About FirstRate5®
FirstRate5® is Victoria's leading residential thermal performance assessment software. It is used by the majority of industry to rate the energy efficiency compliance of residential dwellings to the 6-star standard under the National Construction Code of Australia (NCC). The standard applies to all new homes and major renovations and extensions.
FirstRate5® is an easy-to-use tool with a graphic user interface that enables designers and thermal performance assessors to quickly generate the geometry of a home by tracing over building floor plans. The software integrates the AccuRate calculation engine to generate the home rating and can be used to rate an existing design or as an interactive tool to optimise it for or beyond compliance.
FirstRate5® one of three software packages in Australia to be accredited with the NatHERS protocol for National regulatory compliance which is administered by the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. The software tool generates ratings based on the NatHERS 0-10 Star scale for homes with 6 Stars being the current regulatory requirement for new homes, major renovations and extensions.
The rating is independent of the size and type of housing. This means that all new housing has the potential to achieve a good energy efficiency rating.
Accredited Thermal Performance Assessors have achieved competence with the FirstRate5® software and fulfilled the other requirements of accreditation. See become an accredited Thermal Performance Assessor.
How much does FirstRate5® cost?
For more information on purchasing FirstRate5® go to Buy FirstRate5®.
Training
FirstRate5® training is available through a Short Course in Thermal Building Performance Assessment (FirstRate5®) statewide.
Download an overview of the course:
For a list of training providers and their contact details, go to FirstRate5® Training Providers.
NatHERS Assessor Qualification Update
The Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council (CPSISC) has developed the new Certificate IV in NatHERS Assessment, which will replace the existing Building Thermal Performance Assessment short course. The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has released an Information Note about the new qualification. It aims to answer questions that may be raised by existing NatHERS assessors, people interested in becoming assessors, registered training organisations and other interested parties. To access the information note please see the NatHERS website.
Is your assessor up to date?
In Victoria all thermal performance assessments for new housing that do not use the Deemed to Satisfy Criteria (DTS) criteria must be made using second generation software such as FirstRate5®. FirstRate version 4 has not been acceptable for assessing dwellings in Victoria since 30 April 2009.
It is anticipated that from 1 May 2012, only NatHERS accredited versions of FirstRate5® (patch upgrade versions 5.1.7 and later) can be used for regulatory compliance. Please check the NatHERS website.
How do I become accredited in other States and Territories?
You will need to check with your local planning authority or building surveyor to find out about accreditation in your state or territory. For more information visit:
- Building Designers Association Victoria (BDAV) - phone 03 9416 0227 or email info@bdav.org.au
- Association of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA) - phone 1300 889 438 or email support@absa.net.au.
Top | Last updated 18/03/2013