Other

Do I need to manually set the ground contact slab R-Value to include soil effect?

Better Building provides a Specification J1.6 Sub-floor calculator that will provide an overall R-Value for a slab-on-ground. The result is not automatically applied to ground contact slabs in your model. It is up to the user to manually adjust the applicable ground contact floor R-Values using the result of the calculator provided.

Can I use the Building app reporting to meet H1 Energy Efficiency requirements?

100%. Users use all our apps to illustrate H1 Energy Efficiency requirements daily. Simply publish our reports and send them to your design team or building surveyor. Job done!

Can Better Building be used to meet Built Environment Score Card (BESS) requirements?

As of January 2022, Better Building can meet daylight modelling requirements for the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS). 1.1 - Daylight Access - Living Areas, 1.2 - Daylight Access – Bedrooms. 1.3, and Daylight Access - Non-Residential. 1.5. These are undertaken in the Building Assessment app. Further features, including daylight autonomy, are currently in development.

Can I undertake daylight modelling using Better Building?

Yes, you can. Better Buildingis now running Radiance, the globally preferred simulation engine for solar control, lighting, and daylighting design. As such, you can now run daylight modelling assessments using daylight factors. This is perfect to meet the requirements of the National Construction Code or Built Environment Scope Card (BESS).

Can I report results from the Floor Systems App?

For those needing no-nonsense reporting, all Classic level users (and above) can access 1-click, customisable reporting to send off to the wider design team or building surveyor.

Floor System App tutorials?

We have you covered. Jump onto The Guide and search for Floor System app tutorials and other related subjects.

What is a Floor System?

We use the term roof system to define all materials and control layers from the exterior to the floor's interior. By defining the properties of these elements, we can automatically run performance calculations, so all you need to do is specify.

What can I use the Floor System App for?

Our Floor System App has multiple applications, including thermal bridging, r-value calculations, lifecycle assessments, etc. Without prior knowledge, the Floor System App allows anyone to build and specify a floor system in seconds and verify the design with your team via or with our detailed yet customisable reporting.

Glazing System App tutorials?

We have you covered. Jump onto The Guide and search for Glazing System app tutorials and other related subjects.

What is the impact of subframes?

Subframes are the supporting elements at the head and sill of a glazing system. As a component of the glazing system, the framing typically has high thermal losses. Thus sub sills must be assessed within the NCC 2019 – Vol 1 as per Schedule 3 – Definitions for Glazing and Total System U-Value requirements. The Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS) do not include subframes and has other embedded modelling principles that fail to represent glazing systems accurately.

Is Better Building similar to WERS?

Our Glazing Systems App is a more advanced approach to glazing systems assessments.

The Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS) provides a rating system for assessing glazing performance and states to be compliant with the NCC 2019 – Vol 1. To date, the commercial glazing industry has not traditionally used WERS values when considering the overall performance of glazing systems, as the market has identified multiple reasons that justify commercial glazing not adopting WERS values.

As the WERS rating system only aims to compare one glazing system at a specific size against another, it does not provide the performance values required for optimising a building envelope where calculation accuracy is required. In addition, WERS values typically exclude subframe thermal losses while its supporting AFRC methodology is not a recognised Standard. As such, published WERS data typically ignore subframe thermal losses, while suppliers are unlikely to include them as they create a lower performance value and an unfair comparison.

Total U-value calculations and NCC 2019?

To calculate glazing system performance values, the primary requirement within the NCC 2019 – Vol 1 is to meet the definitions within Schedule 3 through a recognised repeatable calculation methodology and provide evidence to support compliance with a relevant ABCB protocol. There is no ABCB protocol for this subject matter or stated Standard within the NCC 2019 – Vol 1.

What is a Total U-value calculation?

Our Glazing Systems app undertakes vision area System U-values and SHGC calculations in line with ISO 15099: 2003 - Thermal performance of windows, doors and shading devices — Detailed calculations.

ISO 15099: 2003 procedures give the actual thermal performance of fenestration products for use in building energy analysis and for evaluating products in specific building applications. These procedures produce data to compare products using standardised NFRC 100 boundary conditions. This International Standard is also intended as a reference document for describing models used in computer programs for a detailed calculation of the thermal and optical transmission properties of window and door systems.

What is a Glazing System?

We use the term glazing system to define all materials and control layers from the exterior to the interior of a glazing line. By defining the properties of these elements, we can automatically run performance calculations, so all you need to do is specify.

For those interested in Standards and specifics, our Glazing Systems App undertakes vision area System U-values and SHGC calculations in line with ISO 15099: 2003 - Thermal performance of windows, doors and shading devices — Detailed calculations.

What can I use the Glazing System App for?

Our Glazing Systems App has multiple applications, including system u-value calculations for vision and spandrel systems.

With no need for prior knowledge, the Glazing Systems App allows anyone to build and specify a wall system in seconds and verify the design with your team via or with our detailed yet customisable reporting.

Can I report results from the Roof Systems App?

For those needing no-nonsense reporting, all Practice level users (and above) can access 1-click, customisable reporting to send off to the wider design team or building surveyor.

Roof System App tutorials?

We have you covered. Simply jump onto The Guide and search for Roof System app tutorials and other related subjects.

What are the impacts of thermal bridging?

Thermal bridging describes a design or construction detail with a direct connection between the inside and outside through one or more elements that are more thermally conductive than the rest of the building envelope.

The heat transfer rate depends on the material's thermal conductivity and the temperature difference on either side of the thermal bridge. When a temperature difference is present, heat flow will follow the path of least resistance through the material with the highest thermal conductivity and lowest thermal resistance, creating the thermal bridge.

What is a thermal bridge?

External walls are often structurally supported by timber or steel partitions. Such partitions typically run through the thermal control layer and represent (the combination of frame plates and noggins) between 10 – 15% of the overall area of a standard full-height wall. These are known as construction thermal bridges.

As a result of this thermal bridging effect, they increase the overall thermal transmittance of the wall and need to be considered. Steel wall frames, with high thermal conductivity, are particularly poor-performing and may need to consider non-combustible thermal breaks to ensure a continuity of the thermal control layer.

Total R-value calculations and NZS 4214:2006?

Our Roof Systems app undertakes thermal resistance calculations in line with J 1.5 - Total System R-value for walls, roofs, and floors based on AS/NZ 4859.2 and NZS 4214:2006.

As there are two references within NCC 2019, a primary (AS/NZS 4859.2:2018) and a secondary (NZS 4214:2006) reference, Better Building must undertake both as appropriate.

What is a Total R-value calculation?

A Total R-value calculation for roof systems involves the thermal performance of roof material and thermal bridges such as timber or steel framing. For more information, click here.

Our Roof System App takes the complexity out of this calculation to provide a simple and flexible R-value app that generates results in seconds.

What is a Roof System on Better Building?

We use the term roof system to define all materials and control layers from the exterior to the interior of a wall. By defining the properties of these elements, we can automatically run performance calculations, so all you need to do is specify.

What can I use the Roof System App for?

Our Roof System App has multiple applications, including thermal bridging, r-value calculations, lifecycle assessments, etc.

With no need for prior knowledge, the Roof Systems App allows anyone to build and specify a roof system in seconds and verify the design with your team via or with our detailed yet customisable reporting.

Can I customise my reports?

When using our apps, we allow Themes to be applied to reports so you can align your company branding with an output from Better Building. Reports are not available on the Community Level.

Creating Themes and applying them is a premium feature for Essentials. Practise and Enterprise Level users only. If you are a Community Level user, you can still have a play, but you will not be able to apply the Theme. Navigate to the Teams admin area to begin creating your Theme.

Can I use concept building envelope specifications in the Building Assessment App?

Sure. We allow you to pick some performance values related to the building envelope component, or you can bring in pre-built components from our other apps. Both options are super simple.

Are any tutorials available for the Building Assessment App?

Our Guide area is our home for all things support based, free and open to all. The easiest way to find tutorials is to use the search function. Jump on and search for 'Building App', and you can get going.

Is the Building App similar to the ABCB Facade tool?

The building app uses the methodologies outlined in Specification J1.5a Calculation of U-Value and solar admittance. The only difference between the ABCB Façade calculator and the building app is that we take a more detailed approach to the design process, allowing real, verified specifications to be used instead of simply putting numbers into a spreadsheet.

Can I use the Building app reporting to meet National Construction Code requirements

100%. Users use all our apps to illustrate National Construction Code requirements daily. Publish our reports and send them to your design team or building surveyor. Job done!

What can I use the Thermal Comfort App for?

Our building app is currently focused on National Construction Code requirements. With no need for prior knowledge or calculation insights, the Building app allows anyone to build and specify a building rapidly. Once achieved, you can verify the design with your team via or publish detailed, customisable reports.

Can I undertake VURB modelling on Better Building for NCC 2019 Energy Efficiency requirements?

VURB represents an alternative approach to National Construction Code compliance than the typically adopted NatHERS rating system. It is often adopted where flexibility is being sought for building envelope compliance.

While we have sought confirmation and built a prototype for the Energy Efficiency requirements for Vol 2 of the National Construction Code, we have yet to implement it. As a result of apparent conflicts and unintended outcomes embedded within the VURB modelling process, we do not support its application in energy-efficient design. Still, we are always looking to change our view if better results can be sought.

Does Better Building meet Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) requirements for daylight modelling?

Yes, Better Building uses the open-source lighting engine, Radiance (version 5.2) for our Daylight Factor simulations. Customers can use our Building Assessment App to assess 1.1 - Daylight Access - Living Areas, 1.2 - Daylight Access – Bedrooms, and 1.4 - Daylight Access - Non-Residential.

Does Better Building meet and undertake the new New Zealand H1 Energy Efficiency requirements?

Yes. Launching in February 2022, Better Building will be available to assess Acceptable Solutions H1/AS1 + H1/AS2 and Verification Method H1/VM1 + H1/VM2 in our Building Assessment Apps.

Does the Building Assessment App automate the National Construction Code DTS provisions?

100%. We have automated the process to improve productivity and the headache of creating a DTS reference building when undertaking JV3 assessments. So when designing in the Building Assessment App, the DTS reference building is created via the same geometry you would need to define for the proposed building.

What Is a Project on Better Building?

A project is a unique building type and location on Better Building. Once created, a project location and building type can be updated. However, the building code that a project is initially created against cannot be changed.

Can Better Building see my project Information?

Only if you want us to. In a support capacity, we may ask to access your project information to check a design or offer further support. In these cases, we obtain your verbal consent and can access your project. Otherwise, your project data is well, your project data! Read more about our Privacy Policy.

Where are Better Building's Terms and Conditions?

You can find out the terms and conditions outlined here.