Becoming an assessor
How do I become a CBD Accredited Assessor?
CBD accreditation is required in order to apply for Building Energy Efficiency Certificates
(BEECs), conduct Tenancy Lighting Assessments and provide assessor supporting statements
for exemption applications. BEECs are only valid if a CBD Accredited Assessor submits
the application.
In order to become a CBD Accredited Assessor, you need to complete the required
training and submit an
application form to the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
If you are an existing NABERS Accredited Assessor, you will need to complete the
Accredited Assessor Training Course - Lighting and the
Commercial Building Disclosure program module. If you have not already
done so, you will also need to successfully complete one or more supervised NABERS
Energy for offices ratings (as required by the NABERS National Administrator). You
will then be eligible to apply for CBD accreditation.
However, you do not need to complete and pass a supervised NABERS Energy for offices
rating if you became a NABERS Accredited Assessor before 22 October 2009 (when there
was no trainee status and no requirement to pass a supervised rating) and you have
already completed one NABERS Energy for offices rating that has been certified by
the NABERS Administrator.
If you are not an existing NABERS Accredited Assessor, you must also successfully
complete the NABERS training and sign a contract with the NABERS Administrator,
the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Information on how to become a NABERS Accredited Assessor is available from www.nabers.com.au.
For further information refer to the guidance note on Becoming a CBD Accredited Assessor
Commercial Building Disclosure program module
The Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) program module is prescribed training
for persons wishing to become a CBD Accredited Assessor.
The module provides information on the CBD program, CBD accreditation, working as
a CBD Accredited Assessor and the powers and obligations of CBD Accredited Assessors
under the Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Act 2010.
The module is an online interactive training course. It should take about 90 minutes
to complete this e-learning course which you can complete on your computer at your
convenience. To complete the module you will need to read through each topic, complete
the activities along the way and then successfully complete an assessment (consisting
of 15 multiple choice questions).
There is no cost to complete this course.
If you have any queries, please contact the CBD Team by email at
commercialbuildings@climatechange.gov.au or by phone on 1800 020 131.
To register for this course click here - CBD program
module registration.
How do I become a NABERS Accredited Assessor?
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet
manages NABERS nationally on behalf of the Australian, state and territory governments.
It also manages the national training and accreditation for NABERS Accredited Assessors.
Ideal candidates for the NABERS Assessor Accreditation Course will have formal qualifications
and/or be skilled in the management and operation of commercial buildings. Those
with experience in building energy efficiency may also be suited.
More information on becoming a NABERS Accredited Assessor can be found on the NABERS website.
Please note: no other courses accredit assessors for either NABERS or the CBD program.
CBD Accredited Assessors updates
CBD Accredited Assessors update No.1 – 1 September 2011
This update is provided for the information of CBD Accredited Assessors.
Numbers of assessors
There are now over 50 CBD accredited assessors listed on the
CBD website and more are being added every week. As you will see, people
can contact you by simply clicking on your email address and creating an email.
Using existing NABERS ratings and lighting assessments?
We have had a number of inquiries about assessors using an existing NABERS Energy
rating or lighting assessment that has been prepared by another assessor.
This has been recognised through a recent change to the Secretary’s Determination
(Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Determination 2011). These changes
provide that a CBD Accredited Assessor may rely on a NABERS rating produced previously
by a different NABERS assessor. The ability of an accredited assessor to rely on
a previous NABERS rating is limited to only certified NABERS ratings. NABERS ratings
can only be produced by NABERS accredited assessors, are certified by the National
Administrator of NABERS and are only valid for twelve months.
The Determination was also amended to clarify situations where accredited assessors
cannot rely on a previously issued certified NABERS rating if, since the rating
was obtained, works that are likely to effect the energy rating of the building
have commenced. For this provision to apply, the assessor must form the opinion
that the works are likely to alter the NABERS rating by at least a single half-star
increment. The Determination can be accessed via the
CBD website.
Remember...only a CBD Accredited Assessor can apply for a BEEC on behalf of the
building owner/lessor.
When can lighting assessments be submitted?
The department is now accepting completed CBD Lighting Assessment forms which must
be submitted electronically to the email box
lightingapplications@cbd.gov.au. Please refer to the guidance note on the
website for further information.
When can assessors apply for a BEEC?
We are currently finalising the application for a BEEC (Building Energy Efficiency
Certificate) and guidance notes and expect to release these on the CBD website by
mid September. You will then be able to submit applications. It is important to
note that BEECs are only required when selling, leasing or subleasing a disclosure
affected building or area of a building greater than 2000m2. Although BEECs are
required from 1 November this year, this does not mean that all building owners
or lessors must have a BEEC from this date. For example, if they are not intending
to sell or lease the building until June 2012, the BEEC would not be required until
nearer this time. Of course, adequate time should be allowed to obtain the NABERS
rating, undertake the lighting assessment and apply for a BEEC.
How long does a BEEC remain current?
A BEEC will be issued and remain current until the expiry of either the NABERS Energy
rating or the lighting assessment, whichever is first. For example, if the NABERS
Energy rating is valid until 23 September 2012 and the lighting assessment is valid
until 14 March 2013, then the approved BEEC expires on 23 September 2012. Further
details will be provided in the guidance notes on BEECs.
Why have you removed the NABERs ratings from the CBD website?
Up until a few weeks back we were displaying buildings with a NABERS energy rating
on the CBD website. As we prepare for the issuing of
BEECs we are no longer displaying this list. However, this page provides a link
to the NABERS website where the Recognised Ratings (i.e. a NABERS Energy star ratings
issued by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage) can be viewed.
Where can I buy a ballast discriminator?
As part of undertaking a lighting assessment, assessors may need a ballast discriminator.
If you wish to purchase this item there are a number of electrical equipment suppliers
you could approach including:
The provision of these names should not be seen as an endorsement by this department
of these suppliers. It is likely that there are other suppliers and it is up to
the assessor to determine the most appropriate supplier and product.
We would like to hear from you
This is the first update we will provide to CBD Accredited Assessors. We would like
to receive comments from you, helpful tips or any other matters related to the Commercial
Building Disclosure program. Please send email to info@cbd.gov.au.
CBD Accredited Assessors update No.2 – 16 September 2011
This update is provided for the information of CBD Accredited Assessors.
Numbers of assessors
There are now over 80 CBD accredited assessors listed on the
CBD website.
BEEC application form - now available!
The application form for a BEEC (Building Energy Efficiency Certificate) and guidance
notes are now available on the CBD website at http://www.cbd.gov.au/FindRatings.aspx.
Copies are attached for your information but we encourage you to regularly check
for new versions on the website in case changes have been made.
The guidance note outlines the various scenarios with lighting assessments and NABERS
ratings and how the BEECs will operate.
The application form contains instructions on how to complete the form. Please note
that CBD staff cannot change information in forms which are incomplete or not correct
so please check all information before you submit – incomplete forms will be returned
to the assessor.
Do all buildings need a BEEC on 1 November 2011?
Not necessarily. A BEEC is only mandatory when a building or area of a building
is being sold or leased. For example, if the building is going to market on 1 December
it will need a BEEC, which includes a NABERS Energy rating and the tenancy lighting
assessment, by the time it goes on the market. If the sale is not proceeding until
1 May 2012 then no action would be required until nearer that date. But building
owners should not leave it to the last minute. Please advise your clients that they
should allow 4-6 weeks to get a NABERS rating, as well as time to submit the lighting
assessment and apply for a BEEC. DCCEE aims to process BEEC applications within
28 days of receipt.
Lighting assessment form – please check all information carefully before submitting
The department is now receiving completed CBD Lighting Assessment forms. As part
of the auditing process we review each form and where there are errors we need to
return the form to the assessor for amendments. The form has clear instructions
on how to complete but there have been a number of minor errors as follows:
- Form name is incorrect. The Instructions tab in the form states that the name of
the street address must be included in the form name e.g: 100SydneyStreetSA.xlsm.
- Assessment details - all the yellow boxes must be filled in. If the item is not
applicable then include terms like 'none' or 'not applicable'. Make sure you include
your CBD Accredited Assessor number, for example CBDAxxxx.
- Functional spaces – only add additional spaces if necessary. All functional spaces
included in the form will be shown on the BEEC – this means that functional spaces
with no data would be shown which will only cause confusion for potential buyers
or tenants. Forms with blank additional spaces will not be processed.
- Functional spaces calculation – in cells E53-58 you must provide a clear location
of where your evidence is stored e.g. "Hard copy file name or filepath "Assessment
docs\Functional Spaces\Level 1". Simply using 'on file' will not allow our Auditors
to find the evidence.
- Functional spaces calculation – when determining if the area is assessable (cell
B7) and you select 'No', make sure your reason provides sufficient detail e.g. the
area had lots of meeting rooms and they were not assessable'. This will allow the
Auditors to compare your representative area complies with the CBD Tenancy Lighting
Assessment for Offices Rules.
- Functional spaces calculation -– describe the components of the representative area
(cell B41) – don't simply list the measuring device you used. Again, this will allow
the Auditors to compare your representative area with the CBD Tenancy Lighting Assessment
for Offices Rules.
Commercial Building Disclosure seminars
There are still places available at the Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra seminars.
Remember, the Canberra seminar will be broadcast via the Internet for those people
who are unable to attend the seminars. To register go to http://www.climatechange.gov.au/what-you-need-to-know/buildings/commercial/disclosure.aspx.
Website
The CBD website is our primary media for delivering information to all stakeholders
affected by the program. Some recent changes include:
- placing all the lighting assessment information on one page
http://www.cbd.gov.au/CBDTenancyLightingAssessments.aspx.
- creation of an assessor page http://www.cbd.gov.au/BecomeAssessor.aspx.
- placing all the ratings and BEEC information on one page
http://www.cbd.gov.au/FindRatings.aspx. As advised in CBD Assessor update No
1 (1 September 2011) we are no longer displaying the NABERS rating on the BEEC register.
However, this page provides a link to the NABERS website where the Recognised Ratings
(i.e. a NABERS Energy star ratings issued by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage)
can be viewed.
- inclusion of additional topics in the A_Z index and
linkages to the relevant area on the website including medical centres, 75% office
ruling, NLA and GLA, strata title and assignment of leases. Information on these
has been on the website for some time.
The A_Z index is a good way of finding topics on the
webpage. If you identify topics that should be indexed please let us know.
We would like to hear from you
We would like to receive comments from you, helpful tips or any other matters related
to the Commercial Building Disclosure program. Please send email to
info@cbd.gov.au.