(HK) Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance (Cap. 610) : Brief Account of the Ordinance
Sept. 2nd, 2011
Note:
This webpage is to provide a brief account on some salient points of the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance in plain text as far as possible for easier reference. However, the content of this webpage is not an exhaustive description of all interpretations and requirements under the Ordinance. Please refer to the provisions of the Ordinance, Building Energy Code and Energy Audit Code for the detailed interpretations and requirements.
Objective of the Ordinance
The Ordinance is to promote enhancement of the building energy efficiency in Hong Kong through the following objectives:
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Mandatory implementation of Building Energy Code (BEC) in prescribed buildings;
The BEC stipulates the minimum energy efficiency design standards for the 4 key types of building services installations, covering air-conditioning, electrical, lighting and lift & escalator installations.
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Mandatory implementation of energy audit according to the Energy Audit Code (EAC) in commercial buildings and portions of composite buildings that are for commercial use.
The EAC stipulates the minimum technical requirements of energy audit for the 4 key types of central building services installations, covering air-conditioning, electrical, lighting and lift & escalator installations.
Key requirements of the Ordinance
Certificate of Compliance Registration (COCR) [Part 2 of the Ordinance]
- This requirement is applicable to a "prescribed building" (please see Schedule 1 of the Ordinance for the list) obtaining a "consent to the commencement of building works" for superstructure construction from the Building Authority or other relevant authorities after the commencement date of Part 2 of the Ordinance (i.e. after 21 September 2012).
- The developer of a prescribed building, at design stage (within 2 months after issue of the aforesaid consent to the commencement of building works), is required to:
- engage a Registered Energy Assessor (REA) (please click here for the qualifications of REA and click here for the Register of REA) to certify that the suitable design provisions have been incorporated into the planning and design of the building in accordance with the standards and requirements specified in the BEC (the latest edition then); and
- submit "stage one declaration" to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) to declare that the 4 key types of building services installations to be provided by the developer in the proposed building at or before the time when a stage two declaration is made in respect of the building are designed, and will be installed and completed, in accordance with the standards and requirements specified in the BEC.
- The developer of that building, at occupation approval stage (within 4 months after issue of an "occupation permit"), is further required to;
- engage a REA to certify that the 4 key types of building services installations provided by the developer in the building at or before the time when the declaration is made have been designed, installed and completed in accordance with the standards and requirements specified in the BEC; and
- submit "stage two declaration" to EMSD to declare that the 4 key types of building services installations provided by the developer in the building at or before the time when the declaration is made have been designed, installed and completed in accordance with the standards and requirements specified in the BEC (the edition applied in the "stage one declaration"), in order to apply for COCR for the building.
- Subsequently, the owner(s) of the building, every 10 years, is/are required to:
- engage a REA to certify that the design (not the condition of performance then) of all the 4 key types of central building services installations (no need to include installation only serving an individual unit) are maintained to a standard not lower than the BEC version applied in the first COCR of the building (and, if a FOC, i.e. Form of Compliance, has been issued for a certain central building services installation, the design of installation is maintained to a standard not lower than the BEC version applied in the latest FOC issued in respect of the installation); and
- submit application to EMSD for renewal of the COCR.
- The owner(s) of central building services installations and the responsible person (usually the owner or tenant) of a unit, during daily operation, is/are required to ensure that:
- the design of installations is maintained to a standard not lower than the BEC version applied in the first COCR of the building (i.e. when an installation is repaired, replaced or added, the design standard of the repaired, replaced or additional installation should comply with the said BEC version); and
- if a FOC has been issued for a certain installation, the design of installation is maintained to a standard not lower than the BEC version applied in the latest FOC issued in respect of the installation (i.e. when the installation is repaired or replaced, the design standard of the repaired or replaced installation should comply with the said BEC version).
Form of Compliance (FOC) [Part 3 of the Ordinance]
- This requirement is only applicable to "major retrofitting works" (please see Schedule 3 of the Ordinance for the scope) in a prescribed building.
- The owner(s) of central building services installations and the responsible person (usually the owner or tenant) of a unit or common area in a prescribed building, within 2 months after completion of major retrofitting works, is/are required to:
- engage a REA to certify that the replaced or additional installations in the major retrofitting works comply with the standards and requirements specified in the BEC; and
- obtain a FOC for the major retrofitting works from the REA (renewal not required).
- Subsequently, the owner(s) of central building services installations and the responsible person of a unit or common area, during daily operation, is/are required to maintain the design of the replaced or additional installations not lower than the BEC version applied in the FOC (i.e. when the installation is repaired or replaced, the design standard of the repaired or replaced installation should comply with the said BEC version).
Energy Audit [Part 4 of the Ordinance]
- This requirement is only applicable to a commercial building and a portion of composite building that is for commercial use (hereinafter collectively referred as "commercial building").
- The owner of a commercial building, every 10 years, is required to:
- engage a REA to conduct energy audit for the 4 key types of central building services installations in the building (no need to include installations only serving an individual unit); and
- obtain an Energy Audit Form (to be promulgated at this website later when the EAC is gazetted) and an energy audit report from the REA.
- The owner is then required to exhibit the valid Energy Audit Form in a conspicuous position at the main entrance of the building.
(From the official website of HK Electrial and Mechanical Services Department http://www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/eng/pee/mibec_beeo_brfac.shtml)
