Deemed To Satisfy For 6-star - Lighting, Electrical, Insulation...

The release of BCA 2011, in May of this year, has brought with it a new Deemed to Satisfy (DTS) approach to energy efficiency compliance. All new homes, additions and alterations must now achieve a 6-Star energy rating, and also satisfy a host of other DTS requirements which have been summarised below.

Lighting & Electrical
- Lighting must have a maximum power density of 5 W/m within a house; 4 W/m on verandas or balcony's; and 3 W/m in a garage or shed
- Where lamps are used that have a transformer or ballast, the transformer or ballast must be of the electric type
- Halogen lamps must be separately switched from fluorescent lamps
- Outdoor lighting must be controlled by a daylight sensor, or have at least 40 Lumens/W
- Electric resistance space heating systems that serve more than one room must have:
- separate isolating switches for each room
- separate temperature controller and time switch for each group of rooms with common heating needs (e.g. bedrooms and bathrooms)
- maximum power loads below 110 W/m for living areas, and 150 W/m for bathrooms

Building Fabric
- Insulation must be installed correctly and to manufacturers specifications e.g. No gaps, bulk insulation not compressed etc.
- R0.2 thermal breaks must be installed where metal framing is used, and connects directly to metal roofing or lightweight external wall cladding, if;
i) There is no internal lining, or;
ii) The internal lining is fixed directly to the same metal framing
- Additional ceiling insulation will be required where many recessed downlights and/or exhaust fans are used. A 200m house would permit, without needing extra insulation:
- 20 recessed downlights (50mm clearance)
- 4 exhaust fans
- If a concrete slab-on-ground is heated, R1.0 insulation must be installed around the vertical edge of its perimeter

Building Sealing
- Chimneys and flues must be fitted with dampers
- External windows, doors and roof lights serving habitable rooms must be sealed
- Exhaust fans and evaporative coolers serving habitable rooms must be self-sealing
- Roofs, walls, and floors that are part of the external fabric must be constructed to minimise air leakage

Services
- Central heating water piping, and heating and cooling ductwork, that is not within a conditioned room must be insulated and protected from weather
- Heating for a swimming pool must be by solar and not boosted by electric resistance heating
- Heating for a spa pool with a capacity of 680 L or more must be by a solar heater, gas heater or a heat pump
- Circulation pumps and heaters must be controlled with time switches and push buttons