Section J Report

Deemed To Satisfy DTS report or Section J report provides a list of prescriptive insulation values and thermal performance requirements in order for a commercial building to comply with the construction code. Section J of the National Construction Code (NCC Vol. 1) applies to all commercial buildings.
A Section J energy report involves the minimum requirements ensuring energy efficiency compliance of a commercial building. This DTS report is simple, low cost, and can usually be delivered in 1 or 2 business days. Find out what you are looking for here:

What is a Section J Report?

Australia’s building codes seek to minimize the energy demand of commercial buildings to minimize their carbon footprint.

The core of a Section J report, is a short table that outlines the minimum thermal performance requirements for building fabric and services. Also, a Section J energy report involves information regarding minimum requirements for energy compliance. The Deemed to Satisfy (DTS) pathway is the most cost-effective compliance method relative to alternative solutions. Consequently, to obtain a Section J compliance with the code, the assessor follows the mandatory requirements of the code and applies it to the building under assessment.

SectionContent
J1Energy efficiency performance requirements
J2Energy efficiency
J3Elemental provisions for Class 2 or Class 4 buildings
J4Building fabric
J5Building sealing
J6Air-conditioning and ventilation
J7Artificial lighting and power
J8Heated water supply and swimming pool
J9Energy monitoring and on-site energy sources

Section J Requirements

The NCC Section J requirements depends mainly on the Climate Zone and Building Classification. For example, buildings located in extremely hot or cold climates demand more insulation. Also, considering the thermal comfort of the occupants, Class 3 and Class 9 buildings demand even more insulation on the walls in conjunction a higher glazing performance.

The following table demonstrates the DTS requirements for an office as a Section J report example. Also, the table below shows minimum DTS requirements for an office in Melbourne (Climate Zone 6) and Sydney (Climate Zone 5).

Why do I need a Section J Report?

Energy efficiency provisions of the building code aims to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings in Australia. This involves reduction in the energy demand to maintain thermal comfort of the occupants to a certain level. Typically, a building requires energy for space heating and cooling, supply of hot water, lighting and ventilation. Therefore, the NCC sets minimum requirements for buildings to ensure the necessary efficiency of their building fabric and services.

Climate zone56
Major citySydneyMelbourne
RoofR3.7R3.2
Roof solar absorptanceNot more than 0.45Not more than 0.45
Walls with major glazing (1)R1.0R1.0
Walls with minor glazingR1.4R1.4
Wall solar absorptanceNo requirementNo requirement
Wall-glazing U-value (2)U2.0U2.0
Floor (no in-slab heating) (3)R2.0R2.0
Windows SHGC (4)From Facade CalculatorFrom Facade Calculator
Roof light U-valueNot more than U3.9Not more than U3.9
Roof light SHGCas per Table J4D5as per Table J4D5
External shadingNo limitNo limit
Building sealingNo requirement if the only means
of air-conditioning is by
evaporative cooling		Part J5 must be applied fully

Basis of Section J Requirements

Environment

The main target of DTS requirements is to
minimize the carbon footprint of buildings. The use of
fossil fuels to maintain thermal comfort in commercial
buildings contributes to the climate change and
environmental challenges around the globe.

Economics

Energy-efficient buildings cost less to operate and are less
sensitive to the risk of increased energy costs.
The money saved can be used to build stronger, more resilient businesses.

Comfort

Energy-efficient buildings are more comfortable build business in;
They require lesser use of active heating and cooling systems,
and they benefit more from natural daylight.

Electricity Reliability

A growing Australia increases pressure on the reliability of
the electricity grid – more so than any other form of energy.
Energy-efficient buildings reduce reliance on the electricity grid,
which reduces the risk of power outages.

(1) When a glazed surface area of a façade is more than 20% of the total wall-glazing area, that façade has major glazing.
(2) Overall U-value (heat transfer coefficient) of windows and wall on a single façade (i.e. north).
(3) Floors with an in-slab heating system must achieve a Total R-value of 3.25.
(4) SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) is the ratio of solar heat gained through the building’s window to the total irradiation on the window.

Process and duration to get your Section J report

When we get all the necessary information from our client, we will be able to finish the Section J energy report in a single business day. This information includes architectural drawings, a window schedule and client’s considerations. Also, we provide our clients with a Section J report sample to showcase the quality of our work. The following shows this typical process.

Client sends
a quote

We reply
to the quote		We provide
a Section J
report Sample		Client signs
the professional
service agreement		We discuss
client’s energy
targets & limitations		We provide
the draft report		The client reviews
our report,
we discuss any
alterations to the report		The final report
is issued		Payment is made
Click2 hoursRequest –<1 hour1-2 business days–<1 business day–

What does a Section J Report involve?

At Energy Compliance Consultants, we aim to be better than our competitors. For instance, we put the time to illustrate the minimum insulation to all parts of the building. Also, we illustrate the location of windows having a specific thermal performance. In addition to that, we specify the minimum requirements for building services that the project will most likely install in the future. This way, the building construction and planning team can make sure that there is no miscommunication amongst them and other parties.

In our Section J energy reports, we specify only the minimum performance requirements for building fabric and services, under the Building Code of Australia. Our clients can always go beyond these requirements and build even more efficient buildings. When we assess a building, our first target is to assist the building owner to minimize construction costs, but the building owner can install more insulation and more efficient services if necessary.

Our NCC Section J reports involve illustrations of walls, roof and floor cross-sections. This is to to make sure that the builder installs what we specify in the Section J report. Here is an example of such illustrations from a Section J report example:

Section J report sample wall insulation
Section J report sample floor insulation

What are the alternatives to a DTS report?

Sometimes, using DTS method to conduct a Section J report gets impractical. For example, compliant glazing may become expensive, or the compliant insulation may not fit into the walls. In such cases, NCC offers an alternative solution that considers holistic building performance. This allows to consider the interaction between all the different parts of the building fabric together instead of isolating them. Using verification methods under NCC, we can utilize trade-offs between the performance of different parts of the building. For example, we can install low-cost glazing and to overcome the poor performance of glazing, we can add more insulation to the roof.

This alternative solution is often called “Performance Solution” and is permitted under the NCC. Verification methods are performance solutions detailed by the NCC and amongst them, JV3 modelling and JV2 Green Star are the most promising methods to conduct a Section J energy report. Alternative solutions essentially provide flexibility in how to achieve energy compliance and reduce construction costs.

Also, DTS reports are not all inclusive. In some cases, although you achieve compliance with the requirements, your council requires you to prove that your building has adequate access to natural light. In such cases, you need to perform a daylight modelling to back up this claim. The results of daylight modelling and Section J report may conflict with each other. Note that the JV3 method uses the same building model as the daylight assessment. Therefore, you can save time and costs by undertaking JV3 instead of the DTS method.

FAQ

FAQ for Section J Report

The glazing thermal performance requirement is the most important part of a Section J energy report. NCC Volume 1 details the minimum requirements for glazing thermal performance in Section J, Part J4, J4D6. However, unlike NCC 2016, the new glazing performance requirements from NCC 2019 onwards are integrated with the external wall requirements. This means NCC Vol 1.0 requires the Total System U-value of wall-glazing construction not to be above a certain U-Value detailed in J4D6.

To make things easier and to try tradeoffs between glazing and wall thermal performance, the ABCB has developed the Façade calculator. Using this, the assessor can obtain the compliant thermal performance value of the project’s glazing, U-value and SHGC. These performance values will be reflected in the Section J energy report.

If you are planning to build a new commercial building or to undertake a major alteration project, you need to have a Section J energy report. This DTS report demonstrates your building Section J compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC).

A Section J report is part of the documentation required when applying for a commercial building permit. Therefore, as the BCA is applicable nationwide, all councils in all states require this NCC Section J report.

A person with the necessary qualifications that can satisfy the building surveyor’s considerations on the energy efficiency requirements, can deliver a Section J report. However, a highly qualified ESD consultant with an in-depth understanding of building services and building materials is more suited for the job. You need someone with experience regarding Section J compliance to identify energy cost-saving opportunities while satisfying energy compliance requirements.

First, the client sends a quote and we typically respond within half a working day. We provide a Section J report sample of our past work, and the client decides whether to proceed with our services. After signing the agreement, it takes 1-2 working days for us to conduct a draft report. Then, we implement our client’s feedback and finalize the Section J report within a working day.

A Section J report consists of the minimum requirements for building fabric and services under NCC Volume 1. In detail, a Section J report example consists of the following:

  • Introduction and project details
  • Location and climate zone
  • Detail of building components under assessment
  • Minimum insulation requirement for the building fabric
  • Mark-up of insulation and glazing location on the drawings
  • Minimum glazing performance requirements
  • Requirements for air-conditioning and ventilation systems
  • Allowed lighting power in each space
  • Other requirements regarding building sealing, hot water supply or swimming pools
  • Attachment of drawings

No. A Section J energy report consists of the performance requirements for building fabric and services detailed in NCC Volume 1. Therefore, Section J report is exclusive of commercial buildings like offices, hotels, retails or the like.

For residential dwellings, we follow the requirements of NCC Volume 2 and Housing Provisions. These energy reports are known as Part H6 reports or Part 13.2 reports.

To obtain a building permit for a commercial building in Australia, councils require a Section J report. This report, prepared by a professional or ESD consultant, details the minimum requirements for the energy efficiency of building fabric and services. Section J refers to the name of the Energy Efficiency section of the Building Code of Australia.

You need a Section J report before applying for a building permit. At the early design stages, it is better to have an ESD consultant provide a draft report detailing general requirements for the project. Later, when the architect prepares a Development Application (DA) plan and the energy assessor or ESD consultant can finalize the report for the building permit application.

DtS provisions are several mandatory requirements outlined in the Building Code of Australia. You need to implement these prescriptive provisions to ensure that your commercial building is energy efficient. These requirements involve the following:

  • Part J4 – Building fabric (roof, wall, floor and glazing)
  • Part J5 – Building sealing
  • Part J6 – Air-conditioning and ventilation
  • Part J7 – Artificial lighting and power
  • Part J8 – Heated water supply, swimming pool and spa pool plant
  • Part J9 – Energy monitoring and on-site distributed energy resources

No! A Section J report does not expire under normal circumstances. However, there are two occasions where a Section J energy report could lose its credibility:

  1. New Standard Adoption: In case an energy report is conducted under the requirements of an old version of the Building Code when your council adopts a new version of the building code, you may be required to update the old report.
  2. Changes to architectural drawings: If there are new revisions available to the building drawings and the changes are significant, the energy assessor needs to update the old report for it to be in line with the new changes.

The outcome of a Section J report depends mainly on building classification and climate zones. In cases where a commercial building is located in a very hot or cold climate zone, the minimum requirements get stricter, for example:

  • In Climate Zone 8, a roof needs to achieve a Total R-value of R4.8, whereas, in Climate Zone 6, a Total R-value of R3.2 is the minimum.
  • A ductwork within a conditioned space located in Climate Zone 8, needs to incorporate an insulation of not less than R2.0, whereas, in other Climate Zones, the minimum insulation requirement is R1.2.

FAQ for NCC Section J Requirement

By setting the minimum requirements for building fabric and services of commercial buildings in Australia, the NCC Section J report aims to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the greenhouse gas emissions are the byproduct of energy use. Therefore, NCC Section J establishes minimum requirements for the building industry to enhance energy efficiency.

Sources of greenhouse gas emissions that are subject to the requirements of Section J are:

  • Space heating
  • Space cooling
  • Lighting (internal & external)
  • Base building appliances
  • Heated water supply
  • Pumps & control
  • Fans & control
  • Heat rejection
  • Lifts
  • Mechanical ventilation and exhaust
  • Swimming pool/spa

In a Section J energy report, minimum requirements are outlined for the above sources.

The Section J applies to commercial buildings. According to the Building Code of Australia, the energy efficiency requirements of Section J apply to:

  • Class 3 (hotels, dormitories)
  • Class 4 (residential dwelling inside a commercial building)
  • Class 5 (offices, therapy centres)
  • Class 6 (restaurants, retails)
  • Class 7 (carparks, warehouses)
  • Class 8 (factories, laboratories)
  • Class 9 (hospitals, community centres)

The above building classes require a Section J energy report before applying for a building permit. Also, Class 2 buildings can use Section J DtS provisions under NCC 2022.

The Objective of the NCC Section J report is to:

  1. Reduce energy use
  2. Improve the thermal comfort of occupants and their amenities.
  3. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and

Improve grid resilience by reducing peak energy demand.

The performance requirements of NCC Section J report do not have a direct impact on the building design; however, to maintain a low-cost construction or to avoid using alternative compliance solutions, NCC may require you to:

  • Avoid installing dark roof cladding.
  • Have tinted glazing instead of clear ones across the eastern or western façade.
  • Reduce the area of glazing over the eastern or western façade.
  • Increase the area of glazing over the north-facing walls.

Install shading over the east or west-facing windows.

FAQ for Section J Compliance

The DTS method used for a Section J energy report is cost-effective and fast. At Energy Compliance Consultants, we recommend the DTS solution first as it is low-cost. However, this method is prescriptive and not flexible, which may pose challenges to the construction of some buildings. In such cases, achieving compliance using the DTS method may increase construction costs (e.g. adding insulation to an existing slab). Also, this method may be highly undesirable to adopt due to aesthetic limitations. To overcome such cases, there are other pathways to help reach a favourable solution, such as the JV3 Performance Solution method.

Although Section J reports provide a fast, simple and straight-forward NCC Section J compliance, they have some potential drawbacks:

  • Rigidity: Deemed to Satisfy requirements are very strict and must be followed with no exception. For instance, if for aesthetics reasons, the client wants to have an exposed rammed earth wall, under the DTS method, that wall would still need some insulation.
  • High glazing ratio: Fully glazed walls typically don’t pass the Section J glazing requirements. In cases where they do, the glazing gets very expensive.
  • Isolation: The Section J report assesses building fabric components as individual items and doesn’t consider the holistic performance of the entire building.
  • Sustainability limitation: When a council asks for an ESD report, you must go beyond DTS (e.g. 10% better than the DTS provisions). Therefore, the DTS pathway may not be achievable using typical glazing or insulation available in the market. In these situations, you must use alternative methods of energy compliance instead of DTS.