Buildings Department
Practice Note for Authorized Persons,
Registered Structural Engineers and
Registered Geotechnical Engineers
APP-151
Building Design to Foster a Quality and Sustainable Built Environment
There has been rising public concern over the quality and sustainability of
the built environment, including issues regarding building bulk and height, air
ventilation, greening and energy efficiency in buildings. In 2009, the Council for
Sustainable Development launched a public engagement process entitled Building
Design to Foster a Quality and Sustainable Built Environment in collaboration with
the Government. The exercise has pointed to a need for putting in place a package of
new measures to foster a quality and sustainable built environment. This practice
note sets out a package of measures, covering the following major elements, to
promote a quality and sustainable built environment:
(a)
sustainable building design guidelines (SBD Guidelines) on
building separation, building set back and site coverage of
greenery,
(b)
gross floor area (GFA) concessions, and
(c)
energy efficiency of buildings.
Sustainable Building Design Guidelines
2.
The Buildings Department (BD) has commissioned a consultancy study
on Building Design that Supports Sustainable Urban Living Space in Hong Kong.
Based on the study, a set of SBD Guidelines has been developed to promote building
separation, building set back and site coverage of greenery as promulgated in the
Practice Note for Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and Registered
Geotechnical Engineers (PNAP) APP-152.
3.
To enhance the quality and sustainability of the built environment, the
Building Authority (BA) will take account of the compliance with the SBD Guidelines
as promulgated in the PNAP APP-152, where applicable, as a pre-requisite in
exempting or disregarding green / amenity features and non-mandatory / non-essential
plant rooms and services from GFA and/or site coverage calculations (GFA
concessions) in new building developments. Such green / amenity features and nonmandatory / non-essential plant rooms and services and the relevant practice notes
promulgating the criteria and requirements for granting GFA concessions are
summarised in Appendix A.
/Overall ..
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Overall Cap on GFA Concessions
4.
To contain the effect on the building bulk while allowing flexibility in the
design for incorporating desirable green / amenity features and non-mandatory / nonessential plant rooms and services, an overall cap will be imposed on the total amount
of GFA concessions for these features, except those features described in paragraph 5
below. This cap is set at 10 % of the total GFA of the development. If a
development comprises both domestic and non-domestic buildings or in the case of a
composite building, GFA concessions for features serving the domestic part or the
non-domestic part of the development will be calculated separately such that GFA
concessions for each part will be capped at 10%, based on the total GFA of the
respective part of the development. Features that are subject to this overall cap of
GFA concessions are listed in the table at Appendix A.
5.
GFA concessions for the following features, which may have to satisfy
their own individual acceptance criteria, will not be subject to the overall cap:
(a)
Mandatory features and essential plant rooms such as refuse
storage chamber, telecommunications and broadcasting rooms;
(b)
Communal podium gardens and sky gardens that improve
permeability of a development to its neighbourhood;
(c)
Floor space used solely for parking motor vehicles and loading
and unloading of motor vehicles which is separately controlled
given its significant impact on building bulk and height and the
relevant transport, planning and environmental policies;
(d)
Voids in front of cinemas or in shopping arcades, etc. with
operational needs in non-domestic developments;
(e)
Bonus GFA and / or GFA exemptions relating to dedication
for public passage or surrender for road widening and building
set back in accordance with the SBD Guidelines; and
(f)
Hotel concessions granted under regulation 23A of the
Building (Planning) Regulations.
Pre-requisites for Granting GFA Concessions
6.
To promote sustainable building designs and energy efficient features in
new developments, compliance with the following requirements will be pre-requisites
for the granting of GFA concessions for all green / amenity features and nonmandatory / non-essential plant rooms and services provided in a proposed
development as described in Appendix A:
/(a) ..
-3-
(a)
Compliance with the SBD Guidelines on building separation,
building set back and site coverage of greenery in PNAP APP152, where applicable;
(b)
For domestic or composite development, compliance with the
requirements of PNAP APP-156 on Design and Construction
Requirements for Energy Efficiency of Residential Buildings,
where applicable;
(c)
Submission of the official letter issued by the Hong Kong
Green Building Council (HKGBC) acknowledging the
satisfactory completion of project registration application for
BEAM Plus certification;
(d)
Submission of a letter by the developer or owner undertaking
to submit to the BD the following documents:
(i)
Result of the Provisional Assessment under the BEAM
Plus certification conferred / issued by the HKGBC to be
submitted prior to the application for consent to
commence the building works shown on the approved
plans (consent);
(ii) Information on the estimated energy performance /
consumption for the common parts (for domestic
developments) or for the entire building (for nondomestic developments including hotels) to be submitted
in the standard form (Appendix B) prior to the consent
application;
(iii) Information specified in item (ii) above to be updated and
submitted at the time of submitting application for
occupation permit (OP);
(iv) Result of the Final Assessment under the BEAM Plus
certification conferred / issued by the HKGBC, within 18
months of the date of issuance of the OP by the BA;
(v) Provisional energy efficiency report prior to the consent
application in accordance with PNAP APP-156, where
applicable; and
(vi) Final energy efficiency report upon application for an OP
in accordance with PNAP APP-156, where applicable ;
(e)
Compliance with the overall cap on GFA concessions as
described in paragraph 4 above, where applicable; and
/ (f) ..
-4-
(f)
Compliance with the relevant acceptance criteria for the
individual green and amenity features.
Conditions for Granting GFA Concessions
7.
In addition to the acceptance criteria and conditions that may be imposed
for granting GFA concessions as detailed in the relevant practice notes for the green /
amenity features and non-mandatory / non-essential plant rooms and services
described in paragraph 6 above, the following conditions may be imposed:
(a)
The modification is given in recognition of the undertaking
submitted by the developer or owner as described in paragraph
6(d) above;
(b)
Information described in paragraph 6(d)(i), (ii) and (v) above
shall be submitted to the BD prior to the consent application;
(c)
Information described in paragraph 6(d)(iii) and (vi) above
shall be submitted to the BD at the time of submitting
application for OP;
(d)
Information described in paragraph 6(d)(iv) above shall be
submitted to the BD within 18 months of the date of the OP;
and
(e)
The modification will be revoked if the consent application is
submitted prior to the submission of information specified in
item (b) above.
8.
Authorized persons should consult a registered professional engineer
under the Engineers Registration Ordinance of the relevant discipline in assessing the
energy efficiency of the building and in completing the standard form at Appendix B;
Disclosure for Public Information
9.
To increase the transparency of information to the public, the following
information will be uploaded onto the BD website after the issuance of the occupation
permit:
(a)
The estimated energy performance / consumption information
as described in paragraph 6(d)(iii) above;
(b)
The results of the Provisional Assessment under the BEAM
Plus certification as described in paragraph 6(d)(i) above,
which will be replaced by the results of the Final Assessment
described in paragraph 6(d)(iv) above, upon receipt; and
/(c) ..
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(c)
The finalised RTTV and OTTV for RRF as recorded in the
final energy efficiency report.
( HUI Siu-wai )
Building Authority
Ref. : BD GP/BREG/P/49
First issue
January 2011
This revision September 2014 (AD/NB1) (paras. 6, 7 and 9, Item 27 in Appendix
A and Appendix B amended and
previous paras. 10 and 11 deleted)
Appendix A
(PNAP APP- 151)
List of GFA Concessions
Features
subject to
compliance
with the
prerequisites
in para. 6
& 7 of
PNAP
APP-151
Features
Subject
to the
Overall
Cap of
10% in
para.4 of
PNAP
APP-151
JPN1
JPN1
JPN1 & 2
PNAP APP-122
JPN1
JPN1
JPN1
JPN2
JPN2
JPN2
PNAP APP-42
PNAP APP-2,
APP-42 and
APP-104
PNAP APP-42
Practice Notes
Disregarded GFA under Regulation 23(3)(b) of the
Building (Planning) Regulations (B(P)R)
1.
Carpark and loading/unloading area
excluding public transport terminus
2.
Plant rooms and similar services
2.1 Mandatory feature or essential plant room,
area of which is limited by respective PNAP
or regulation, such as lift machine room,TBE
room, refuse storage chamber, etc. 1
2.2 Mandatory feature or essential plant room,
areas of which is NOT limited by any PNAP
or regulation, such as room occupied solely
by FSI and equipment, meter room,
transformer room, potable and flushing water
tank, etc. 2
2.3 Non-mandatory or non-essential plant room,
such as A/C plant room, AHU room, etc. 3
Disregarded GFA under Regulation 23A(3) of the
B(P)R
3.
Area for picking up and setting down persons
departing from or arriving at the hotel by
vehicle
4.
Supporting facilities for a hotel
Green Features under Joint Practice Notes (JPNs)
5.
Balcony for residential buildings
6.
Wider common corridor and lift lobby
7.
Communal sky garden
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Communal podium garden for nonresidential buildings
Acoustic fin
Wing wall, wind catcher and funnel
Non-structural prefabricated external wall
Utility platform
Noise barrier
Amenity Features
14.
Counter, office, store, guard room and
lavatory for watchman and management
staff, Owners Corporation Office
15.
Residential recreational facilities including
void, plant room, swimming pool filtration
plant room, covered walkway etc serving
solely the recreational facilities
16.
Covered landscaped and play area
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PNAP APP-2 and
APP-111
PNAP APP-35 &
APP-84
PNAP APP-2 and
APP-42
PNAP APP-2 and
APP-42
PNAP APP-40
PNAP APP-40
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
Horizontal screen/covered walkway, trellis
Larger lift shaft
Chimney shaft
Other non-mandatory or non-essential plant
room, such as boiler room, SMATV room 4
Pipe duct, air duct for mandatory feature or
essential plant room5
Pipe duct, air duct for non-mandatory or nonessential plant room6
Plant room, pipe duct, air duct for
environmentally friendly system and feature7
High headroom and void in front of cinema,
shopping arcade etc. in non-domestic
development8
Void over main common entrance (prestige
entrance) in non-domestic development
Void in duplex domestic flat and house
Sunshade and reflector
28.
Minor projection such as AC box, window
cill, projecting window
29.
Other projection such as air-conditioning box
and platform with a projection of more than
750mm from the external wall
Other Items
30.
Refuge floor including refuge floor cum sky
garden
31.
Covered area under large
projecting/overhanging feature
32.
Public transport terminus (PTT)
33.
Party structure and common staircase
34.
35.
36.
Horizontal area of staircase, lift shaft and
vertical duct solely serving floor accepted as
not being accountable for GFA
Public passage
Covered set back area
Bonus GFA
37.
Bonus GFA
PNAP APP-42
PNAP APP-89
PNAP APP-2
PNAP APP-2
PNAP APP-2
& APP-93
PNAP APP-2
PNAP APP-2
PNAP APP-2
PNAP APP-2 &
APP-42
PNAP APP-2
PNAP APP-19,
APP-67 & APP156
PNAP APP-19 &
APP-42
PNAP APP-19
PNAP APP-2
& APP-122
PNAP APP-19
PNAP APP-2
PNAP ADM-2
PNAP APP-2
PNAP APP-108
PNAP APP-152
PNAP APP-108
Notes:
1
Mandatory feature or essential plant room, area of which is limited by respective PNAP or
regulation, include duct for basement smoke extraction system, lift machine room,
telecommunications and broadcasting room, refuse storage chamber, refuse storage and
material recovery chamber, material recovery chamber, refuse storage and material recovery
room, or similar feature / plant room, and pipe and air ducts which are part of the distribution
network for such mandatory feature or essential plant and contained within such room.
2
Mandatory feature or essential plant room, area of which is NOT limited by any PNAP or
regulation*, include electrical switch room, meter room, transformer room, generator room,
potable and flushing water tank and pump room, sewage treatment plant room, refuse chute,
refuse hopper room, room occupied solely by fire service installations and equipment such as
fire service / sprinkler water tank and pump room, fire control centre, CO2 room, fan for
smoke extraction system / staircase pressurization system, hose reel closet, sump pump room/
pump room for rainwater, soil and waste disposal, or similar feature / plant room and pipe
and air ducts which are part of the distribution network for such mandatory feature or essential
plant and contained within such room.
-2-
Non-mandatory feature or non-essential plant room, area of which may be disregarded under
regulation 23(3)(b) of the B(P)R, include plant room occupied solely by machinery or
equipment for air-conditioning or heating system such as AC plant room, air handling unit
room, or similar plant room, and pipe and air ducts which are part of the distribution network
for such feature or plant and contained within such room.
Other non-mandatory feature or non-essential plant room, area of which may be exempted under
regulation 23(3)(a) of the B(P)R, include hot water boiler room, filtration plant room for
swimming pool in a hotel or for a water feature in a communal garden/landscape area, SMATV
room, or similar plant room, and pipe and air ducts which are part of the distribution network
for such feature or plant and contained within such room.
Pipe duct, air duct for mandatory feature or essential plant room, include pipe duct for
rainwater, soil and waste disposal and individual pipe and air ducts which are part of the
distribution network for such mandatory feature or essential plant as described in notes 1 and
2 above, and located outside such plant room.
Pipe duct, air duct for non-mandatory feature or non-essential plant room, include individual
pipe and air ducts which are part of the distribution network for such non-mandatory feature
or non-essential plant as described in notes 3 and 4 above and located outside such plant room.
Plant room for environmentally friendly system and feature, area of which may be exempted
under regulation23(3)(a) of the B(P)R, include plant room for rainwater harvesting / grey water
recycling system, battery room for solar panels, or similar system / feature, and pipe and air
ducts which are part of the distribution network for such system and feature.
High headroom and void in front of cinema, shopping arcade etc. in non-domestic development
include void in front of cinema, theatre balcony, banking hall, shopping arcade, cockloft floor
for storage within the ground storey in single-staircase building, auditorium, sporting hall,
school hall and religious institution that have operational justifications.
Horizontal screen / covered walkway / trellis may be excluded from the overall cap on GFA
concessions subject to provision of greenery to BAs satisfaction as stipulated under PNAP
APP-42.
Although the feature or plant room, area of which is not limited by any PNAP or regulation,
only the minimum amount of GFA necessary for accommodating and maintaining the services
and commensurate with the the development would be allowed to be disregarded as stated in
PNAP APP-2.
(9/2014)
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Appendix B
B
(PNAP APP- 151)
(-151)
Declaration on Annual Energy Use of a Building Development
Part I: Building Particulars
:
(a) Building name (if known ): (English)_______________________()_______________
(b) Address of site : (English)__________________________________________________________
()____________________________________________________________
(c) Lot number : ____________________________________________________________________
(d) Type of building :
* Domestic Building / Non domestic Building /Composite Building
(e) Provision of Central Air Conditioning
(f)
*YES / NO
Provision of Energy Efficient Features
*YES / NO
(g) Please list the * proposed / installed Energy Efficient Features (add separate sheet if necessary)
* / ()
English
1.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
2.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
3.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Part II: Predicted Annual Energy Use of * Proposed / Completed * Building / Part of Building
: * / * /
Type of
Development
Domestic
Development
(excluding Hotel)
(
)
Non-domestic
Development
(including Hotel)
Location
Internal
Floor Area
Served (m2)
Annual Energy Use of Baseline
Building
(m2/annum)
(/)
Electricity
kWh
Central building services
installation
Podium(s)
(central building services
installation)
Podium(s)
(non - central building services
-1-
Town Gas / LPG
/
unit
Annual Energy Use of
Proposed/Completed Building
(m2/annum)
* /
(./)
Electricity
Town Gas/ LPG
/
kWh
unit
()
installation)
Tower(s)
(central building services
installation)
Tower(s)
(non - central building services
installation)
Note: In general, the lower the estimated Annual Energy Use of the building, the more efficient the building in terms
of energy use. For example, if the estimated annual energy use of proposed building is less than the estimated annual
energy use of baseline building, it means the predicted use of energy is more efficient in the proposed building than in
the baseline building. The larger the reduction, the greater the efficiency.
Part III
The following installation(s) * is / are * designed / completed in accordance with the relevant Codes of Practice published by the
Electrical and Mechanical Services Department: / Type of Installations
YES
NO
N/A
Lighting Installations
Air Conditioning Installations
Electrical Installations
Lift & Escalator Installations
Performance-based Approach
Please () where appropriate ()
____________________________________
____________________________________
Signature
(Registered Professional Engineer/ Registered
Energy Assessor )
Signature#
(Authorized Person
______________________________________
_____________________________________
Certificate of Registration No. #
______________________________________
_____________________________________
Date of expiry of registration #
Date of expiry of registration #
Certificate of Registration No.
______________________________________
Company Chop/ Signature of applicant
______________________________________
Date
#
In accordance with the registration record
* Delete whichever is inapplicable
-2-
The predicted annual energy use per m2 per annum, in terms of electricity consumption (kWh) and town gas/LPG consumption (unit) of the
development by the internal floor area served, where: /)
:
(a) total annual energy use has the same meaning of annual energy use under Section 4 and Appendix 8 of the BEAM Plus for New Building
(current version); and
BEAM Plus48
(b) internal floor area, in relation to a building, a space or a unit means the floor area of all enclosed space measured to the internal faces of
enclosing external and/or party walls.
"/
Baseline Building has the same meaning as Baseline Building Model (zero-credit benchmark) under Section 4 and Appendix 8 of the BEAM
Plus for New Building (current version).
BEAM Plus48
Central Building Services Installation has the same meaning as that in the Code of Practice for Energy Efficiency of Building Services Installation
issued by the electrical and Mechanical Services Department.
Podium(s) normally means the lowest part of the development (usually the 1owest 15m of the development and its basement, if any) carrying
different use(s) from that of the tower(s) above. For development without clear demarcation between podium(s) and tower(s), the development, as a
whole, should be considered as tower(s).
(15())
(9/2014)
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