What is Section J

Section J in the National Construction Code (NCC 2022) specifies the energy efficiency requirements for commercial & industrial buildings. The primary goal of Section J is to ensure that buildings are built to a minimum standard to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

The NCC allows for Section J compliance for Commercial buildings using a range of different assessment methods. The two most common used methods are the JV3-(Verification using a reference building) and Section J-Deemed to Satisfy (DTS) methods:

  • JV3 – develops a full thermal model of the building and determines the performance of the building against a reference building design.

  • DTS – simple comparison of the building design to a benchmark set of minimum standards for the thermal performance of each of the main element of the building (roof, walls, glazing, floors etc.)

Section J requirements:

All new commercial buildings, renovations, alterations and extensions must meet the minimum standards detailed in the Nation Construction Code (NCC 2022) This includes offices, apartments, cafes, shops, restaurants, laboratories, schools, medical centres and more. The NCC Section J looks at thermal performance, energy use for heating and cooling, lighting, hot water systems and air conditioning systems.

The requirements for Section J of the NCC 2022 includes:

  • Part J1 Energy efficiency performance requirements

  • Part J2 Energy efficiency

  • Part J3 Elemental provisions for a sole-occupancy unit of a Class 2 building or a Class 4 part of a building

  • Part J4 Building fabric

  • Part J5 Building sealing

  • Part J6 Air-conditioning and ventilation

  • Part J7 Artificial Lighting and power

  • Part J8 Heated water supply and swimming pool and spa pool plant

  • Part J9 Energy monitoring and on-site distributed energy resources

The “Conditioned” portion of the buildings are required to be assessed against all parts of Section J (J1-J9) whilst the “Un-Conditioned portions are only required to be assessed against Part J7-Artificial Lighting and power.

As an energy assessor, we will typically determine the requirements for all parts of Section J (excluding Part J6-J9). Compliance documentation for Parts J6-J9 will be required to be supplied by the relevant system engineers.

When is a Section J report required?

As the NCC 2022 is a National construction code, all certifying authorities nationwide will require a report confirming compliance with Section J.

A Section J Report demonstrating compliance with the NCC 2022 - Section J J1P1-4 provisions is required for the following commercial building types.

  • Class 2: Apartment buildings

  • Class 3: Residential buildings such as a boarding-house, guest house, hostel, lodging-house or backpackers accommodation

  • Class 4: A single dwelling in a building that is Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. An example of a Class 4 part of a building would be a caretaker’s residence in a storage facility.

  • Class 5: An office building used for professional or commercial purposes, excluding Class 6, 7, 8, or buildings

  • Class 6: A shop or other building that has the purpose of serving goods or services directly to the public. Eg cafe, restaurant, bar, shop, kiosk, hairdresser’s, showrooms or service stations

  • Class 7: Carparks, storage facilities or wholesale display buildings

  • Class 8: Laboratories, or buildings for the purpose of producing, assembling, altering, repairing, packing, finishing or cleaning goods.

  • Class 9: Buildings of a public nature including health-care, an assembly building within a school and aged care buildings.

Work with us

Contact us today to see how we can assist with your projects energy efficiency and Section J requirements.

Due to the potential complexity of Section J compliance reports and the multiple assessment methods available, we will need to review proposals and provide quotes on a case by case basis in order to determine the best approach for your project.