Glossary
Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) Plus
According to the BEAM Society, BEAM is ‘a means by which to benchmark and improve performance in the planning, design, construction, commissioning, operation and management of buildings.’ BEAM Plus is a comprehensive environmental assessment scheme recognised by the Hong Kong Green Building Council. Issued in 2012, the “BEAM Plus Version 1.2 for New Buildings and Existing Buildings” were enhanced from the earlier versions to include Passive Design as an alternative method for assessment. The BEAM Plus Version 2.0 for Existing Buildings was officially launched in 2016, which contains major revisions to the assessment guidelines and offers greater flexibility in the scope of assessment, with a view to encouraging more participation by owners of existing buildings in Hong Kong. The “BEAM Plus Version 2.0 for New Buildings” was officially launched in 2019, which introduces new assessment credits that promotes healthy living and wellness of building users. A new assessment aspect, Integrated Design and Construction Management, has been added to encourage the adoption of an integrated design approach to green buildings throughout the development process from design to construction.
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Building Information Modelling is the process of generating and managing building data during the design and construction stages, as well as during the building or asset life cycle. The process uses multi-dimensional building modelling software and a unified data environment to enhance cross-disciplinary collaboration and increase productivity.
Code on Access to Information
The Code on Access to Information (the Code) provides a formal framework for access to information held by government departments in Hong Kong. It defines the scope of information that will be provided, sets out how the information will be made available either routinely or in response to a request, and lays down procedures governing its prompt release, as well as procedures for review or complaint (if a member of the public considers that the provisions of the Code have not been properly applied).
Corporate Intelligence (CO-i)
ArchSD aims at enhancing its operational efficiency by applying smart and innovative technologies in the work process through the CO-i development. The core of the CO-i development is a big data bank with a linkage to various application systems to facilitate ‘Architectural Intelligence’. This data bank includes an integrated project management platform, an advanced asset information system integrated with Building Information Modelling (BIM), and a mobile platform for construction site supervision and workflow digitalisation.
Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA)
This proactive design approach allows for ease of manufacture and efficiency of assembly, enables offsite manufacture of high-quality construction components and efficient onsite assembly of components. It is a well-established approach in the construction industry for accomplishing significant improvements in productivity, safety, quality and sustainability. Applying DfMA also enables the identification, quantification and elimination of waste or inefficiencies in product manufacture and assembly to achieve lean construction.
ArchSD Extranet
The ArchSD Extranet is a private, secure web portal, equipped with a restricted access to enhance communications and information exchange with external users (such as consultants and contractors), and streamline contract management of works projects undertaken by the Department.
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
GRI is a multi-stakeholder-governed institution, which provides a framework for sustainability reporting commonly used all over the world. The framework sets out the principles and disclosure requirements that entities can use to measure and report their economic, social and environmental performance. GRI published its revised Sustainability Reporting Standards (GRI Standards) in 2021.
Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases are those which absorb and hold heat in the atmosphere, either occurring naturally (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and water vapour) or resulting exclusively from human activities (e.g. hydrofluorocarbons).
Greenhouse Gas Protocol
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol establishes comprehensive standardised global frameworks to measure and manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from private and public sector operations, value chains and mitigation actions. It is the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standard.
Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050
In line with the spirit of the Paris Agreement, Hong Kong’s “Climate Action Plan 2050” published by the Environment Bureau was updated in 2021, setting out the vision of “Zero-carbon Emissions ‧ Liveable City ‧ Sustainable Development” as well as the strategies and targets for combating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality before 2050. The new plan outlines four major decarbonisation strategies and measures, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport, and waste reduction.
Hong Kong Green Organisation Certificate (HKGOC)
The Hong Kong Green Organisation Certification (HKGOC) benchmarks green organisations with substantial achievements in green management and encourages participating organisations to adopt environmental practices, while recognising their efforts in and commitments to the environment. It comprises five Certificates: a Wastewi$e Certificate, Energywi$e Certificate, IAQwi$e Certificate, and Carbon Reduction Certificate.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management System
ISO 14001 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1996, which specifies requirements for the development and implementation of an environmental management system. It is intended for use by organisations seeking to improve their environmental performance in a systematic manner from resource usage and waste management to monitoring environmental performance and involving stakeholders in environmental commitments, and thereby contributing to the environmental pillar of sustainability.
ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System
ISO 45001 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2018, which specifies requirements for the development and implementation of an occupational health and safety management system (OH&S). It enables organisations to systematically prevent work-related injuries and ill health through hazard assessment and risk control implementation with a view to improving their OH&S performance and thereby providing safe and healthy workplaces.
ISO 50001 Energy Management System
ISO 50001 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2011, which specifies requirements for the development and implementation of an energy management system. Adopting the ISO 50001 Energy Management System enables organisations to improve their energy performance, which generally includes energy use, energy efficiency and energy consumption, in a systematic approach.
ISO 9001 Quality Management System
ISO 9001 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardzation (ISO) in 1987, which specifies requirements for the development and implementation of a quality management system. Adopting the ISO 9001 Quality Management System supports organisations to provide products and services that consistently meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements and enhance customer satisfaction through various improvement processes.
ISO 37001 Anti-bribery Management System
ISO 37001 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2016, which specifies requirements for the establishment of an anti-bribery management system. Adopting ISO 37001 Anti-bribery Management System supports organisations in establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an anti-bribery compliance programme in order to prevent, detect and address bribery risks.
Integrated Management System (IMS)
ArchSD’s Integrated Management System consists of five management systems, namely Quality Management System, Environmental Management System, Anti-bribery Management System, Occupational Health and Safety Management System and Energy Management System.
Microclimate
A microclimate generally refers to the specific climatic conditions within a small area (such as a street, park or riverside). Due to the influence of the surrounding terrain, orientation and density of buildings, as well as weather conditions and other factors, the climatic characteristics of an area may differ from those prevailing over the surrounding large region.
Modular Integrated Construction (MiC)
Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) refers to a construction method in which free-standing integrated modules (completed with finishes, fixtures, fittings, etc.) are manufactured offsite and then transported to the construction site for assembly.
Multi-trade Integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MiMEP)
Multi-trade integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MiMEP) refers to the integration of multi-trade building service components into a single assembly of a prefabricated module, manufactured in a factory and then transported to the construction site for connection.
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) is an independent non-profit organisation that sets standards to guide the disclosure of financially material sustainability information by companies to their investors.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)
Adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The 17 Goals aim to address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.
WEB Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) cover a wide range of recommendations for making web content more accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities. Disabilities may include blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movement, speech disabilities, photosensitivity and/or combinations of these.
