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Rules for accreditation
Home Energy Rating software is accredited by the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS). Software tools must meet strict compliance standards before they can be approved for use by assessors.
- New home rating software must adhere to the Software Accreditation Protocol (SAP link), which sets out how tools must perform, report and generate certificates.
- a temporary pause to new entrant applications for accreditation under the SAP is in place until agreement is reached regarding a future accreditation model.
- during this pause, currently accredited software tools AccuRate Home , Hero, BERS Pro and FirstRate5 will continue to operate under the current SAP model.
- Existing home rating software must adhere to the Software User Interface Protocol, a cloud-based model in which tools interface with the CSIRO platform where all rating calculations, certificates and upgrade advice is generated.
- a draft UIP to include accreditation of new homes rating tools will be circulated for consultation in mid-2026.
Together, these requirements ensure that accredited software provides accurate, consistent results.
Summary of NatHERS for new homes accreditation status and use under the National Construction Code (NCC link) (unless stated differently by your jurisdiction):
| Tool | NCC 2019 | NCC 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| AccuRate Home | AccuRate Sustainability 2.4.3.21 SP1 (Using Chenath v3.21) | Version v1.3.3.24 (using Chenath v3.24) Includes:
|
| BERS Pro | Version 4.4.1.5 (Using Chenath v3.21) | Version 5.2.5 (using Chenath v3.23) Includes:
|
| FirstRate5 | Version 5.3.2b for Thermal Assessments (using Chenath v3.21) | Version v5.5.5a (using Chenath 3.22) Includes:
Excludes:
Whole-of-Home (Version 1.0.1) Includes:
Excludes:
|
| Hero | Version 3.0.1 up to the current accredited version - users should switch to NatHERS NCC 2019 profile (using Chenath v3.21). | Version 4.1 (NCC 2022 profile using Chenath v3.23) Includes:
Excludes:
|
Last updated
16 Mar 2026