Section J compliance shouldn't mean expensive glazing or insulation you don't need. JV3 modelling finds a smarter path—same code compliance, less construction cost.
Deemed to Satisfy (DTS) demands low U-values that mean thermally broken frames or high-performance coatings. Showrooms with display glass? Often can't pass DTS at all.
We model the whole building. If your roof insulation exceeds code or your HVAC is efficient, we use those gains to offset glazing. Same performance, simpler windows.
Unusual geometry, heritage façades, innovative materials—DTS assumes a standard building. Yours isn't standard.
Enter the JV3 pathway. We create a detailed 3D thermal model of your actual design. Your building only needs to perform as well as a code-compliant reference—it doesn't need to look like one.
Section J issues often surface at IFC stage—or worse, on site. At that point, fixing things means redesign and programme delays.
We get involved early, often at design development. Identify gaps before drawings are finalised. Make decisions while options are still open. Get certainty before you commit.
We build a detailed 3D thermal model of your design — not a generic reference building. Your geometry, your materials, your HVAC system.
Good roof insulation? Efficient HVAC? Favourable orientation? We use those gains to offset areas where DTS says you'd need to upgrade.
Your building's modelled energy use is compared against a compliant reference building. If yours performs as well or better — you pass. Often with simpler, cheaper components.
A signed JV3 report ready for your certifier or council submission. Includes the modelling methodology, assumptions, and compliance outcome. Typically 5–10 business days from finalised drawings.
A JV3 assessment is an energy modelling method under NCC Section J that lets a commercial building demonstrate compliance by comparing its modelled annual energy use against a reference building of identical form — rather than meeting prescriptive DTS requirements element by element. If your building performs as well or better than the reference, it passes. This pathway is typically used when DTS would require expensive glazing upgrades, when the design has non-standard geometry, or when the team needs flexibility to trade off one element against another.
JV3 is worth considering when your building has large glazed areas, high window-to-wall ratios (greater than 30%), or a facade that doesn't fit DTS assumptions. It's also valuable when you have efficient HVAC or high levels of roof insulation — where those gains can offset glazing performance requirements. If a DTS check shows you're close to passing but failing on one or two elements, JV3 modelling can often find a compliant path without changing the design.
We typically start with architectural drawings at design development stage — floor plans, elevations, and sections. A preliminary services schedule helps if available, but we can work with assumptions and refine as details are confirmed. Early engagement is better: the earlier we're involved, the more options we have to influence the outcome. Send us what you have and we'll tell you honestly whether JV3 is likely to help your project.
Typically 5–10 business days from receipt of finalised drawings and services information. Where designs are still evolving, we work iteratively — providing preliminary modelling early so design decisions can be informed by compliance data rather than made in the dark.
JV3 modelling involves more work than a DTS compliance check, so yes — the assessment fee is higher. But the relevant comparison is total project cost, not consultant fee. If JV3 modelling saves $15,000–$50,000 in glazing or facade upgrades, the additional modelling cost is recovered many times over. We'll give you an honest assessment of whether the likely savings justify the additional fee before you commit.
