JV3 Verification using a Reference building

Now a well-known term amongst design and construction practitioners, a JV3 Verification using a Reference building (JV3) is an Assessment Method that can form part of a Performance Solution within the National Construction Code.

Introduced to the National Construction Code (NCC) alongside energy efficiency in 2006, it has become the primary strategy for compliance. As the NCC energy efficiency provisions have become more onerous, notably in 2010 and 2019, the JV3 assessment method has continued to be adopted as a more flexible approach to design.

It’s flexibility has generally been sought as an investment mechanism to “trade-off” building performance requirements, while still meeting the minimum Performance Requirements of the code while avoiding the deemed-to-satisfy pathway. This “trade-off” is now less prevalent within NCC 2019.

As one of four Verification Methods within Section J Energy Efficiency, the NCC 2019 JV3 compares the greenhouse gas emissions of a proposed building design to that of a Reference building design which is based on the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions. If the greenhouse gas emissions of the proposed building design do not exceed that of the Reference building design, compliance with the Performance Requirements (JP1) are deemed to have been achieved.

The steps to using the JV3 Verification Method are:

1. Model and determine the theoretical annual greenhouse gas emissions allowance by modelling a Deemed-to-Satisfy Reference Building design referencing Specification JVb.
2. Model and determine the theoretical annual greenhouse gas emissions of the Proposed Building design referencing Specification JVb.
3. Model and determine the theoretical annual greenhouse gas emissions of the Proposed Building design, with the services modelled as if they were the same as that of the Deemed-to-Satisfy Reference Building.
4. Compare the theoretical annual greenhouse gas emissions calculated in steps 2 and 3 to the annual greenhouse gas emissions allowance calculated in step 1 to ensure that in both cases, the annual greenhouse gas emissions are not more than that allowed.

JV3 can be used for all buildings using occupancy profiles and other assumptions provided in Specifications JVb and JVc. The same software must be used in all modelling runs.

In order to meet the Performance Requirement of the National Construction Code, multiple JV3 Verification using a Reference building (JV3) pathways are available to compare against the Reference Building.

The most common pathway is to provide a Performance Solution for the building envelope (fabric only), where the proposed building is modelled with the proposed building envelope and with the Reference Building (Deemed-to-Satisfy) fabric services.

This is the most common pathway as the building envelope is typically the most onerous/cost effective area to ‘“trade-off” building performance requirements. If a Proposed Building has an equal or lower annual energy consumptions than the Reference building, it is deemed to meet the Performance Requirement for Energy Efficiency for building fabric only.