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The Architectural Services Department (Arch SD) has recently published a new edition of general specification for air conditioning to incorporate energy-efficient requirements in design and construction of air conditioning system and ventilation installation for government building projects.
The new specification, known as the 2001 General Specification for Air Conditioning , Refrigeration, Ventilation and Central Monitoring & Control System Installation in Government Buildings, will be introduced in government building contracts with effect from October 2002.
The additional key features of the general specification include:
* minimum coefficient of performance of major A/C equipment
* minimum efficiency of fans, pumps and motors
* specification and requirements of dehumidifiers such as desiccant wheels, total energy heat wheel, fresh air pre-conditioners, etc
* specification and requirements of motion detection sensing device
* free air cooling system
* specification for enhanced air filtration systems and purification
equipment
* reference to other international standards in setting out ventilation
requirements with due considerations of local conditions
* treatment and processing of air
The new technical specification helps enhance the performance of air conditioning and ventilation systems while at the same time without compromising energy conservation.
Taking an active role in promoting energy efficient architectural design, the Arch SD has conducted extensive consultations on the draft version of the new specification with over 100 organisations from the industry including universities, professional bodies, trade and contractors associations as well as Arch SD's contractors and consultants.
More than 20 organisations have actively participated in the consultation and their views are contributed to the refinement of the draft specification .
Arch SD has also organised a series of briefing sessions for relevant sectors in launching the new specification, which is a new initiative taken in line with the "Overall Energy Approach" widely adopted by the Arch SD in the design of government buildings.
The purpose of such approach is to minimise the loss of energy from a building by means of a waste energy recapture system so that certain proportion of the waste energy can be recovered for further utilisation.
The approach has been widely applied in the design and installation of air conditioning system in the department's projects in recent years. Pilot and trial projects are completed with satisfactory results. Installations such as demand control A/C supply, heat wheels, heat recovery chillers are set up to maximise energy utilisation and minimise the loss of energy.
The general specification has been posted on Arch SD's web site at http://www.archsd.gov.hk. It is also available for sale at Government Publications Sales Centre.
End/Sunday, September 30, 2001
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