What Your Assessor Needs From Your Plans: A NatHERS Document Checklist
A clean set of plans means a faster, cheaper assessment. Here is exactly what your assessor needs to model your home accurately.
The single biggest factor in how fast and how cheaply your assessment runs is the quality of the plans you provide. Complete, scaled drawings let us model the home in one pass. Missing information means back-and-forth and delays. Here is the checklist we work from.
The essentials
- Site plan showing orientation, the north point and neighbouring buildings or fences that cast shade.
- Floor plans for every level, to scale, with room labels and dimensions.
- Elevations for all four sides showing window and door positions and heights.
- Sections showing ceiling heights, roof pitch and floor construction.
- Window schedule with sizes and any specified glazing types.
The details that speed things up
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Construction types | Brick veneer, timber, concrete all model differently |
| Eave widths | Shading is a major rating lever |
| Roof colour and material | Affects heat absorption |
| Insulation intentions | Lets us optimise rather than guess |
| Hot water and appliances | Needed for Whole-of-Home |
Why accuracy pays off
An accurate model from the start means we can test the cheapest paths to 7 stars and give you firm advice in one go. Vague or incomplete plans force assumptions, and assumptions either cost you stars or cost you a re-model when the real details arrive.
Do not worry if it is not final
Plans do not need to be construction-ready. In fact, sending them at design stage is ideal, because changes are still free. We would rather see a draft early than a locked-in design too late to improve.
Frequently asked questions
What format should plans be in? Scaled PDFs are perfect. CAD files are welcome but not required.
What if I do not have a window schedule? We can work from dimensioned elevations, though a schedule speeds things up.
Got your plans ready? Send them through for a fast, accurate assessment.
BASIX & NatHERS specialists, a division of Contrive Consultants. We help NSW homeowners and builders achieve energy-efficient, compliant homes.