In the ACT, the energy performance of a modular building is assessed by a licensed building assessor, the same as for a building framed on site. The assessor works from the full drawings and the actual wall, floor, roof and glazing build-up of each module. Your licensed building surveyor then checks that the assessment matches the approved plans, so confirm the exact requirement with your building surveyor or certifier.
This page is for builders, developers, community housing providers and homeowners planning a modular building in Canberra or elsewhere in the Territory. The common problem is timing. Modules are built to a fixed specification in the factory, so the energy assessment has to be settled before production starts, not patched later on site.
Why modular fits the ACT
Canberra has cold winters, so insulation, glazing and air sealing carry real weight in the assessment. A factory build helps here. Insulation is fitted in a dry, controlled space, wall and roof cavities are inspected before linings close, and the same build-up repeats module after module. That consistency makes the assessor’s assumptions easier to match in the finished building. The ACT is also investing in public housing in the 2026-27 Budget, as Region Canberra reported on 5 June 2026, and repeatable housing types suit a factory programme. Our page on modular construction in Canberra covers the local market.
What EcoPrestige supplies
EcoPrestige supplies engineered structural steel volumetric modules, built and inspected in an offsite factory. For the energy assessor that means a clear, fixed specification:
- Wall, floor and roof build-ups with insulation type and thickness.
- Window and door schedules with frame and glass details.
- Notes on how thermal bridging through the steel frame is treated.
- Sealing details at module joins and service penetrations.
- Factory inspection photos of insulation before close-up.
EcoPrestige coordinates the module design with your consultants; permit drawings are issued by the registered or licensed practitioner the state requires.
What does not fit
Some things are hard to change once modules are in production. A late switch from one glazing type to another, or a change of orientation after the assessment, can mean new drawings and a new assessment. Very open plans with large spans may need extra framing that changes the thermal picture. Steel frames also conduct heat, so the assessor must model the thermal breaks we specify. If a site or design needs a level of performance the standard build-up cannot reach, we say so early.
The approval path in the ACT
- Energy assessment: a licensed building assessor.
- Structural design: a registered professional engineer under the Professional Engineers Act 2023.
- Building approval and inspections: a licensed building surveyor.
- Building design: not a licensed category in the ACT, but drawings must still meet the NCC.
Homes are typically Class 1a, confirmed by your building surveyor. Commercial uses such as offices, typically Class 5, are assessed under the NCC energy efficiency provisions for that class. Always confirm with your building surveyor or certifier who must sign for your project. Our guide to the building permit for modular buildings explains how inspections work when part of the build happens offsite.
The programme
The energy assessment sits at the front of the programme. Once the assessor and the building surveyor accept the specification, the factory builds the modules while your builder prepares footings, services and access on site. Factory and site work run in parallel, so time on site is shorter. The assessor’s report then travels with the approval documents, and the factory hold point records show the insulation and sealing were installed as assessed.
What to send us
For an ACT project, a short brief lets us prepare the specification your assessor needs:
- 1. Site address and the block orientation.
- 2. The use of the building and its expected NCC class.
- 3. Concept or planning drawings, if you have them.
- 4. Your energy assessor and building surveyor, if appointed.
- 5. Any target rating or performance the client has set.
If you are still testing the site, read modular feasibility before you buy the site first.
ACT modular energy assessment: common questions
Who assesses energy performance for a modular home in the ACT?
A licensed building assessor. The assessment works the same way as for an on-site build, using the module build-up and the full drawings. Confirm the requirement with your building surveyor.
Does the factory build change the energy assessment?
The method of assessment is the same. What changes is timing: the specification is fixed before production, so the assessment should be settled before the factory starts.
Does a steel frame hurt energy performance?
Steel conducts heat, so the build-up includes thermal breaks and insulation details. The assessor models those details, and factory photos show they were installed.
Who checks the energy assessment against the building?
Your licensed building surveyor checks that the approved plans and the assessment match, and inspects the work on site as the approval requires.
Can EcoPrestige do the energy assessment?
No. The assessment is done by an independent licensed building assessor. EcoPrestige supplies the module specification the assessor needs.
Need the energy assessor briefed on a Canberra modular job?
Send the site, the use and any drawings to prebuilt@ecoprestige.com.au or download our technical brochures.