BERS Pro Courses
Introduction
The Australian Building Code Board requires that anyone submitting an energy assessment using simulation software complying with protocol 2006.1 (second generation simulation software) be a suitably competent person. A competent person in this context is one who has successfully completed the 4 day Short Course in Building Thermal Performance Assessment (Residential). This course does not cover the energy auditing functions of BERS Pro Plus.
Solar Logic offers a one day course to bring assessors up to speed on the new BERS Pro V4.2 software. There has been an extensive accreditation procedure to sort out differences between BERS Pro and ACCURATE. This has been conducted between Solar Logic and the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, which acts as the NatHERS administrator. A number of changes have been made to BERS Pro as a result and new functions have been added. This course also offers the oportunity to refresh your skills and to add to your knowledge base, particularly to those that did the 4 day training course some time ago. There will plenty of opportunity to ask questions about procedures.
Solar Logic also offers an advanced course that covers the new energy auditing functions introduced into BERS Pro Plus.
All courses are available throughout Australia.
First Generation Software Assessors
Assessors who have been using first generation software (BERS3.2 - protocol 2005.1) now have to do an additional 4 days of training to be able to submit assessments using second generation software, (BERS Pro).
1 Short Course in Building Thermal Performance Assessment (Residential)
Training Dates
Darwin
TBA
Brisbane
13-16 February
28-31 May
Sydney
26-29 March
Canberra
30 April - 3 May
Melbourne
5-8 March
Perth
21-24 November
13-16 February
19-22 March
30 April -3 May
14-17 May
Hobart
16-19 April
Launceston
TBA
Adelaide
4-7 June
Please submit the training application form or email our training section at training@smartrate.com.au.
Course Duration
The course extends over a period of 4 days comprising
- Two days of theory including professional practice.
- Two days of learning to drive the BERS Pro software
Course Outline
Theory
- Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Climate
- Thermal Comfort
- Thermal Principles
- Solar Geometry
- Thermal Mass
- Insulation
- Glazing
- Air Movement
- Thermal Simulation
Simulation
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Simple 1 room house
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Simple 3 room house
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Complex single storey house
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Two storey house
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Two storey apartment
Please note that this course does not cover any of the new energy auditing features introduced in BERS Pro Plus. These features are covered in our advanced course.
Assessment
Assessments are conducted during the 4 days of training.
- Theory is assessed with multiple choice questions.
- Software competency is assessed by successfully modelling and rating a number of houses.
Course Fees
The 4 days of training costs $1760 including GST. BERS Pro software only training costs $950 including GST.
Payment can be made by EFT, cheque or credit card.
Prerequisites
The following prerequisites apply. The trainee must be able to:
- Read and interpret house plans and specifications
- Understand how buildings are constructed
- Be competent at using a computer
- Use Windows Internet Explorer
- Download updates from a web site
- Use Windows Explorer to view directories and locate files
- Be able to replace files with newer versions
We can send you a short test if you do not have a building industry background.
A good building reference is:
Building Your Own Home
A comprehensive guide for Australian Owner Builders
George Wilkie and Stuart Arden
Publisher New Holland.
Continued Professional Development
This Course can earn you CPD points with ABSA.
2 Update Skills in using BERS Pro V4.2 Course (Earns a minimum of 3 CPD Points)
Training Dates
Brisbane
19 December
17 February
1 June
Sydney
16 December
30 March
Melbourne
9 March
Perth
25 November
17 February
4 May
18 May
Launceston
TBA
Hobart
20 April
Adelaide
8 June
Canberra
TBA
Darwin
TBA
Purpose of the Course
This one day course covers the new features and changes as a result of the NatHERS accreditation procedure which lead to the release of the new version of BERS, i.e. BERS Pro V4.2. The course also covers advanced topics that have not been covered to any great detail in the 4 day course. It has also been designed for BERS Pro users who completed the initial training course some time ago, who may not have used the software regularly or who wish to brush up on the basic skills required to use the program correctly.
The BERS Pro training course was first introduced for BERS V4.1 in September 2006. Since then the software has evolved and has been updated on a number of occasions as new improvements and features have been added.
The techniques used to model houses and run simulations have changed as a result of these software upgrades and changes in regulatory requirements.
Please note that this course does not cover any of the new energy auditing features introduced in BERS Pro Plus. These features are covered in our advanced course.
Topics covered
- Underfloor spaces, Ventilation and insulation of enclosing walls
- Internal wall to roofspace heat transfer
- Modelling roof space above outside air
- Elevation effects on ventilation
- Polystyrene and sheet steel sandwich panels for walls and roof/ceiling
- Batch processesing. Variaton of location and rotation
- Mirror reversal of plans
- Importing and scaling of background images
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Review of modeling techniques for skylights, clerestory windows, composite wall construction, shadowing from adjacent buildings and elements
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Review of BERS Pro tools & how to use them
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Modelling of Class 2 & 4 buildings
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Use of eave overhangs for upper floor projections
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Use of wing walls & vertical fins.
Simulation Exercise
The thermal simulation of a house plan that includes some of the new features discussed will be used as an exercise to be completed during training.
Statement of Attendance and Free Software
A Statement of Attendance will be provided as a record so you can claim CPD points with ABSA, BDAV etc. A CD with a complete new install of BERS Pro Plus V4.2 will be distributed to all attendees. This is currently the only way of obtaining this update.
Duration
This is a one day course.
Course Fee
$295 including GST.
Prerequisites and Computing Requirements
The trainee must have completed Course 1.
No computers will be available at the training venue so it is essential that trainees bring their own laptops.
Continued Professional Development
This Course will earn you a minimum of 3 CPD points with ABSA and 6 CPD points with the BDAV.
3 Advanced Course in using BERS Pro Plus (Earns a minimum of 3 CPD Points)
Training Dates
Brisbane
TBA
Sydney
TBA
Melbourne
TBA
Canberra
TBA
Adelaide
TBA
Perth
TBA
Tasmania-Venue TBA
TBA
Course Outline
This course covers advanced topics that concern the new energy auditing features in BERS Pro Plus.
It does not cover any of the topics covered in the 4 day training course or Update Skills Course.
All Courses
Terms and Conditions
- Enrolments can only be accepted after full payment has been made.
- It will not be possible to enrol on the day training commences.
- Cancellation must be made in writing with refunds available only under the conditions stated below.
- Failure to attend without adequate notification will not result in any refund or rescheduling.
Cancellations
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Transfers to another course date are treated as cancellations.
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No refund or transfer to another course can be given within 5 working days of the course start date. You may however substitute another participant
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Cancellation 5 to 10 working days prior to the course will result in a 50% refund
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Cancellations more than 10 working days prior to the beginning of a course will result in a full refund minus a $100 administration fee.
Change of Course Date
Due to the unpredictable nature of the demand for the course and the relatively small numbers making up each training group, a course may not go ahead as scheduled if numbers are insufficient.
Payment does not guarantee that a particular course will proceed as scheduled.
Enrolled participants will receive an email confirming that a course will commence as scheduled.
If a particular course is cancelled then all confirmed participants will be offered a place in the next available course but will not be obliged to accept the place if the date is not convenient.
Participants will be notified by email of a change in any course date at least 5 working days before the scheduled commencement of the course.
