What Does The NCC 2022 Section J9D3 Mean For Your Business?

The Australian Building Codes Board produces and maintains the National Construction Code (NCC) on behalf of the Australian Government and each state and territory government. Australia’s main set of technical building design and construction guidelines is the NCC. It establishes the minimal standard needed for specific buildings’ sustainability, safety, health, amenity, and accessibility because it is a performance-based code. It mostly pertains to plumbing and drainage systems in both new and existing buildings, as well as the design and construction of new buildings. In certain situations, it might also apply to building-related structures, new construction, or plumbing and drainage projects in already-existing structures.

The primary users of the NCC include architects, builders, plumbers, building surveyors, hydraulic consultants, engineers, and other building and plumbing-related professions and trades.

New Requirements: Energy Monitoring

The recording of individual energy data usage for on-site renewable energy equipment, EV charging, and battery systems is now required by new criteria in Section J9D3 “Energy monitoring.” Now, the energy data collected by this equipment needs to be consolidated onto a single monitoring user interface, just like the other loads on the property.
Who is affected by the change?
Any building in the design stage that has not proved its compliance with the NCC 2020 BCA – Volume One by May 2023 may need to comply with the NCC 2022 BCA – Volume One. Grace periods vary based on different sections of the NCC and different jurisdictions. For the most accurate transition period, check with your local governing body.
Energy Monitoring (Part J9D3)
The energy monitoring specifications for Part J9D3 apply to buildings that are new or renovated according to the building class as well as floor area (considering both total and common area).
  • For buildings with a floor area of less than 500 square meters, an energy meter needs to be installed to capture electricity and gas consumption according to J9D3(1). Usually, this is recorded by the utility meters provided by the energy supplier.
  • For larger structures, J9D3(2) mandates that building class 2 to 9 structures with more than 2,500 square meters of floor space and a shared space of more than 500 m² document the energy usage of the following loads:
    • Air-conditioning plants including, where appropriate, heating plants, cooling plants, and air handling fans.
    • Artificial lighting.
    • Appliance power.
    • Central hot water supply.
    • Internal transport devices including lifts, escalators, and moving walkways where there is more than one serving the building.
    • Other ancillary plant.
    • NEW – On-site renewable energy equipment.
    • NEW – On-site battery systems.
    • NEW – Electric vehicle charging equipment.
One of the challenges in utilizing the energy data captured required by J9D3(2) is the ability to access this information quickly and easily.
What does this mean for energy monitoring?
It must be possible for a single-user interface to compile data from different kinds of energy meters and equipment. This includes loads such as HVAC, lighting, power, central hot water, internal transportation, and other ancillary plans, along with the newly added on-site solar, EV charging, and battery systems.
Time-stamped data must be recorded, noting energy use along with the date and time. The recorded information should ideally be easily identifiable (e.g., loads described in J9D3 should be properly grouped and/or labeled within the single user interface). The single-user interface must have the ability to store energy consumption data for a reasonable amount of time (though the specific capacity is not specified).
What are the benefits of energy monitoring?
  1. Monitoring a building’s energy consumption, even at a single-room level, allows managers to identify ways to reduce energy use, thereby reducing energy waste and cutting bills.
  2. Intelligent energy monitoring systems can identify faults in real time, suggest energy-saving measures, and enable remote activation/deactivation of faulty equipment, reducing energy waste and prolonging equipment lifespan.
  3. Energy monitoring solutions often offer the possibility to set real-time alerts for unnecessary energy use (e.g., office lights or air conditioning left on after hours) so that action can be taken almost in real time.

Intelligent monitoring systems leverage advanced machine learning technologies to help business managers make optimal energy usage decisions. These solutions can also alert managers to inefficient energy use or malfunctioning equipment.

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