Browse Forums Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1 Jan 23, 2016 5:41 am Have any forum members recently completed the online Basix Certificate? I would have thought that I had a fairly simple complying project (86ha lot, 4x 22.5kL rainwater tanks, 5kW off grid power, no air con or pool) but can't even get past the first base and satisfy the "water" requirements. Maybe my poor old brain is a little "befuddled" these days but this Basix rubbish is not helping. Surely things don't have to be this difficult just to build your own house? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Bill. Re: "Basix" compliance 2Jan 23, 2016 8:44 am What's holding you up? The water requirements are pretty straight forward. Taps, tanks, rainwater to your toilet and laundry. It ain't rocket science. Just log back into the BASIX site and change some of the tap ratings etc and I'm sure you will get it to comply. Quote: Maybe my poor old brain is a little "befuddled" these days but this Basix rubbish is not helping. It isn't rubbish either. Before the NSW state govt instigated this they found we Aussies had the highest use per capita in the world for water usage and the second highest energy use per capita after the US. Truly appalling statistics. At least now the trend is continuing downwards. Stewie Re: "Basix" compliance 3Jan 23, 2016 10:26 am Stewie, thanks for your reply....I have tried just about all combinations of taps/tanks etc over about a 10 hr period on line. I just cannot get it to work! Can't really work out what I am doing wrong. That is why I sought help! Have you actually done one? Maybe you are just the guy to help???? "Stupid Basix".....maybe you are right about us Aussies using too much water and power. That may be true of suburban users connected to mains water and power. In my case I am generating my own power and using my own stored farm water. Whether I use a 5 star rated shower or a 3" fire hose to clean myself with will have very little influence on the amount of water that flows off my property and into the streams and thus the environment. Nevertheless, I am quite happy to try and comply. That is what I'm having trouble with. Re: "Basix" compliance 4Jan 23, 2016 2:07 pm Since Basix came in I have completed probably fifty or so on behalf of clients. If I remember correctly from one of your previous posts with your situation aren't you building two houses under OB ? Stewie Re: "Basix" compliance 5Jan 25, 2016 7:19 am Stewie, thanks once again for your reply. Yes, I was initially thinking of building 2 new dwellings under the one OB permit. That may or may not have been a goer depending on the outcome of the decision from Fair Trading. It now looks as if my existing dwelling has sold so I will have to move along a bit quicker!!!! My current thinking is to still submit a Dual Occupancy - detached DA, but buy in a kit home (dwelling 1) which the supplier would build/erect under his licence. I would live in dwelling 1 while I build dwelling 2 under my OB permit. I have asked the kit home supplier if he provides a "basix" certificate (I think he would) but I would still need one for dwelling 2. I have now managed to get all "green smilies" on my online basix application for dwelling 2 except for the "thermal comfort" section. It looks as if I need an assessor for that. Correct???? To achieve the pass I had to put in all fictitious, nonsense figures. If I put in the correct numbers I get a fail! btw....because I was having so much trouble with the "basix" web site, I asked my 2 sons to have a look at it. One son is a Structural Drafter with 12 yrs experience, the other is a building surveyor in Qld. Neither of them can get a "pass" either!!!They both agree the site is a load of "crock", and that is putting it mildly! Very user unfriendly!!!! I have sent a "query" to the basix administrators so it will be interesting to see how long it takes for them to get back to me and what they have to say. Re: "Basix" compliance 6Jan 25, 2016 8:19 am Quote: My current thinking is to still submit a Dual Occupancy - detached DA, but buy in a kit home (dwelling 1) which the supplier would build/erect under his licence. I would live in dwelling 1 while I build dwelling 2 under my OB permit. I see, yes that may be the best way of getting around building two dwellings on one title Quote: I have asked the kit home supplier if he provides a "basix" certificate (I think he would) but I would still need one for dwelling 2. He may, but most builders - kit home or otherwise don't want to know about lodging DA's or any of the other documentation necessary. Quote: I have now managed to get all "green smilies" on my online basix application for dwelling 2 except for the "thermal comfort" section. It looks as if I need an assessor for that. Correct???? Hmmm, without seeing your plans I don't know what could be causing the issue. Most BC's I can get to comply relatively easily and it usually only takes me an hour to an hour and a half once I've logged onto the Basix website Quote: To achieve the pass I had to put in all fictitious, nonsense figures. If I put in the correct numbers I get a fail! Once again ????? Quote: They both agree the site is a load of "crock", and that is putting it mildly! Very user unfriendly!!!! I find it pretty easy to navigate around compared to other similar sites but I have done this quite a few times now. Quote: I have sent a "query" to the basix administrators so it will be interesting to see how long it takes for them to get back to me and what they have to say. Any query I've sent to them has been a bit like a question sent to Microsofts help line. The answer will be technically correct but of no real use. Like councils, they will be extremely non-committal as to how to solve the problem. Are you doing the thermal assessment via the "simplified method " ? I should log onto the site and have a look at one of my older jobs to see what if any has changed. Stewie Re: "Basix" compliance 7Jan 27, 2016 10:47 am If you have difficulty it may be worthwhile to pay a consultant, it's not a lot in the scheme of things. You should be building per the certificate not just jumping through the hoops. Custom knockdown rebuild Newcastle NSW viewtopic.php?t=78271 Re: "Basix" compliance 8Jan 29, 2016 6:23 am Ok, I think I have it sorted!!! Because I first entered the project as a "dual occupancy" the Basix software/program continued on with that assumption despite me changing the project to a "single dwelling". Thus, I was asked all types of more complex questions re "central systems" and the simplistic analysis was not available. surprising enough, a lady from the "basix" crowd did answer my online query and confirmed that that was indeed what the problem was. Thanks again for your inputs, Stewie & Lecksie. For anyone that comes across this issue in the future - Just did what aussieta said and found a plumber to inspect it and sign off on it. Was difficult to find someone to… 3 7055 From a pure legal perspective, if you've signed the variation, it is a very high bar to have it set aside. No-one can give you legal advice on a forum, but you would need… 3 5483 |