All ductwork components (plenums etc.) are to be treated the same as ductwork, and therefore do not need to be cleaned if sealed throughout construction.

The Building/fitout log book can be in the form of an online facilities management system.

A project may utilise a dedicated online facilities management system designed to coordinate building information in lieu of a traditional fit out logbook on the condition that the online system: 

• Provides similar functionality to a logbook developed in line with CIBSE TM31 Building Log Book Toolkit;
• Covers all nominated systems; and
• Includes link or references of all relevant operations and maintenance information. 

Documentation Requirements; please provide the following in your submission:

• Evidence such as screenshots demonstrating the project-wide deployment of the online facilities management systems;
• A copy of this TC.

All other requirements are as per Submission Guidelines. 

Projects that include retained elements of a building structure and/or envelope can include these elements in both Credit 19 Life Cycle Impacts (either 19A and 19B.3) and Credit 21 Sustainable Products (21A Reused Products). This is to encourage and reward projects which refurbish existing buildings rather than demolishing them.

This supersedes the Technical Clarification for Credit 21 issued 10/19, noting if a project is also targeting Credit 19 Life Cycle Impacts, only building materials that have eligible additional Transparency or Sustainability Initiatives will be recognised for claiming additional points in the ‘Sustainable Products’ Credit.

Note this clarification is only applicable to retained elements of a building. The existing Technical Clarification issued 10/19 still applies to all newly installed products.

Projects may target one (1) point for Visual Comfort - Views from relevant Green Star rating tools by using the following alternate compliance criteria: 

60% of the nominated area must demonstrate that a View Rating of 3 or greater is achieved.

The View Rating may be found using the below methodology summarised from Windows and Offices: A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment:

o    Sitting in a chair in each cubicle or space facing the computer monitor, the amount and quality of view visible within a 90-degree cone of the monitor is rated from 0=none to 5=largest, based on the below: 

Additionally, the following guidance will apply:

• View glazing in the contributing area must provide a clear image of the exterior, not obstructed by frits, fibers, patterned glazing, or added tints that distort colour balance. 
• View glazing in the contributing area must provide a clear image of the exterior, not obstructed by frits, fibers, patterned glazing, or added tints that distort colour balance. 
• Include in the calculations any permanent interior obstructions. Movable furniture and partitions may be excluded.
• Views into interior atria or similar Internal View (as defined in the Guidance section of 12.2 Visual Comfort - Views from Green Star - Design & As Built v1.2) may also be considered.

Documentation Requirements:

Please provide the following in your submission:

• Technical Report - 'Windows and Offices: A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment' published by the California Energy Commission
• Clear outline of what the View Rating is and the methodology used to calculate it.
• Simulation report demonstrating View Rating achieved for nominated area.
• A copy of this TC.

Project teams can refer to the REBRI standard to undertake volume to weight conversion, instead of using the table for Waste Volume to Weight Conversion Factors in the Submission Guidelines.

The credit of Sustainable Products takes account of all the products and materials including buildings’ mechanical, hydraulic, transportation and electrical systems. Responsible and sustainable systems that meet transparency and sustainability requirements in the credit can contribute to achieved points.  

Can a single program or initiative be used to comply with High Quality Staff Support?

Yes, providing the program or initiative covers at least three distinct issues, with one of the three specifically addressing mental health impacts. For points to be awarded, project teams must clearly highlight the distinct issues and provide evidence in the submission demonstrating these being addressed on site.

As outlined in the Submission Guidelines, issues addressed may be, but are not limited to, the following:.

• healthier eating and active living
• reduced harmful alcohol and drug and tobacco-free living
• increase social cohesion, community, and cultural participation
• understanding depression
• preventing violence and injury
• suicide prevention
• decreased psychological distress

The following is a brief (but not exhaustive) list of programs and initiatives which could be implemented on site for, made available to, or discussed with all construction workers for the duration of construction. Each program may cover one or more distinct issue/s as required by the credit.  Evidence must be provided for each issue addressed by a program.

• Beyond Blue
• Mates in Construction
• Lifeline
• Headspace
• White Ribbon
• Nutrition Organisation

The compliance requirements for the Occupant Engagement Innovation Challenge have been updated. The update requires the post-occupancy survey to be completed at least 12 months after practical completion to ensure that occupants have experienced the building through all the seasons. The survey should, however, be completed as near as practicably possible to the 12 months post practical completion date. The updated Innovation Challenge can be found here

Projects may use the same materials for the 'Life Cycle Assessment', 'Responsible Building Materials' and 'Sustainable Products' credits.

The products or materials which are being used to claim points for the 'Sustainable Products' credit must have an additional Transparency or Sustainability Initiative in addition to meeting the requirements of the other credits.

Please refer to Guidance under the 'Sustainable Products' credit in the Submission Guidelines of the relevant rating tool for further information.

At present the Green Star - Design & As Built Submission Guidelines indicate that this option is available for 'Life Cycle Impacts' criteria, and it is clarified that products used in the 'Life Cycle Assessment' criterion may also be targeted in 'Sustainable Products' provided the conditions outlined above are met.

For the Reverberation Criterion, where 'note 3' applies, how do I apply the phrase '50% of the area in the space'?

The performance of the installed acoustic absorption, irrespective of quantity or location installed, must result in a reverberation time equivalent to or lower than the reverberation time predicted for treating at least 50% of the combined floor and ceiling area with a material having a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of at least 0.5.Alternatively, compliance can be demonstrated by treating 50% of the combined floor and ceiling area with a material having a NRC of at least 0.5.Acoustic absorption should be applied in locations appropriate to the function of the space, and located to maximise the acoustic performance of materials selected.