BEAM Plus New Buildings

100 / 248

BEAM PLUS FOR NEW B UILDINGS MATERIALS ASPECTS (M A)
V ERSION 1.2 MA 6 SUSTAINABLE FOREST PRODUCTS
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 79
3 MATERIALS ASPECTS 3.2 SELECTION OF MATERIALS
MA 6 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] or 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.
A Works Bureau Technical Circular (WBTC) [6] establishes the revised
policy requiring the use of metallic site hoardings and signboards in
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-5 153, Tropical Hardwood Timber.
6 Works Bureau. Technical Circular No. 19/2001. Metallic Site Hoardings and Signboards.