Indoor Air Quality Certification Scheme for Hong Kong Buildings

The Hong Kong SAR Government has taken initiatives to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in various facilities. The most recent is the development of an IAQ Certification Scheme for Offices and Public Places. Following criticism of an earlier draft some of the IAQ criteria were relaxed, yet remain comparatively tight specifications for air-conditioned buildings. Launched as a voluntary scheme it could become a significant driving force to improve building performance. However, pilot studies have shown the complexity and cost of undertaking an assessment will be a significant deterrent. Here, the key elements of the scheme are outlined, the suitability of the IAQ criteria discussed, and the difficulties in meeting the prescribed measurement protocols identified. Suggestions are made for improvements to the scheme that would encourage take-up by building owners.

[1]  Francis W.H. Yik,et al.  Regulatory and voluntary approaches for enhancing energy efficiencies of buildings in Hong Kong , 2002 .

[2]  G. B. Leslie,et al.  Health Risks from Indoor Air Pollutants: Public Alarm and Toxicological Reality , 2000, Indoor and Built Environment.

[3]  Megan Walters,et al.  But is fire the issue …? The problems of managing multiple ownership buildings in Hong Kong , 1998 .

[4]  C K Chau,et al.  Assessing the benefit and cost for a voluntary indoor air quality certification scheme in Hong Kong. , 2003, The Science of the total environment.

[5]  W J Fisk,et al.  Associations between indoor CO2 concentrations and sick building syndrome symptoms in U.S. office buildings: an analysis of the 1994-1996 BASE study data. , 2000, Indoor air.

[6]  Gail Brager,et al.  A Standard for Natural Ventilation , 2000 .

[7]  J. E. Janssen,et al.  Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality , 1989 .

[8]  John Burnett,et al.  A methodology to investigate the particulate penetration coefficient through building shell , 1999 .

[9]  S C Lee,et al.  Indoor air quality investigation at air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned markets in Hong Kong. , 2004, The Science of the total environment.

[10]  John Burnett,et al.  Large-scale survey of thermal comfort in office premises in Hong Kong , 1998 .

[11]  C K Chau,et al.  Estimating the total exposure to air pollutants for different population age groups in Hong Kong. , 2002, Environment international.