BEAM Plus Existing Buildings

74 / 188

BEAM PLUS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS MATERIALS ASPECTS (MA)
V ERSION 1.2 MA 5 SUSTAINABLE FOREST PRODUCTS
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 56
3 MATERIALS ASPECTS 3.2 SELECTION OF MATERIALS
MA 5 SUSTAINABLE FOREST PRODUCTS
EXCLUSIONS None.
OBJECTIVE Encourage the use of timber from well-managed forests.
CREDITS ATTAINABLE 1
PREREQUISITES None.
CREDIT REQUIREMENT 1 credit for demonstrating at least 50% of all timber and composite
timber products used in the project are from sustainable
sources/recycled timber.
ASSESSMENT The Client shall provide a report prepared by a suitably qualified person
quantifying the amount of forest products used that are from sustainable
source/recycled timber, as a percentage of all timber products used. The
unit may be mass/volume/dollar value but shall be consistent throughout
the assessment of this credit.
The timber should conform to the requirement of sustainable forestry
practice guidelines and accredited by recognised organisations, such as
the non-profit Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) [1], the American Forest
and Paper Association (AFPA) [2], or “Known Licensed Sources”[3]. The
Client shall also demonstrate compliance with the specification for the
recommended sustainable source (e.g. FSC or AFPA)
BACKGROUND Timber is the most ecologically benign construction material. However,
there are hardwoods which are being extracted from virgin forests in an
unsustainable manner, destroying valuable forests and ecosystems.
Similarly, some softwoods, such as redwood and cedar, are being
depleted. Where forests are being harvested in an unsustainable
manner, the result is the extinction of indigenous species and the
clearance of vegetation that would otherwise help regulate the amount of
CO2 in the atmosphere. Improved forestry practices can be encouraged
by seeking timber from sources where the forests are well managed.
Hong Kong uses only imported timber, and is one of the largest
importers of tropical hardwoods. The construction sector in Hong Kong is
a major consumer of hardwoods from tropical rainforests, with a large
proportion used wastefully, and ending up at landfill sites. Timber should
originate only from well-managed sources and should be reused
whenever possible. Guidelines, templates and implementation measures
to help organisations develop purchasing policies and practices that help
conserve forest resources are available [4]. PNAP No. ADV-5 [5] gives
guidance for alternatives to the use of hardwoods in order to reduce the
amount of tropical hardwood timber used in building projects.
Certified Wood may be defined as wood-based materials originally
sourced from forestlands participating in an acceptable system or
program which certifies sustainable forest management. Acceptable
systems or programs must include adherence to management practices
which conserve biological diversity and maintain productive capacity of
1 Forest Stewardship Council
2 American Forest and Paper Association
3 Architectural Services Department, General Specifications for Building 2007, Section 13, Carpentry and Joinery, 13.01.03.
4 World Wildlife Fund.
5 Buildings Department. Practice Note for Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and Registered
Geotechnical Engineers, PNAP No. ADV-5 Tropical Hardwood Timber.