The review of the BECs and the Registration Scheme will be conducted by EMSD to ensure that the BEC and the Registration Scheme cope with technological advancement and the trade practice of various stakeholders. At the same time, the reviews will be worked together with dedicated Task Forces with participation from representative organizations in the building industry including professional institutes, trade organizations and the academia.

Reviews in 2012 & after

Since 21 September 2012, the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance (BEEO) has been fully implemented. Please visit the BEEO website for details and latest edition of the BEC. 

Review in 2006/2007

The review simplified the application forms, and offered registration to energy-audited buildings meeting good energy performance requirements. The review also identified the following amendments in the BECs:

• BEC (Lighting) - the requirements on luminous efficacy and LPD are generally upgraded, EMSD's Voluntary Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme for CFL and Electronic Ballasts are quoted as requisite requirements, a performance approach for LPD compliance is introduced to Atrium/Foyer & Vehicle Depot, the requirements on maximum allowable LPD are extended to Retails, Restaurant, & Vehicle Unloading Bay, minor deviation from compliance is allowed for a small quantity of lighting, the maximum allowable controlgear loss requirements are extended to outdoor lighting, and the performance approach on LPD requirement in a composite space is emphasized;
• BEC (Air Conditioning) - the COP requirements for various AC equipment are upgraded, and designers are requested to provide data on Part Load Values of AC equipment and motor power of fan coil units;
• BEC (Electrical) - the maximum allowable copper loss requirements for exceedingly lengthy circuits are slightly relaxed, the motor efficiency requirements are upgraded, the requirement on power transfer devices is waived, and a performance requirement as an alternative to THD compliance is introduced;
• BEC (Lift & Escalator) - the maximum allowable electrical power requirements are upgraded, with high speed fire service lifts or sky lobby shuttles serving a tall zone exempted from the maximum allowable electrical power requirements.

Download Details of the amendments [PDF format (59KB)]

Incorporating these amendments, the 2007 edition of BEC are developed. Having had the 2007 edition, the 2005 edition could still be adopted in the interim. Installations with design commenced in October 2007 should follow the 2007 edition, and installations designed earlier than October 2007 could follow the 2005 edition. Installations designed even earlier and not complying with both of these editions could apply for good energy performance certification. Installations certified for BEC compliance could also apply for good energy performance certification. Attention is also brought to the addendum issued in August 2007 for the 2007 edition of the BEC (Lighting).

Review in 2004/2005

The review re-affirmed the Registration Scheme's vital role in the promotion of building energy efficiency, and concluded that its operation should be continued. The review also identified the following amendments in the BECs:

• BEC (Lighting) – MEPS upgraded on minimum allowable luminous efficacy of fluorescent lamps, maximum allowable lamp controlgear loss, and maximum allowable lighting power density of office space,lecture theatre/laboratory, library, & staircase;
• BEC (Air Conditioning) –the Standard Rating Conditions for Air-Cooled Water Chillers and Water-Cooled Water Chillers were slightly adjusted, and the minimum allowable COP requirements on unitary air conditioners were slightly upgraded; and
• BEC (Lift & Escalator) – requirements on lift handling capacity and traffic design was waived.

Reviews in 2001 & 2002

The reviews indicated that the Registration Scheme and BECs were well received by engineers and building designers, who reckoned that getting the Registration Certificate was a good means to promote their buildings. The reviews ratified the extension of the Registration Scheme to operate to 2004, the exemption of enhanced energy efficient installations from BEC requirements, the opening up of registration application to communal areas of residential buildings, and the issue of appreciation letters to the following certification contributors:

• Tenants who initiate the applications,
• Developers/owners of the buildings,
• Architects of the projects,
• Engineers of the projects,
• Contractors of the projects,
• Sponsors of the projects, and
• Other relevant parties proposed by the applicant engineers.

In the reviews, there were the following amendments to the BECs:

• BEC (Lighting) - the minimum number of lighting control points was slightly relaxed for spaces over 200m2;
• BEC (Air Conditioning) - exemption was given to fan power requirement for special design needs, such as statutory, safety & health;
• BEC (Electrical) - the requisite requirement on compliance with the other three prescriptive BECs were waived, the maximum allowable copper loss requirement on domestic buildings was relaxed, the maximum allowable THD requirement on lift & escalator circuit was waived should the BEC(Lift & Escalator) was already complied, and the position of power factor correction device not right at the source was conditionally permitted;
• BEC (Lift & Escalator) - the maximum allowable electrical power requirements were relaxed, the maximum allowable THD requirements were relaxed for motor drive systems with circuit fundamental current less than 40A, the maximum allowable requirement on lift decoration load was added, the minimum allowable total power factor requirement on escalator/conveyor motor drive systems being at upward direction was clarified, and the requirement on lift traffic design being applicable to non-domestic buildings only was clarified.

Following the launch of the BEC (PB) in April 2003, the Registration Scheme was extended to provide certification & registration under this code.