Some non-residential buildings, particularly designs featuring a large area of external glazing, can struggle to achieve compliance using the Deemed to Satisfy (DTS) provisions of BCA Volume 1, Section J (Energy Efficiency) without specifying glazing or insulation that is prohibitively expensive. In some cases the design of the building or the extent of glazing, combined with the NCC Climate Zone, makes it impossible to achieve compliance with the DTS provisions.

The good news is that even if this is the case, it is most often still possible to achieve compliance using reasonable insulation and glazing specifications, using the J1V3 Verification Method. This involves thermal modelling of the building (or part thereof) in order to conduct a comparison with the reference building as described in Section J of the BCA. If the results of the J1V3 modelling still require prohibitive glazing specifications such as thermally broken frames, this can generally be overcome with the use of a relatively small Solar PV system to offset deficiencies in the building fabric.

J1V3 Assessments may also be required at the Planning Approval stage as part of a Sustainability Management Plan or other ESD Report. The BESS tool generally triggers these when the area that is required to be heated and cooled reaches 1000m². J1V3 modelling can also be done in conjunction with daylight modelling which may be required by BESS, Council RFI or Permit Condition.