VURB Assessment Documents | Residential Checklist

A VURB assessment depends on clear, coordinated information about the proposed dwelling. Floor plans alone are rarely enough to establish the reference-building comparison accurately.

The assessor may also need elevations, sections, glazing information, external shading, construction build-ups, insulation specifications and confirmation of the jurisdiction and approval pathway.

Providing the right documents early can reduce assumptions, clarify the assessment scope and limit avoidable modelling revisions as the design develops.

Which drawings, schedules and construction details are needed for a residential VURB assessment?

A residential VURB assessment will commonly require the project location, building classification, current architectural drawings, glazing and shading information, envelope construction details and relevant approval comments.

The information must be sufficiently coordinated to define both the proposed dwelling and the compliant reference building. Inconsistencies between plans, elevations, sections and schedules can delay modelling or require assumptions to be confirmed.

Concept documentation may be enough for an initial pathway or fee review. Formal modelling and technical reporting generally require more complete information.

Detailed mechanical-services, lighting and appliance schedules are not normally core inputs to the H6V2 thermal-performance comparison. Separate domestic-services, whole-of-home or jurisdiction-specific requirements may require additional information outside the VURB scope.

The assessment should begin with enough information to confirm where the project is located, what is being assessed and which compliance framework may apply.

Initial project information commonly includes:

• project address and state or territory;
• building classification and dwelling type;
• new build, alteration or addition status;
• applicable or anticipated NCC edition;
• current design and approval stage;
• planning or building-approval pathway;
• relevant performance requirements being addressed;
• certifier or building surveyor details where available; and
• comments or requests already issued by the approval authority.

This information helps establish whether VURB is available and whether a complete reference-building assessment is proportionate to the issue being resolved.

Architectural drawings establish the form, dimensions, orientation and construction boundaries of the dwelling. They should be current, legible and internally consistent.

A coordinated drawing set will commonly include:

• site plan showing orientation and property context;
• dimensioned floor plans for every level;
• external elevations;
• building sections;
• roof plans where relevant;
• room names and intended uses;
• floor-to-floor and ceiling heights;
• voids, double-height spaces and split levels;
• garages, balconies, verandahs and other adjoining areas;
• external wall, roof and floor boundaries; and
• drawing revision numbers and issue dates.

Plans define the layout, but elevations and sections are equally important. They show window heights, roof geometry, ceiling profiles, exposed floors, eaves and other conditions that may not be clear from a plan alone.

Where the plans, elevations and sections show different dimensions or design conditions, the assessor may need clarification before modelling can proceed.

Glazing can have a substantial influence on heating and cooling loads, so window information should be more detailed than a general note such as “double glazing throughout”.

Useful glazing documentation may include:

• window and glazed-door identifiers matching the drawings;
• opening dimensions and locations;
• frame material and configuration;
• glass type and glazing system;
• whole-window U-value where available;
• whole-window solar heat gain coefficient where available;
• operable and fixed components;
• roof-light or skylight specifications; and
• manufacturer or product data where a particular system is proposed.

Window areas shown in the schedule should align with the plans and elevations. If the schedule is preliminary, that should be stated clearly so the assessor can identify which inputs remain subject to confirmation.

Where several glazing options are being considered, the project team should also clarify whether alternative modelling or design iterations are included in the agreed assessment scope.

External shading should be shown accurately and consistently across the drawing set. A generic shading note may not provide enough information to represent its geometry.

Relevant information may include:

• eave depths and heights;
• awnings and fixed horizontal projections;
• balconies and verandahs;
• pergolas and covered outdoor areas;
• vertical fins and fixed screens;
• window reveals;
• adjacent building elements that create permanent shade; and
• relevant site or neighbouring context where required by the modelling method.

Movable blinds, curtains and future landscaping should not be assumed to provide permanent external shading unless the applicable method allows them to be represented and suitable evidence is available.

For homes with courtyards, angled façades, multiple wings or extensive glazing, sections and detailed elevations can be particularly important for defining shading relationships.

The proposed model must reflect the intended building envelope. Broad descriptions such as “insulated wall” or “metal roof” may not define the thermal construction sufficiently.

Construction information should identify, where relevant:

• external wall types and material layers;
• framing material and depth;
• masonry, cladding and internal lining systems;
• roof covering and roof-space configuration;
• ceiling construction and ceiling profile;
• slab-on-ground, suspended floor or enclosed subfloor conditions;
• exposed floor areas;
• intermediate floors adjoining unconditioned spaces;
• garage and dwelling separation; and
• any mixed or non-standard construction systems.

Where proprietary products or unconventional systems are proposed, suitable technical information may be needed to establish the thermal properties used in the model.

A VURB assessment does not by itself certify that a product complies with every applicable NCC requirement. Separate evidence may be required for structural, fire, weatherproofing or other performance matters outside the energy-assessment scope.

Insulation and related direct requirements remain important within the H6V2 pathway. VURB should not be treated as a mechanism for trading away every building-fabric obligation.

The project documentation may need to identify:

• insulation location and material;
• product R-value or total construction R-value, as applicable;
• roof and ceiling insulation;
• external wall insulation;
• floor and slab-edge insulation;
• thermal breaks to relevant metal-framed construction;
• insulation continuity at junctions;
• treatment of roof lights, penetrations and access hatches; and
• building-sealing details required by the applicable provisions.

The drawings and specifications should distinguish between insulation that is confirmed and insulation that remains a proposed allowance.

Where the assessment relies on a particular construction detail, that detail should be carried consistently into the approval and construction documentation.

Detailed HVAC equipment schedules are not generally a core input to the H6V2 comparison of the proposed and reference buildings’ heating and cooling loads.

The method should not be described as an assessment of actual air-conditioning efficiency, household energy bills, lighting consumption or occupant behaviour.

However, information about penetrations, exhaust systems or other services may still be relevant where it affects building sealing or another directly applicable provision.

Separate NCC requirements for domestic services and whole-of-home energy use may also apply. Those requirements should be scoped independently rather than assumed to form part of the VURB thermal-performance report.

VURB requires coordinated inputs because both the proposed and reference models must be established from the project information.

Common documentation issues include:

• windows shown differently on plans and elevations;
• glazing schedules that do not match the latest drawings;
• missing ceiling or floor levels;
• unclear boundaries between conditioned and unconditioned areas;
• construction types that vary between details and specifications;
• shading dimensions that cannot be confirmed;
• insulation values that differ across documents; and
• several drawing revisions issued without a clear superseded set.

These issues do not always prevent an initial review, but they can create additional queries and modelling revisions.

A controlled drawing issue, clear revision register and consolidated response to technical questions can help the assessment proceed more efficiently.

Initial pathway review

Concept plans, elevations, sections, the project location and a description of the likely construction systems may be enough to identify whether VURB is available and worth investigating.

Assessment and design development

The assessor will generally need more complete geometry, glazing, shading, envelope construction and insulation information. Unresolved items should be recorded as assumptions or pending decisions.

Final technical reporting

The final drawing set and specifications should align with the modelled design. Material changes made after modelling may require the assessment and technical report to be updated.

There is no universal VURB assessment timeframe. Delivery depends on the project complexity, documentation quality, modelling scope, consultant availability and number of design iterations required.

A complete and coordinated submission can reduce the time spent resolving basic inputs. By contrast, missing glazing data, changing geometry or unresolved construction systems may prevent the final model from being completed.

The agreed proposal should identify the expected documentation stage, included review rounds and any assumptions about response times from the project team.

Urgent delivery may still be constrained where essential information has not been provided or where major design changes occur during the assessment.

The final deliverables depend on the agreed consultancy scope and the evidence required for the project’s Performance Solution.

The scope may include:

• a record of the assessment basis and project documentation;
• proposed and reference-building modelling results;
• the applicable heating and cooling load comparison;
• identified modelling assumptions;
• relevant proposed construction specifications;
• technical conclusions against the applicable verification criteria; and
• supporting material for the wider Performance Solution documentation.

A VURB consultant’s report should not automatically be described as a statutory compliance certificate. The modelling and technical evidence support the compliance strategy, while acceptance and approval remain subject to the relevant certifier, building surveyor or approval authority.

The proposal should state clearly whether design advice, additional iterations, formal Performance Solution documentation or responses to approval comments are included.

Can a VURB quote be prepared from concept plans?

Often, yes. Concept plans may be sufficient for an initial pathway and fee review where they show the dwelling form, orientation, glazing, elevations and likely construction systems. The final scope may need to be refined when more detailed information becomes available.

Are detailed window specifications required?

The formal model will generally require enough information to establish the proposed whole-window performance. Where final products have not been selected, preliminary performance assumptions may be used if they are stated clearly and later confirmed.

Is an insulation schedule enough?

Only where it aligns with the drawings and clearly identifies which insulation applies to each wall, roof, ceiling and floor construction. Construction build-ups and details may still be needed to understand how the insulation is installed.

Do you need HVAC and lighting schedules?

Not generally for the core H6V2 heating and cooling load comparison. Separate services, whole-of-home or jurisdiction-specific requirements may require additional documentation under another scope.

Can the assessment start while details are unresolved?

A preliminary model may be able to proceed using clearly documented assumptions. The final report should not rely on unresolved information that has not been confirmed by the project team.

What happens if the design changes after modelling?

Changes to geometry, glazing, shading, insulation or construction systems may affect the assessment result. The model and report should be reviewed where the final design differs materially from the assessed documentation.

Does VURB apply in New South Wales?

No. H6V2 Verification Using a Reference Building does not apply under the current NSW variation to NCC 2022 Volume Two. NSW residential projects should instead be reviewed against the applicable BASIX, NSW NCC and approval requirements.

Does the assessor issue the building approval?

No. The assessor prepares modelling and technical evidence within the agreed scope. The overall compliance strategy and approval remain subject to the relevant certifier, building surveyor or approval authority.