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BEAM P
LUS FOR
E
XISTING
B
UILDINGS
M
ATERIALS
A
SPECTS
(M
A
)
V
ERSION
1.2
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 45
3
M
ATERIALS
A
SPECTS
3.P
P
REREQUISITE
3.1
E FFICIENT U SE OF M ATERIALS3.2
S ELECTION OF M ATERIALS3.3
W ASTE M ANAGEMENTI
NTRODUCTION
The amount and range of materials used in the operation and
maintenance and fitting-out of buildings represents a significant use of
natural resources, in terms of extracted raw materials, emissions, and
embodied energy. There are opportunities to reduce environmental
impacts through interior design methods, choice of materials, and
installation methods. Of concern are:
toxic pollutants arising from manufacturing and combustion; and
waste generated and recycled.
3.P
P
REREQUISITE
M
A
P1 U
SE OF
N
ON
-CFC B
ASED
R
EFRIGERANTS
M
A
P2 W
ASTE
R
ECYCLING
F
ACILITIES
B
ACKGROUND
This part is to set out the minimum requirement for materials aspects in
terms of use of non-CFC based refrigerants and provision of waste
recycling facilities.
3.1 E
FFICIENT
U
SE OF
M
ATERIALS
M
A
1 B
UILDING
R
EUSE
M
A
2 M
ODULAR AND
S
TANDARDISED
D
ESIGN
M
A
3 A
DAPTABILITY AND
D
ECONSTRUCTION
B
ACKGROUND
Efficiency in the use of materials can be significantly improved through
reuse of building elements. Flexibility in design allows for change in use
and layout of the premises within a building. High standards of design
detailing permits off-site fabrication of major building components, and
allow for deconstruction.
3.2 S
ELECTION OF
M
ATERIALS
M
A
4 R
APIDLY
R
ENEWABLE
M
ATERIALS
M
A
5 S
USTAINABLE
F
OREST
P
RODUCTS
M
A
6 O
ZONE
D
EPLETING
S
UBSTANCES
B
ACKGROUND
The selection of materials that can be planted and harvested within a
relatively short time, that are otherwise sustainable, have significant
recycled content, or otherwise have relatively low environmental impacts
should be considered for maintenance, redecoration, fit-out and
renovations.
3.3 W
ASTE
M
ANAGEMENT
M
A
7 W
ASTE
M
ANAGEMENT
B
ACKGROUND
Hong Kong is running out of land for waste disposal, and without
concerted effort the existing landfill sites could be exhausted by 2015.
The latest situation indicates that the available public fill capacity (mainly
reclamations) will be exhausted by mid-2005. Without new outlets for
public fill materials, the landfills will be filled up in the next 5-7 years. To
tackle the problem, much effort has been put on reducing waste
generation and identifying outlets for reusing recycled materials.
With adequate provisions for waste collection and sorting, and a pro-
active approach in seeking opportunities to recycle, the management of
waste from buildings can be significantly improved.