BCA 2008 by Electronic Blueprint - Energy efficiency of class 7, 8 and 9b buildings

The ABCB (Australian Building Codes Board) has posted on their website for comment, the proposed amendments to the BCA (Building Code of Australia Volumes 1 and 2), to be published 1 May 2008. This article draws attention to one issue - Clarification of the energy efficiency design of Class 7, 8 and 9b Buildings.

When a designer is using BCA Volume 1 Table J1.5 (b) to select a form of construction to meet the energy saving requirements for external walls of Class 7, 8 or 9b buildings, there is currently nothing in that table to indicate that J1.1 (a) limits its application to a Class 7, 8 or 9b building that has a conditioned space. It has been reported that this is leading to some confusion and incorrect assumptions regarding the requirements. The proposed amendment is to add a note to Table J1.5 (b), stating:

Note: Refer to J1.1 for the limitations on the application of Table J1.5 b for atriums, solariums and Class 7, 8 and 9b buildings that do not have conditioned spaces.