Chapter Four

JV VERIFICATION METHODS
Including: Verification Method JV3 Using a Reference Building for Class 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 Buildings

Contents of Chapter Four 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Introduction to the Verification Method JV3 Scope of JV3 Intent of JV3 Methodology of JV3 Specification JV Annual Energy Consumption Criteria

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1. Introduction to Verification Method JV3

The Objective JO1 is based on the premise that a building should be capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions if it is designed to use energy efficiently. The means provided in the BCA for demonstrating compliance with the Performance Requirement JP1 are via either: a. b. the DTS Provisions of Parts J1 to J7; or an Alternative Solution using an appropriate Assessment Method (refer to Chapter 3 for an overview of using the performance-based BCA). One such Assessment Method is a Verification Method. It should be emphasised that it is not mandatory to use a prescribed BCA Verification Method as the Assessment Method. A Verification Method to assess an Alternative Solution and demonstrate that it complies with the mandatory Performance Requirement JP1 can be a Verification Method prescribed in the BCA or any other Verification Method deemed appropriate by the Building Control Authority. The energy efficiency provisions introduced in BCA 2006 contained three new Verification Methods but JV1 has since been relocated to Part J0 and JV2 has been withdrawn at the request of industry. The remaining Verification Method is JV3.

a.

What is annual energy consumption?

Annual energy consumption means the theoretical amount of energy used annually by the building services. It is calculated using a software package (DOE2, BEAVER/ESPII,

Energy Plus, etc.) that is capable of assessing the contribution of the building fabric, air infiltration, outside air ventilation, internal heat sources (people and appliances) and services, such as air-conditioning systems and artificial lighting, all specifically for the building use and location. The software must comply with the ABCB Protocol for Building Energy Analysis Software. The following is a typical output report from the software.

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Figure 4.1 Sample Beaver/ESPII printout showing the annual energy consumption of a building

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b.

What is meant by building services?

A building service means one of those mechanical and electrical systems that use energy to provide air-conditioning, ventilation, hot water supply, artificial lighting, vertical transportation and the like. Refer to the definition of a service for inclusions and exclusions. Services include three main types

air-conditioning or ventilation systems that service the whole building as well as individual air-conditioning units serving sole-occupancy units;

artificial lighting; hot water supply systems; and vertical transportation systems (lifts and escalators).

These are included in the definition regardless of their energy source. Systems used on for emergency purposes, cooking facilities and portable appliances are excluded from the definition of service. Building in the context of the definition of services, means the whole building which may contain individual sole-occupancy units, communal facilities and public areas such as public corridors, foyers, etc. Design alert: Under Verification Method JV3, the annual energy consumption

calculated for services will be reduced for a design solution using renewable energy in place of grid distributed energy. Refer to the Sub-clause JV3(b) which says that energy from on-site sources that do not produce greenhouse gases (solar, etc.) may be subtracted from the annual energy consumption.

2.

Scope of JV3
JV3 is applicable to all Class 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 buildings. It is not applicable to Class 2 buildings or Class 4 parts of buildings because it is concerned with the energy used by services and the BCA DTS provisions for services in dwellings are very limited.

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Class 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 buildings are more likely to be air-conditioned and artificially lit than are dwellings and so it is important to consider the plant and equipment, as JV3 does, rather than just the building fabric.

3. Intent of JV3
The intent of any Verification Method is to demonstrate that an Alternative Solution meets the Performance Requirement(s). The Verification Method in Volume One essentially provides flexibility where the prescriptive DTS Provisions are sometimes too rigid or do not work for certain building designs. The Verification Method can allow for innovation and better interaction of a buildings fabric and services in order to make the building more energy efficient. This flexibility is essential to an innovative building environment. As a general rule, no two buildings are the same in relation to energy efficiency. A fast food chain may aim to have a standard design for every outlet but needs to recognise that no two allotments are exactly the same. The same building, with a different orientation and exposure to the sun, will achieve a different level of energy consumption unless compensating adjustments are made to the design. Buildings differ in their layout, orientation construction and services arrangements. In many cases, architects and developers use the external glazing and facade treatment to increase the buildings marketing potential. However the desired appearance may be to the detriment of energy efficiency. The Verification Method allows a trade offs, such as reducing the energy efficiency of services by increasing the energy efficiency of the building envelope. The Verification Method assesses the annual energy consumption (MJ/m2.annum) of the subject building and compares it to the annual energy consumption of a reference building. The reference buildings characteristics are comparable to those of a DTS

compliant building.

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This method allows flexibility in the design of the glazing (amount, quality, orientation and shading), insulation and sealing of the envelope (walls, floors and roof) and the configuration of services (air-conditioning, heating, lighting, etc.). Note that Clause A0.9 permits, Assessment and Verification Methods other than those in the BCA, provided they are acceptable to the Building Control Authority.

4.

ethodology of JV3 M
The basic approach is that the annual energy consumption of the proposed building is not to be more than the annual energy consumption allowance of a DTS complying reference building under the following two scenarios: JV3(a)(i) with the proposed services in the proposed building and complying DTS services in the reference building; and JV3(a)(ii) with the same complying DTS services in both cases.

These two scenarios actually require three energy modelling runs, as follow: Run 1. reference building with DTS fabric and DTS services (to establish the annual energy consumption allowance); Run 2. proposed building with proposed services (to calculate the annual energy consumption of the proposed design); and Run 3. proposed building with proposed envelope and DTS services (to demonstrate that the proposed envelope design is at least as energy efficient as a DTS complying design). Run 2 is then compared with Run 1. Run 3 is then compared with Run 1. The annual energy consumption from Run 2 and Run 3 must both be no larger than the allowance returned from Run 1. JV3 requires that the reference building be modelled with certain parameters for mechanical ventilation, wall and roof colours, lighting power levels, air-conditioning thermostat settings and occupancy patterns. Specification JV contains additional

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parameters that must be the same for the proposed building and the reference building as well as occupancy and operation profiles for buildings of certain Classes. JV3(b) allows any renewable energy generated on-site or energy recovered from another process to be deducted from the annual energy consumption of the proposed building. An important provision is in JV3(g), which requires all aspects modelled to be achievable in the proposed building. For example, if the air-conditioning profile for the building says that the system will be turned off at certain times, then a suitable time switch must be part of the constructed solution.

b.

Why are two scenarios considered?

Two scenarios are necessary because, if only Sub-clause JV3(a)(i) was required, the thermal performance of the buildings envelope could be traded away for more energy efficient building services. Whilst energy efficient building services are always desirable, the energy efficiency of a buildings envelope is considered to be of greater importance.

Services may change over time or a lack of maintenance may cause the services to underperform but, once the passive energy efficiency measures for the envelope are in place, they generally maintain their performance for the life of the building. JV3 does, however, permit the trade-off to go the other way. Increasing the passive energy efficiency of the buildings envelope may allow the performance of the building services to fall below the standard required by the DTS Provisions.

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Example for the use of Verification Method JV3 A five storey Class 5 building located in Melbourne is proposed to be assessed under Verification Method JV3. In this case, the building has minimum insulation to the fabric and envelope of the building whilst the services will have energy efficiency parameters above the minimum standard of the DTS Provisions. made. The annual energy consumption of the proposed building with the proposed services is calculated at 580 MJ/m2.annum. A reference building is assessed having minimum DTS fabric characteristics as well as minimum DTS services. The annual energy consumption of the reference building is calculated at 620 MJ/m2.annum. The actual building meets the first criteria of JV3(a)(i) for Verification Method JV3. The annual energy consumption of the proposed building with the services now at the minimum DTS standard is calculated at 650 MJ/m2.annum. The reference building having minimum DTS fabric to the envelope and services was previously calculated at 620 MJ/m2.annum. Therefore the proposed buildings annual energy consumption is greater than the annual energy consumption of the reference building and thus does not comply under Verification Method JV3(a)(ii). The following calculations are

Specification JV Annual Energy Consumption Criteria

If services in the proposed building are intended to operate for 2,500 hours or more, proposed details of the actual building can be used for modelling occupancy, airconditioning, lighting, internal heat gains from people, meals preparation, appliance and equipment use, as well as hot water supply consumption rates. Otherwise, details set out in Specification JV must be used. Specification JV Clause 2 specifies parameters that are to be used in the absence of suitable details for the proposed building and provides tables of occupancy and operation profiles for certain building Classes and applications.

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