Shading is one of the most important passive thermal strategies within residential architecture.
NSW Residential Envelope Guide
Airtightness can influence real-world comfort and energy use, but its relationship with BASIX is more specific than simply describing a home as sealed or draught-free.
Uncontrolled air leakage can allow conditioned air to escape and external air to enter through gaps, penetrations and construction junctions. This can create draughts, reduce temperature stability and weaken the practical benefit of insulation and efficient heating or cooling systems.
Within a BASIX thermal comfort assessment using NatHERS software, air movement is represented through standardised modelling assumptions and inputs for relevant openings and penetrations. The assessment does not ordinarily measure the completed home’s actual whole-building leakage rate.
This guide explains that distinction. For the wider BASIX targets, documentation and NSW submission pathway, visit the BASIX Knowledge Hub.
