14 / 248
BEAM P
LUS FOR
N
EW
B
UILDINGS
F
RAMEWORK
V
ERSION
1.2
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 7
R
EGIONALLY
R
ESPONSIVE
C
RITERIA
In Hong Kong’s humid sub-tropical climate and dense urban living
environment, people need to be provided with alternatives to enclosed,
air-conditioned spaces, so that the provisions for natural ventilation and
daylight figure prominently in the assessment of indoor environments.
P
ERFORMANCE
B
ENCHMARKS
The benchmark (zero credit level) for particular performance criteria is
established by reference to legal requirements which may be required as
a prerequisite. BEAM uses local performance standards, codes and
guides where these are available (e.g. indoor air quality). Where these
are not available (e.g. impact noise) international or national standards,
codes and guides are referenced. Where there are differences in the
performance criteria set by the various authorities, BEAM will generally
avoid specifying the performance criteria (e.g. thermal comfort), allowing
Clients to specify what they consider to be appropriate for their building.
A BEAM assessment seeks to establish that the specified levels of
performance are acceptable and have been achieved. Where
performance standards are not well defined (e.g. energy use), BEAM
establishes its own performance benchmarks based on available data
and stakeholder consensus. Credits are awarded for achieving higher
levels of performance. It is intended that the assessment criteria be
updated periodically as new information becomes available and as legal
requirements evolve.
F
LEXIBLE AND
O
BJECTIVE
BEAM embraces a wide range of buildings, variable in terms of scale,
location and mix of uses (types of premises). The assessment criteria
and methods of assessment need to be flexible and to allow for
alternative means of compliance, yet be reasonably objective to enable
the BEAM Assessor to arrive at decisions without undue controversy.
Where issues are rather subjective, i.e. performance criteria cannot be
quantified or determined through a compliance specification, BEAM uses
‘checklists’ to facilitate equitable and consistent assessments.
P
ERFORMANCE
C
ATEGORIES
Different assessment methods in use world-wide arrange performance
aspects under different headings to reflect the preferences of the tool
developer. In BEAM, the various performance aspects covered are
grouped within the following categories:
S
ITE
A
SPECTS
(S
A
)
Generally speaking site issues, as listed in BEAM, will not vary
significantly with the type of building. However, the scale and location of
the building will determine the extent to which environmental aspects
associated with the site are significant and can be addressed in the
assessment. Site Aspects include:
location and design of the building;
emissions from the site; and
site management.
M
ATERIALS
A
SPECTS
(M
A
)
Similar to site issues, materials use issues included in BEAM will be
similar for all types of buildings, although the size of the building will have
significance. Materials Aspects include:
selection of materials;
efficient use of materials; and
waste disposal and recycling.