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BASIX assessment

Guide for certifiers and councils: BASIX pre-July transitional arrangements

BASIX energy targets increased on 1 July 2017

Energy targets for houses and units increased on 1 July 2017. Energy settings for thermal comfort, heating and cooling also changed. For more information on these changes, please see the BASIX Energy Target Changes - Frequently Asked Questions.

The new targets do not apply to

  • Projects that already have been issued with a planning consent (DA or CDC) that includes as a prescribed condition of consent a valid BASIX certificated issued before 1 July 2017,
  • Projects lodged with the consent authority prior to 1 July 2017 (or up to 30 September 2017 for a certificate issued up to 30 June 2017),
  • Projects that are able to meet the eligibility criteria for the transitional arrangements outlined below.

The transitional arrangements were put in place to ensure new home buyers who have already committed to a particular home design were not disadvantaged by the introduction of the new targets.

What are the eligibility criteria of the pre-July transitional arrangements?

The transitional arrangements mean that some BASIX certificates have been issued after 1 July 2017 that still use the pre-July targets.

There are three requirements for eligibility under the transitional arrangements;

  1. evidence of a home building contract having been signed on or before 31 December 2017;
  2. the value of the contract is not more $1.5 million; and
  3. any BASIX certificate issued under these arrangements is lodged with the consent authority within the three-month validity period from date of issue, but in any case, no later than 31 March 2018.

These transitional arrangements do not apply to owner-builder projects or display homes.

Further information on the eligibility criteria is published here.

How can certifiers tell if a certificate has been issued using the pre-July transitional arrangements?

There are two types of certificates that may be issued after 30 June 2017 using the ‘pre-July’ energy targets. These certificates are explained below:

  1. Certificates issued following an application made directly to the Department of Planning.


    Certificates issued following an application made directly to the Department of Planning have no distinguishing notation other than being issued after 30 June 2017 and the software version number Version 2.3/Casuarina_3_5_x in the footer of the certificate. An example is shown in appendix A. For these certificates, the Department has obtained a copy of an eligible contract or pre-contract agreement from the applicant.

  2. Certificates issued following an application made through the BASIX online assessment tool (this option has been available since 6 October 2017).


    Certificates issued following an application made through the BASIX online assessment tool have a special notation on the front page. Further, these certificates include a summary of the building contract details on the last page as shown in the example certificate below. For these certificates, the applicant is required to upload a copy of the eligible contract (or pre-contract agreement) to the BASIX website.

Checking of the documentary evidence required to access the pre-July 2017 targets

Clause 164A of the EP&A Regulation 2000 requires a DA, CDC or CC for a BASIX affected development to be accompanied by a BASIX Certificate and relevant accompanying documents. In accordance with Clause 97A and 136D of the EP&A Regulation, commitments listed on a BASIX certificate are prescribed as a condition of consent.

Certifiers and council assessment officers are advised to test the validity of BASIX certificates issued under the pre-July transitional arrangements in determining whether the application is properly made.

To assist with this process, the Department has put into place a number of provisions that allow council assessment staff and certifiers to check eligibility of applicants with the requirements of the transitional arrangements.

  • Certificates issued through the online application process are issued on condition that the certificate is accompanied by a building contract. Where the online application was made on the basis of an eligible pre-contract agreement, an eligible building contract meeting the requirements of the BASIX definition must be provided to the consent authority prior to the issue of a DA or CDC.
  • For applications made through the online application process, council assessment staff and certifiers are able to view contract documents uploaded to the BASIX website through the BASIX admin search function. A guide to this process is shown below.
  • For pre-July applications made directly to the Department, the Department has checked the initial eligibility of the application and holds a copy of the building contact or pre-contract agreement on file. Council staff or certifiers can request a copy of documents lodged with the Department by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Notwithstanding, a complying building contract should still be attached to the application for a DA or CDC.

Amendments to a building contract after a BASIX Certificate has been issued under the transitional arrangements

If the applicant has amended the building contract after a copy was uploaded to the BASIX website or provided by email to the Department such that the project no longer meets the eligibility criteria a new BASIX certificate will be required using the BASIX energy targets which are applicable from 1 July 2017.

One such amendment could be, for example, that the project is now valued at more than $1.5 million.

Example of BASIX Certificate using the pre-July targets generated following application to the Department

1. Front Page
example certificate1 preJulyClick image for larger view

 

 

Example of BASIX Certificate using the pre-July targets generated via the online application

2. Front page
example certificate2 preJulyClick image for a larger view

3. Last Page

Example of last page of BASIX Certificate using the pre-July targets generated via the online application Click image for larger view

Guide to searching Building Contract documents uploaded to the BASIX Website

1. Use the BASIX Certificate search function to locate the certificate subject to review.

image of using search function to locate the certificate subjectClick image for larger view

2. Click on ‘show’ under the ‘view details’ heading to view further information.

image of BASIX search function - view details Click image for larger view

3. Click on the pdf icon adjacent to the ‘Contract’ heading to view the contract.

Image of where to click on the pdf icon adjacent to the ‘Contract’ heading to view the contractClick image for a larger view

Guide: Providing building contract details

Project type

Select either a single dwelling project, or a multiple dwelling project, which allows primary and secondary dwellings or dwellings under dual occupancy arrangements to be specified.

Create project as

When creating a copy of an existing project using a certificate number, note that:

  • The certificate of the project to be copied must be generated before 1 July 2017.
  • The certificate must be in the same account (that is, under the same login).

Project details

  • Value of contract (or fee for service) cannot be more than $1.5 million (including GST).
  • Deposit paid (or service fee amount) must be specified.
  • Date signed: the qualifying building contract must be signed and dated no later than 31 December 2017.
  • Use the local government areas before council amalgamations.

Upload your building contract

Your application must be accompanied by a copy of a signed building contract or signed pre-contract agreement. You will be asked to upload the document on the information review page.

The uploaded document must be in PDF format, not exceeding 10MB in size and contain the following information:

  • name of home purchaser(s) and current address;
  • name of builder and licence number;
  • site address, lot number and DP (if unregistered state 'proposed lot');
  • contract price;
  • amount of deposit paid;
  • signatures of both the builder and home owner;
  • date signed.

Copies of plans and specifications are not required. Since only one file can be uploaded, please combine multiple pages into a single PDF file.

Information sheet - Transitional arrangements

The BASIX energy targets increased on 1 July 2017

Energy targets for houses and units increased on 1 July 2017. Energy settings for thermal comfort, heating and cooling have also changed.

The new energy targets do not apply to projects that:

  • have already been lodged with Council or an accredited certifier for approval;
  • have already gained planning consent either a DA or CDC; or
  • to houses and residential units currently under construction.

View the updated BASIX energy target zones map here.

View the updated thermal comfort heating and cooling caps here.

For more information on these changes and what they mean for you, please see the BASIX Energy Target Changes - Frequently Asked Questions.

Transitional arrangements for people who have entered into a building contract (or other form of pre-contract agreement) for a new home that was designed to meet pre-July 2017 BASIX energy targets

NSW Government is aware that some people may have entered into a contract (or other form of agreement) for a new home that was designed to meet the pre-July 2017 BASIX energy targets.

Implementing the new BASIX energy targets may require a more energy efficient design and/or products with higher energy efficiency ratings to be used. It may, as a result, be costly to retrofit these designs to meet the new targets.

Consequently, transitional arrangements were put in place until 31 December 2017 to ensure purchasers of new homes were not unduly disadvantaged by the changes. 

31 December 2017 signals the end for the transitional period for the BASIX energy targets

The lower energy targets and thermal comfort provisions that applied before 1 July 2017 are no longer available. All new homes and units are now subject to the energy targets and thermal comfort provisions introduced on 1 July 2017.

Projects created using the pre-July targets under the transitional arrangements need to be finalised and the BASIX certificate will need to be lodged with the consent authority within 3 months of date of issue, but no later than 31 March 2018.

Amendments to a building contract AFTER a BASIX Certificate has been issued under the transitional arrangements

In order to be eligible for the transitional arrangements, home buyers needed to have signed a building contract before 31 December 2017. If your project was created in BASIX under the transitional arrangements but a contract was not signed by this date, your project will now be revised and will need to meet the higher targets that were introduced on 1 July 2017.

However, in cases where the BASIX certificate has been generated and lodged with the consent authority (before 31 March 2018) revisions can still be made using the pre-July targets. BASIX certificates generated using the pre-July targets that are subject to an existing DA or CDC can also be revised using the same targets. 

BASIX targets

BASIX sets sustainability targets for water and energy as well as minimum performance levels for the thermal comfort of the proposed development.

The targets are expressed as a percentage saving against the NSW benchmark. While the benchmark is constant across NSW, the targets are varied to suit regional climates and can be amended over time to achieve State objectives for water and greenhouse gas savings. Variable targets that recognise differences in local conditions (such as rainfall, soil type, and evaporation rates) and different housing types (from single detached houses to high-rise apartment buildings) ensures equity across NSW without placing an excessive cost burden on dwellings in certain regions.

What are the targets?

For coastal NSW the targets for single dwellings are typically:

  • 40% reduction in potable water consumption
  • 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

For all NSW regional targets and housing types, view the energy target map and water target map.

BASIX also sets minimum performance levels, or ‘caps’, for the thermal performance and comfort of the dwelling, expressed as the annual amount of energy required to heat and cool the dwelling (MJ/m2/year).

A full list of the heating and cooling caps can be viewed in the Thermal Comfort Protocol

BASIX assessment

Before lodging plans with council a BASIX assessment will need to be completed.

Where can I complete a BASIX assessment?

BASIX assessments are conducted online using the BASIX assessment tool which is accessible from the BASIX website.

How does the assessment work?

The BASIX assessment will measure your proposed development for sustainability against BASIX targets that are based on the NSW home benchmark average.

Once your design has complied with BASIX a BASIX certificate can be printed and attached to your development application for submission to council or certifying authority.

If your proposed design does not comply with BASIX due to conflicts with heritage controls or because it uses a new technology not recognised by BASIX, an alternative assessment can be requested.

Subcategories

Basix Certificates Article Count: 6

BASIX targets Article Count: 1

BASIX certificates Article Count: 3

Alternative assessments Article Count: 4