deemed to satisfy One way of complying with energy efficiency requirements, is by the deemed to satisfy provisions outlined in part 3.12 of the Building Code of Australia (BCA). This defines typical building systems and allocated minimum performance values for the following: Area of roof lights; External glazing (including shading); Building sealing; Air movement; Services (such as insulation of air conditioning ducts and hot water piping); and Building fabric. For most building systems, the easiest and most cost effective way of improving the performance of building fabric is with the inclusion of insulation. Click here for the minimum insulation provisions in each climate zone where designs meet the deemed to satisfy provisions for the other building elements listed above. Another method of compliance is through the use of software programs such as version 3.2 of BERS, version 3.5 of FirstRate and version 2.43 of NatHERS. When using these programs the BCA requires that buildings in climate zones 1, 2 and 3 achieve an annual energy loading equivalent to 3.5 star energy rating, and climate zones 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 achieve a 4 star energy rating. For further details refer to BCA 2004.