BEAM Plus Existing Buildings

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BEAM PLUS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS MATERIALS ASPECTS (MA)
V ERSION 1.2 MA 6 OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCES
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
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Small air-conditioning units, defined as those containing less than 0.23
kg of refrigerant, and other equipment, such as standard refrigerators,
small water coolers and any other cooling equipment that contains less
than 0.23 kg of refrigerant, can be excluded from this assessment.
The Client shall submit a report by a suitably qualified person giving
details of the air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment installed; and
demonstrating that the global warming potential and ozone depletion
potential of the refrigerants used in equipment meets the specified
requirement. Reference shall be made to refrigerant supplies and/or
equipment manufacturer’s data together with guidance provided by
recognised authorities such as ASHRAE, CIBSE, etc.
Where the refrigerant replacement programme has not been completed
the Client shall provide details of the programme. This shall include
details of all existing plant, existing quantities of each refrigerant by trade
name, chemical composition and ODP, and similar details upon planned
completion of the programme. Documentation shall be presented that
demonstrates that emissions of refrigerants for equipment are limited to
an average of 3% or less of the total charge per year, and that leakage
over the remaining life of the equipment should be maintained to within
20%.
b) Fire suppression and other materials
A Client shall provide details of any fire suppression systems that use
ozone depleting substances. These may include hand-held extinguishers
or fixed fire protection systems serving, for example, computer rooms or
electricity switch rooms. Where such systems are present in the building,
the Client shall provide details of the practices adopted to ensure that
emissions are reduced to a minimum.
Replacement of fire suppressants, thermal insulations, and other
applications shall avoid the use of materials that emit CFCs in their
manufacture or use.
BACKGROUND The Montreal Protocol has scheduled the phasing out of controlled
substances, including chemicals containing chlorine and bromine used
as refrigerants, solvents, foam blowing agents, aerosol propellants, fire
suppressants, and for other purposes. Ozone Layer Protection
Ordinance (Cap. 403) 1989 [1] gives effect to Hong Kong’s international
obligations to control the manufacture, import and export of ozone
depleting substances. Ozone Layer Protection (Controlled Refrigerants)
Regulation 1994 [2] requires the conservation of controlled refrigerants
used in large scale installations and motor vehicles. Ozone Layer
Protection (Products Containing Scheduled Substances) (Import
Banning) Regulation 1993 prohibits the import of portable fire
extinguishers containing halons and other controlled products from a
country or place not a party to the Montreal Protocol unless the Authority
considers that it complies with the requirements of the Protocol.
Scheduled substances under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance are
listed by the Environmental Protection Department [3].
In addition to having suitable thermodynamic properties, the ideal
refrigerant would be nontoxic, non-inflammable, completely stable,
environmentally benign, readily available, self-lubricating, compatible
with materials used in equipment, easy to handle and detect. No current
1 Environmental Protection Department. A Concise Guide to the Ozone Layer Protection Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance.
2 Environmental Protection Department. A Concise Guide to the Ozone Layer Protection (Controlled Refrigerants)
Regulation
3 EPD