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Why would I become an Assessor?
The Building Code of Australia (BCA) requires that Local Building Approval
Authorities (Building Surveyors at Local Councils) obtain evidence that
a design meets a Performance Requirement or a Deemed to Satisfy Provision
of the Energy Efficiency Regulations. This evidence may be in the form
of a certificate from an appropriately qualified person. The Sustainable
Energy Development Office defines an 'appropriately qualified person'
as an Accredited Residential Thermal Performance Assessor who is listed
on the newly established National Assessor Register.
National Assessor Register
The National Assessor Register has been established by the National Framework
for Energy Efficiency, which is a a Council of Australian Government (COAG)
agreement between all Australian States and Territories and aims to deliver
significant improvements in energy efficiency. The Register identifies
those assessors who are members of a body of professional sustainability
practitioners that deliver a quality-assured service to improve the sustainability
of our built environment.
The Sustainable Energy Development Office is the agency that is responsible
for delivering energy efficiency policy in Western Australia, including
Stage One of the National Framework. The Sustainable Energy Development
Office has agreed that national administration of the Register be vested
in the Australian Greenhouse Office, with funding for the establishment
of the Register being provided by all States and Territories. Through
the National Framework, the Australian Greenhouse Office engaged the Association
of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA) to establish and administer
a National Register.
How do I become an assessor?
Eligibility for listing on the Register includes:
Completion of the 'Short Course in Building Thermal Performance (Residential)'
Accreditation by an approved accrediting body
Practice under an approved Code of Conduct
Operate under a national protocol for residential thermal performance assessments
Maintenance of software competency
Annual audit of residential assessments
On-going participation in a professional practice scheme for residential thermal performance assessors
Insurance for Professional Indemnity
Steps you need to take to become an accredited assessor and be listed on the Register are:
Complete Training
To become listed on the National Assessor Register the first step is to
complete the 'Short Course in Building Thermal Performance (Residential)'.
This course has been approved by the National Framework and is owned by
the Australian Greenhouse Office.
The 'Short Course in Building Thermal Performance (Residential)' consists
of three parts, which are run over a total of 32 hours. These are:
- Design Theory (12 hours)
- 2nd Generation Software (16 hours)
- Professional Practice (4 hours).
All three parts must be completed before full registration as an Accredited
Assessor can take place. If you believe that you could gain recognition
of prior learning for any of the parts, please contact the training provider
directly or the Sustainable Energy Development Office on 618 9420 5757.
Courses are conducted by the Centre for Building Design and Drafting
Studies at Central TAFE, the Housing Industry Association (HIA) and the
Association of Building Sustainability Assessors (ABSA). Each training
provider will charge a fee for their course. To register your interest
or enquire about costs please contact:
Central TAFE (08) 9202 4382, email maxine.massey@central.wa.edu.au
HIA on (08) 9492 9200, email l.pallier@hia.asn.au
ABSA on 1300 76 00 12, or email training@absa.net.au.
A full list of available training dates and venues can be found at: http://www.absa.net.au/training/training.aspx
Current Software
Details of current software can be found at: http://www1.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/pages/her_tools.asp.
Establish Email Account
As an accredited assessor you will be contacted regularly via email.
Prior to undertaking training, please ensure that you have access to an
email account. Please include your email address and preferred contact
details with your application.
Take out insurance for Professional Indemnity
In line with the National Framework for Energy Efficiency, the Sustainable
Energy Development Office requires that all Accredited Assessors take
out adequate Professional Indemnity insurance to indemnify themselves
for their role as an accredited assessor. It is the responsibility of
the assessor to ensure adequate insurance advice is sought, and that the
insurance purchased covers the full extent of works and services an assessor
undertakes. Insurance will give your client assurance and yourself protection
in the event of litigation being initiated against you.
Assessors who already have Professional Indemnity cover that specifies
cover for residential thermal performance assessment may be eligible to
be registered on the National Assessor Register. All other assessors would
be required to take out appropriate insurance cover to be eligible for
listing. These candidates may wish to visit the ABSA website to find out
more about the Professional Indemnity insurance that is available to its
members at very competitive rates http://www.absa.net.au.
Become Accredited
Following successful completion of the training requirements you will
need to advise the accreditation body that you have completed the course
of training. The accreditation body will then commence the accreditation
process. You will be required to undertake and pass an accreditation exam.
Note: If you do not wish to become accredited at that time, your exam
results will remain valid for a length of one year. You may become accredited
as long as you can show evidence that you have completed two practice
ratings during the year (i.e. NOT for clients or for Council application)
before starting the accreditation process.
Approved Accrediting Body
The National Framework for Energy Efficiency and the Sustainable Energy
Development Office has determined that the ABSA is the only organization
that has demonstrated the capacity to undertake the task of accreditation
of residential thermal performance assessors in accordance with the aims
of the National Framework. Accordingly, ABSA administers the accreditation
of Western Australian assessors under agreement with the Sustainable Energy
Development Office. The Sustainable Energy Development Office provides
policy advice about residential thermal performance assessment.
1) Sign Code of Practice
Members of ABSA operate under a Code of Conduct that is approved by the
National Framework. The Code of Practice is the principle document that
defines practice requirements for all assessors engaged in any type of sustainability
assessment accredited by ABSA and is a requirement of accreditation. This
must be signed and returned before accreditation can take place.
NOTE: ONCE ACCREDITED ALL PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. IF A PERSON NO LONGER
WISHES TO BE ACCREDITED, OR HAS THEIR ACCREDITATION REVOKED FOR MISCONDUCT,
THEY WILL NOT BE REFUNDED THE REMAINDER OF THEIR ACCREDITATION FEE.
2) Pay Professional Indemnity Insurance Premium
See www.absa.net.au for details.
3) Pay Accreditation Fees
See www.absa.net.au for details.
Note that insurance and accreditation fees may be paid concurrently on-line.
Confirmation of Accreditation
Upon receiving the signed Code of Practice and insurance and accreditation
fees, ABSA will send you your ABSA stamp for issuing certificates. You
will be able to certify certificates on-line using the certificate manager
immediately.
Maintaining Accreditation
Software competency
Members of ABSA are required to complete two ratings per year in order
to maintain competency in the use of the software.
Annual Audit
The accuracy of information input into thermal performance software is
critical for the output to be valid. Without regular audits, assessors
would otherwise remain unchecked, quality assurance could be subject to
question, and confidence in the scheme lowered.
In line with the National Framework, the Sustainable Energy Development
Office requires that assessments completed by Accredited Assessors be
audited on a regular basis. To meet this policy, the Association of Building
Sustainability Assessors requires its members to submit to a random audit
of an assessment that was made in the previous year. ABSA audits aim to
check:
- Correct interpretation of documents
- Correct data entry
- Correct application of national protocols
- That the assessor is conducting ratings in accordance with the Code
of Conduct.
On-going participation in a Continuing Professional Practice scheme for residential thermal performance assessors
The Sustainable Energy Development Office conducts on-going Continuing Professional Development workshops for residential thermal performance Assessors who operate in Western Australia. The Sustainable Energy Development Office is expected to retain this role until ABSA has established a scheme that is approved by the Sustainable Energy Development Office and the National Framework for Energy Efficiency.
Renewal of Accreditation
At the end of every year of your accreditation you must renew your accreditation. ABSA will advise you when these fees are due.
ABSA support
The first source of help for all assessors should be the online help provided
by ABSA and software manuals. Question and answers are also periodically
compiled and emailed to all assessors and should be read regularly.
ABSA provides assessor support to all its assessors through a phone and
email Helpdesk service. This helpdesk is provided centrally and includes
staff located in Western Australia. This service provides answers to all
enquiries relating to National Assessor Register procedures, protocols,
BCA regulatory requirements, and other assessor practice related matters.
The service is manned 9 am - 5 pm on normal working days.
Contact:
Matt Fisher - ABSA Accreditation Manager
Andrew Tanzos - ABSA Technical Officer
Email: admint@absa.net.au
ABSA telephone: 1300 76 00 12.
A web-based forum is also available. See www.absa.net.au
for details.
For general advice on residential thermal fundamentals phone: the Sustainable
Energy Development Office Energy Smart Line 1300 658 158
You may also consult the Sustainable Energy Development Office website
for downloads of various documents.
NOTE: Software faults are the responsibility of the software provider.
Phone +61 8 9420 5757 for updated contact details.
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