• On page 5 of manual: The following is written: ”The Impact Area refers to the area between Site Boundary and the parallel platted line 500m away from the Site Boundary.” But in Figure 1, a distance of 500m walking distance is mentioned.  Which one is the correct, a 500m parallel line or 500m walking distance?
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• Response:
• An Impact Area refers to the area extended 500m from the Site Boundary. 

• On page 11 of manual: In example 2 the Weighted Achieved Score for CA should be 16% and the Weighted Achieved Score for SA should be 13.3 % ?
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• Response:
• There is a typo on the manual. Under example 2 on page 11, the weighted Achieved Score for CA should be 16% , while SA should be 13.2%.

• On page 43 of the manual:  Regarding the word "any”.
  "a. Neighbourhood Basic Services.

1 credit point is awarded where at least 10 different basic services are located within a 500m walking distance from a notional entrance of anymajor occupied building within the Site with availability of pedestrian access to such services from the Site.”

Does this mean that if I have 5 major occupied buildings in my site, that for each of those 5 buildings you have to prove that there are 10 different basic services within a 500 m walking distance? Or can you just pick 1 out of those 5 buildings, and that is sufficient?

Response: 

In normal circumstance, there should be one main entrance to each building and therefore, the answer to your question is "yes”, you need to demonstrate each of the 5 buildings has access to 10 different basic services within a 500m walking distance in order to achieve the relevant credits.

• On page 43 of the manual:  Regarding walking distance.
  "a. Neighbourhood Basic Services.

1 credit point is awarded where at least 10 different basic services are located within a 500m walking distance from a notional entrance of any major occupied building within the Site with availability of pedestrian access to such services from the Site.”
However in p.44 of the manual: (3^rd textblock) it is written that:

"The onus is placed on the Applicant to demonstrate the basic services, appropriate to the needs of the intended building users and immediate neighbourhood, exist within the Site or within a 500m walking distance from a notional entrance of any major occupied building within the Site.”

Which one of the two requirements for distance is correct: a 500 m walking distance .. or… within the site or within a 500m walking distance ?

Response: 

The 10 basic services located within the site or within a 500m walking distance either one can be fulfil the requirements.

• In p.44 of the manual: (4^th textblock) it is written that:

"A basic service can be counted twice for any one type of services mentioned above.”

Does this mean that I can have 5 pairs of different basic services and that is good for the credit?

Response: 

No. There can only be one type of basic service being counted twice. 

• In p.46 of the manual: Regarding a Suitably Qualified Person for Shaded or Covered routes:

Should that not be CA 3d, instead of CA 3a ?

Response: 

There is a typo in the manual. Yes, the suitably qualified person should apply to CA 3d Shaded Covered Pedestrian Routes.

The scope of BEAM Plus NBv2.0 Examination shall include the basic concept of BEAM Plus and credit-related knowledge of the Tool. Only BEAM Plus Manual will be provided as open-book materials for candidates during examination. The Project Assessment Procedures Manual may serve as a guidebook which allows BEAM practitioners to understand the assessment procedure and responsibilities for conducting a BEAM Plus assessment.

(Q) Referring to the manual BEAM Plus for New Buildings V1.2 MA P4 "For a domestic building or composite building on a site of an area of not more than 250 m², the provision of a refuse storage and material recovery room on every floor of a domestic building shall be exempted in BEAM Plus Assessment." While the Building (Refuse Storage and Material Recovery Chambers and Refuse Chutes) (Amendment) Regulation 2008 states that "In view of the above, the Administration has proposed in the new Regulation 3A(6)(d) of the Building (Refuse Collection and Material Recovery Chambers and Refuse Chutes) (Amendment) Regulation 2008 to exempt the mandatory provision of RCMRR for domestic and composite buildings locating on a site having an area of not more than 500 sqm."

Please clarify the figure on (250 m² or 500 m²).
 
(A) On this subject, you may wish to refer the following elaboration in the Circular letter No. 2014.124 issued on 3 December 2014. The Circular letter may be found at the link: https://www.beamsociety.org.hk/files/tech/tech-20141203162639.pdf "MA P4 Waste Recycling Facilities

i. Appreciated the difficulties in fulfilling the captioned credit for small sites, domestic building or a domestic part of a composite building with a site area of less than 500 m², the provision of refuse storage and material recovery room (RS&MRR) on every domestic floor shall be exempted from the BEAM Plus Assessment subject to TRC approval on the alternative proposal by the Applicant for the exemption.”

Hence, under the BEAM Plus New Buildings Version 1.2, the provision of RS&MRR is exempted for a domestic building or a domestic part of a composite building with a site area ≤ 250 m²;

For a domestic building or a domestic part of a composite building with a site area greater than 250 m² and less than or equal to 500 m² (i.e. 250m² < site area ≤ 500m²), the provision of RS&MR on every domestic floor shall be exempted subject to TRC approval on the alternative proposal by the Applicant.

(Q) Please provide methodology on how to determine the "respective benchmark (zero-credit) criteria” for mixed-use development? For example, when office, hotel and residential components all been packed inside a high-rise tower.

(A) The methodology of the energy simulation for Baseline Building Model (zero-credit benchmark) shall make reference to the latest Building Energy Code (BEC) or Appendix G of ASHRAE 90.1-2007 or equivalent. For mixed use development, Area Weighting Method shall be applied in the assessment to cater for a mix of building types in complex premises which consists of residential, clubhouse, retail and/or car park.