate in Western Australia. The Sustainable Energy Development Office is expected to retain this role until ABSA has established a scheme that is approved by the Sustainable Energy Development Office and the National Framework for Energy Efficiency.
Insurance for Professional Indemnity
In line with the National Framework agreement, the Sustainable Energy Development
Office requires that all Accredited Assessors take out adequate Professional
Indemnity insurance to indemnify themselves for their role as an accredited
assessor. It is the responsibility of the assessor to ensure adequate insurance
advice is sought, and that the insurance purchased covers the full extent
of works and services that an assessor undertakes.
Assessors who already have Professional Indemnity cover that specifies cover
for residential thermal performance assessment may be eligible to be registered
on the National Assessor Register. All other assessors would be required
to take out appropriate insurance cover to be eligible for listing.
Approved software tools
The second generation house energy rating tool AccuRate is approved
for use in Western Australia. Other second generation tools (BERS Pro
and FirstRate5) are expected to be approved for use on completion
of satisfactory testing process. Software is available for purchase by anyone
in the building industry or the general public. Until all assessors have
been upgraded to new second generation software, the earlier FirstRate
version 4.05a remains a BCA approved software tool. |
