Class 1b - or Performance Solution pathway?

Region: All States:

Assessor Question:

I am seeking some advice and/or direction in relation to a project I am working on.

The project has been communicated by the designer to be a Class 1B (disabled accommodation). As the design does not have a Kitchen ie cooking facilities (the floor plans only shows sink and a fridge) I have commenced a DTS Elemental Assessment.  Due to siting conditions glazing compliance will be challenging to demonstrate without a redesign.

My question is – can a Nathers Assessment (with the main living area being theoretically modelled as a Kitchen zone) be completed and presented as a Performance Solution with the report showing that the design is equivalent or exceeding the DTS Nathers 6.0 star compliance requirements or is this stretching the Nathers assessment guidelines and protocols?

TechLink Response:

• The Class 1b dwelling indicated here displays all the attributes of an occupation envisaged by the NatHERS system save for a label of 'Kitchen" and the delineation of cooking appliances.
• A fridge and sink plus a dining space indicate that meals will be prepared and consumed.
• The meal preparation may employ, a toaster, sandwich press, air fryer, micro-wave and kettle but will not however involve and cook top or oven.
• Accordingly, the design does not fully fit the NatHERS Technical Note definition of a dwelling that can have NatHERS Deemed to Satisfy compliance justified for regulatory purposes.
• The lack of a kitchen means the heat generation attributed to meal cooking/preparation assumed by NatHERS will not occur.
• In light of the understanding above it may be considered reasonable to prepare a Performance Solution using a NatHERS rating as part of the performance substantiation and make informed observations about the impact on heating loads attributable to the lack of heat generation caused by cooking.