Software Details

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The star rating that is calculated with BERS can be used to show compliance with the thermal regulatory requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

 User Interface

•       The graphics based data entry interface has been designed to make the process of thermally modelling buildings fast and accurate.

•       All building elements are accurately dimensioned when drawn by the user with a mouse.

•       Information about the building and its environment is selected from graphics screens.

•       Properties and dimensions can be easily checked or changed with a mouse click on the plan.

•       The position of building elements can be easily changed.

•       Help screens are available to guide the inexperienced user.

•       Calculated data is displayed in graphic form as well as being saved as files or documents.

Import plans

• Plans can be imported and displayed in the background.

Features

• Multi-storey buildings comprised of many zones can be modelled.

• Rooflines are drawn by the user. Eaves widths for walls, doors and windows are calculated automatically.

• Shading of windows and walls by adjacent walls is automatically calculated.

• Overshadowing by neighbouring buildings, vegetation, mountains etc requires the dimensions and location of the obstacle to be entered only once relative to the building.

• The dimensions of walls, doors and windows are displayed as elevations that are scaled to the plan dimensions.

• Properties can be copied and then pasted to other elements of the same type.

• User constructed information such as window shading schedules, user and client profiles, default building properties etc can be saved, and then later opened and used for future projects.

• Ventilation is automatically calculated from the dimensions and location on the plan of windows, doors and other openings in combination with the wind data in the climate file.

Information is displayed to different levels of detail.

Features include being able to search the database of commercially available windows to find windows with similar properties.

Analysis of Data

• The thermal performance of a building can be analysed in terms of heating and cooling energy per floor area. This is converted to a STAR rating for regulatory compliance.

• A star rating is also assigned to each zone in the building to allow the user to easily identify which zones are working well and which ones need changes to improve performance.

• A record of the last 10 simulations is saved and can be easily accessed to assess progress in increasing the performance of a building.

• The thermal performance of "free running" buildings can also be assessed.

• Hourly temperatures of any zone for up to 4 projects can be displayed graphically.

• The starting date and duration of a period of interest can be selected for display.

• Hourly temperatures can be automatically selected for the display of extreme periods such as "a hot week in summer", "a cold week in winter" etc.

• Any of the 69 climate files can be displayed as hourly temperature graphs as described above.

• Building element properties such as the R-Values, U-Values, Solar Heat Gain Factors, graphs of window transmittance and absorptance curves etc are displayed as building elements are selected.

Simulation Engine

The mathematical “engine” at the heart of the BERS program is the same 2^nd Generation CSIRO thermal simulation engine used by ACCURATE.  ACCURATE does not have a graphics user interface.  

System requirements

BERS Pro requires at least 512 MB of RAM and 700 MB of virtual RAM. The calculations can take a while so the faster the processing the better. The graphics card should have onboard memory and fast display otherwise plan manipulation may be jerky.

The current version has been compiled for Vista, XP and Win2000.

Software Updates

Upgrades and add-ons will be available for downloading from the Solar Logic website or may be mailed out on CD.

Data for new building materials will be continually available for downloading, as will be any other enhancements and additions.

New tools for assessors are being developed and will be available for downloading by licenced users.   

Training

The training complies with the nationally accredited course developed for building sustainability assessors.

Solar Logic trains the trainers and also provides trainer support. 

There may be more demand for training than supply of courses so do the training soon to avoid not being able to submit assessments after May. 

BERS Pro assessor training is being provided throughout Australia by ABSA, (Association of Building Sustainability Assessors), an approved training organisation.

More Details

Help Desk

Solar Logic will continue to support users via the BERS help desk. We recognize the need to respond promptly to questions from practitioners earning a living. Queries will be attended to within 24 hours if possible. The help desk will not be available on weekends and public holidays.    

Help in using the software is only available to those who have successfully completed the BERS Pro training.

Updates and Demonstration version

Updates for BERS Pro can be downloaded here. A trial version can be downloaded here.

Compliance

BERS Pro meets the ABCB (Australian Building Code Board) Protocol for second generation thermal simulation software, "Protocol For House Energy Rating Software V 2006.1". This document can be downloaded from http://www.abcb.gov.au/documents/energy/energy_rating_software_protocol_2006-1.pdf

BERS Pro can be used in NSW under the second generation simulation software BASIX pilot providing that the assessor has successfully completed the BTPA Training.

BERS Pro can be used in Queensland.  Assessors must complete the BERS Pro software training before submitting assessments.

BERS Pro can be used in WA.  Assessors must complete the BERS Pro software training before submitting assessments.

BERS Pro can be used in Victoria. Assessors must complete the BERS Pro software training before submitting assessments.

BERS Pro can be used in Tasmania and South Australia.