BEAM Plus Interiors Manual

BEAM P

LUS

NTERIORS

OMMERCIAL

, R

ETAIL

NSTITUTIONAL

RAMEWORK

and that testing and commissioning has verified the performance after

completion.

1.6.6

EVELOPMENT

ISTORY

BEAM was initiated in 1996 with initial funding provided by The Real

Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong (REDA), research by Hong

Kong Polytechnic University, and assessments conducted by the Centre

for Environmental Technology Limited (CET)

After more than a decade of implementation, the continued development

of BEAM is now funded from certification, training and accreditation fees

and industry sponsorship, with the voluntary efforts of BSL members

and associates.

1996 Editions:

Established in 1996 as “HK-BEAM” with the launch of

two assessment methods, one for ‘new office buildings’ [

] and one for

‘existing office premises’ [

10]

. Environmental issues in the first versions

of BEAM were categorised as ‘global’, ‘local’ and ‘indoor’ impacts.

1999 Editions:

In 1999 the ‘office’ versions were re-issued with minor

revisions and updated references [

11, 12]

, together with an entirely new

assessment method for high-rise residential buildings [

13]

. BEAM for

New Residential Buildings was the first such method for high-rise, high-

density residential developments in a sub-tropical environment.

2004 Editions:

Version 4/04 ‘New Buildings’ and Version 5/04 ‘Existing

Buildings’ were significant upgrades, developed from pilot versions 4/03

and 5/03 published in June 2003. Besides expanding the range of

building developments that can be assessed, these versions widened

the coverage to include additional issues that are regarded as further

defining quality and sustainability of buildings.

BEAM Plus (2010):

BEAM Plus for New Buildings and for Existing

Buildings were introduced in 2010 with research by the Chinese

University of Hong Kong to coincide with the establishment of the

HKGBC. BEAM Plus is endorsed by HKGBC as Hong Kong green

building rating system and since April 2010 has been adopted as a pre-

requisite by Hong Kong Government for the granting of gross floor area

concessions for green and amenity features in new building

developments.

BEAM Plus V1.2 (2012):

BEAM Plus Version 1.2 for New Buildings and

Existing Buildings were released after further stakeholder engagement

to integrate a holistic component of Passive Design for residential

developments as an alternative method of assessment. BEAM Plus

version 1.2 also contains minor amendments from the original guidelines

in order to add clarity to the assessment.

BEAM Plus Interiors (2013):

BEAM Plus Interiors has been introduced

in response to calls from the marketplace for a localised benchmark for

the fit-out, renovation and refurbishment of occupied interior spaces.

This latest version continues the evolution of BEAM Plus through more

comprehensive coverage and higher performance expectations.

An independent and non-profit environmental information and services centre established by the private sector, later

to become the Business Environment Council

CET. BEAM 1/96. An Environmental Assessment Method for New Air-conditioned Office Premises. 1996.

CET. BEAM 2/96. An Environmental Assessment Method for Existing Air-conditioned Office Premises. 1996.

CET. BEAM 1/96R. An Environmental Assessment Method for New Air-conditioned Office Premises. 1999.

CET. BEAM 2/96R. An Environmental Assessment Method for Existing Air-conditioned Office Premises. 1999.

CET. BEAM 3/99. An Environmental Assessment Method for New Residential Buildings.1999.