Release History


1.6.0

These changes went live 17 August 2019.

User Interface Changes

  • Managing Projects - In 1.6.0 projects are "snapshotted" when published. The snapshotted version of the project shows in the version history on the Projects page and the project remains in editable form. Users can now publish projects and easily adjust them after submission for future re-submissions (no copying required).

  • Editor Grids - The editor grids in Project Details, Water, IEQ & Energy sections have changed to allow users to make wholesale changes & updates before committing them to the project to be recalculated. This allows for faster and more accurate results representing a complete state of the section to be displayed to the user. Editor grids also support validation to ensure that all relevant inputs required for the calculated results to make sense are provided.

  • Non Residential Spaces - The Project Details section now allows for multiple non-residential spaces of the same building class but different services to be entered to easily and more accurately model the development.

  • Sharing Project Reports - All projects now have a unique randomly generated Alpha-Numeric code (i.e. "AB1234C5") that is provided on the reports and project pages. This unique code improves security and in future, will allow project reports to be securely and safely shared to parties that need access that may not have a BESS account.

  • Credit Results - Calculated credit results are now updated when the credit is recalculated. Previously just the score section would dynamically update and a page reload would be required to obtain the calculated results.

  • Energy Profile Questions - These questions have been reordered to ensure all the key profiling questions are asked first and not shifted after dependent sections like DTS.

  • Project Report Info - Project reports for projects updated or published since 1.6 will now include information on the exact Version and software build number of BESS it was generated from.

Scoring & Credit Changes

  • Water Use Credit - Water Credits 1.1 and 2.1 have been combined and now allow for Recycled Water to be taken into account. Water can be sourced from Rainwater Tanks and/or Recycled Water systems for this credit. Fixtures and appliances have been updated in line with current WELS ratings and market availability.

  • Central Hot Water Systems - Hot Water system options have been simplified and a new Central System profiling question introduced to model a wider range of Hot Water system configurations.

  • Energy 3.3 / 3.4 - Items to be marked on floorplans have been updated.

  • Energy 4.5 - A new solar photovoltaic credit has been introduced for Class 1 developments where solar power is providing at least 30% of the building classes' energy requirements.

  • IEQ - New Cross Ventilation credit in IEQ for single res / townhouses.

  • IEQ - Winter sunlight credit has been disconnected from the DTS and in-built calculator and now has entry in the credit only.

  • Transport - Visitor bike parking ratio has been updated to 1 space required per 5 dwelling.

  • Transport 1.3 is only achievable when Transport 1.1 is achieved.

  • Transport 1.4 / 1.5 - More accurate wording has been supplied for these credit criteria. Whilst the credit scoring is still based on yes/no answers, a "number of bicycle places provided" input is provided for the project owner to provide information supporting this credit.

  • Transport - Showers and lockers required is now based on how many bicycle places are being provided instead of building area.

  • Energy - Greenhouse Gas Factors used in energy calculations have been updated.

  • Energy - NatHERS Climate Zones - have been updated for victorian postcodes.

Other Minor Changes

  • Terminology: Living areas has been renamed Habitable areas in BESS.

Existing and new projects

  • New projects - will be created in the latest version (v1.6)

  • Existing draft v1.3, v1.4 and v1.5 projects - as before, you will be asked if you want to upgrade the project to the latest version (v1.6) when you open the project. You can keep the project as the existing version (i.e. v1.3, v1.4 or v1.5) if you wish, though this is not recommended as existing bugs will remain.

  • Existing published v1.3, v1.4 and v1.5 projects - you will be able to view and print your project as that version (i.e. v1.3, v1.4 or v1.5). If you copy the project as a new version, the project will be upgraded to the latest version (v1.6) and your project score may change. If you wish to keep your project as the existing version (i.e. v1.3, v1.4 or v1.5), please contact the BESS support team through the Contact page.