Building Energy Code (BEC) and

Energy Audit Code (EAC)

(2012 Edition)

for Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance

(Chapter 610)

Overview of BEC
Key Energy Efficiency Requirements
Lighting Installation
Max Allowable Lighting
Power Density
Lighting Control

Electrical Installation
Motor Efficiency
Power Distribution
Power Quality
Energy Metering

Air-conditioning Installation

Coeff of Performance
System Fan Power
Piping Frictional Loss
Thermal Insulation
Energy Efficient Control
Design conditions
Energy Metering

Lift and escalator

installation

Electrical Power
Power Quality
Energy Metering
Lift Decoration Load
Lift ventilation

Loss

BEC Lighting Installations

Not regarded as installations to which the BEEO applies

Exterior to a building faade lighting, outdoor lighting

Not of fixed type, connected via flexible cable with plug

Integral to equipment or instrumentation (separate switch)

Signage

BEC Lighting Installations

Max Allowable Lighting Power Density (W/m2)
Space with fixed lighting installation at or exceeding 100W
LPD = Total wattage of fixed lighting installation
Internal floor area of that space
Type of Space

Entrance Lobby
Workshop
Public Circulation Area
Lift Lobby
Corridor
Car Park
Toilet / Washroom / Shower Room
Office
Conference / Seminar Room
Staircase
Plant Room / Machine Room / Switch Room

LPD W/m2)
15
14
15
12
10
6
13
15
16
8
12

BEC Lighting Installations

Lighting control
Lighting to which the BEEO is applicable and lighting to
which the BEEO is not applicable : separate switch
Min No. of Lighting Control Points for Office Space
Space Area A (m2)

N (N : integer)

15 x (N -1) < A 15 x N

0 < N 10

30 x (N-6) < A 30 x (N 5)

10 < N 20

50 x (N -12) < A 50 x (N-11)

N > 20

Area
(m2)
N

>0
15

> 15
30

> 30
45

> 45
60

> 60
75

> 75
90

> 90
105

> 105
120

> 150
180

> 450
500

11

21

BEC Air-conditioning Installations

Not regarded as installations to which the BEEO applies

Equipment on high voltage (e.g. chiller)

BEC Air-conditioning Installations

Air distribution system fan power@ for conditioned space
Full
Load

CAV 1.6 W / L/s (supply system air flow);

VAV 2.1 W / L/s (supply system air flow)
@ Sum

of fan motor power of supply air fan &

return air fan (excluding fan power for
fresh air only or for exhaust only)

Exception : System power < 5 kW;

Fan motor power < 1 kW (e.g. FCU)

VAV fan (supply or return) with motor output power5 kW

Part
Load

at 50% design flow, motor demands 55% input power

Air distribution ductwork leakage limit

Ductwork designed for > 750 Pa : min 25% leak-tested (DW143)
and meet corresponding leakage limits
7

BEC Air-conditioning Installations

Variable speed pump with motor output power 5 kW

At 50% flow, motor demands 55% input power
Piping system frictional loss
Piping > 50 mm : frictional loss 400 Pa/m
& flow velocity 3 m/s
Piping 50 mm : flow velocity 1.2 m/s

BEC Air-conditioning Installations

Min Coefficient of Performance (COP) of Chiller

Air-cooled
Scroll

Compressor

Screw

Capacity
Range (kW)

Centrifugal

All Ratings
2.7

Min COP

2.9

2.8

Water-cooled

Scroll

Compressor
Capacity
Range (kW)
Min COP

Screw

Centrifugal

Below
500 kW

500 1000
kW

Above
1000
kW

Below
500
kW

500 1000 kW

Above
1000
kW

Below
500 kW

500 1000
kW

Above
1000
kW

4.1

4.6

5.2

4.6

4.7

5.5

5.1

5.6

5.7

BEC Air-conditioning Installations

Min COP of Unitary Air-conditioner
Type of
Cooling

Watercooled

Air-cooled

Capacity
range (kW)

7.5 kW & below,

of types outside the
scope of Energy
Efficiency (Labelling of
Products) Ordinance

Min COP

2.4 for split type

2.1 for non-split type

Above 7.5 kW
& below 40 kW

2.4

40 200
kW

Above
200 kW

All Ratings

2.6
3

3 for VRF

2.9 for VRF

Unitary air-conditioner of type under scope of Energy Efficiency

(Labelling of Products) Ordinance (Cap. 598)
Fulfilling Energy Efficiency Grade 2 or Grade 1
10

BEC Air-conditioning Installations

Thermal insulation Min Thickness for Chilled Water Pipework

Ambient

Outdoor

Thermal conductivity
(W/m-oC)
Surface coefficient
h (W/m2-0C)

0.024
9

13.5

0.04
9

Pipe outer diameter do

11

Unconditioned Space

13.5

0.024
5.7

10

0.04
5.7

Conditioned
Space
0.024

10

0.04

any value

Insulation thickness (mm)

21.3 mm

20

15

30

22

29

19

43

28

13

13

26.9 mm

21

15

32

23

31

20

46

29

13

13

42.4 mm

23

17

35

25

34

21

50

32

13

25

60.3 mm

25

18

38

27

36

23

54

35

13

25

76.1 mm

26

18

40

28

38

24

57

36

14

25

114.3 mm

27

19

42

30

41

25

62

39

14

25

168.3 mm

29

20

45

32

43

26

66

41

14

25

219.1 mm

29

20

47

32

44

27

69

42

15

25

323.9 mm

30

21

49

34

46

28

73

44

15

25

406.4 mm

31

21

50

34

47

28

75

45

15

25

BEC Air-conditioning Installations

Thermal Insulation Min Thickness for Ductwork & Refrigerant Pipe
Ambient

Outdoor

Thermal conductivity
(W/m-oC)
Surface coefficient
h (W/m2-0C)

0.024
9

Temperature difference
between air inside duct/casing
and surrounding

0.04
9

0.024

13.5

5.7

10

0.04
5.7

10

Conditioned
Space
0.024

0.04

any value

Ductwork & Casing Insulation thickness (mm)

15 0C

20

13

33

22

31

18

52

30

15

25

20 0C

27

18

46

30

43

25

72

41

15

25

Refrigerant Pipework Insulation thickness (mm) *

Pipe outer diameter d0 (mm)

12

13.5

Unconditioned Space

15 mm

22

16

33

24

31

20

47

30

13

13

28 mm

25

18

38

28

36

23

54

35

13

25

42 mm

28

20

41

30

40

25

59

38

13

25

* for line temp at 00C

BEC Air-conditioning Installations

System Control
Off-hours control during periods of non-use

Each system to have auto control to reduce energy through control

setback or equipment shutdown
Exception : system 10 kW cooling/heating capacity may be controlled by
readily accessible manual off-hour control

Each zone controlled by separate temperature control

Zone normally not on separate floors

Each air-conditioned system provided with automatic

temperature control

Design conditions
Outdoor and Indoor, for Load Calculation
13

BEC Air-conditioning Installations

Energy Metering
Chiller, heat pump or unitary air-conditioner 350
kW cooling/heating capacity
Continuous monitoring facilities to measure
input of power (kW) & energy (kWh)
output of cooling/heating power (kW)
& energy (kWh)
COP

Chilled/heated water plant 350 kW

cooling/heating capacity
Continuous monitoring facilities to measure
input of power (kW) & energy (kWh)
output of cooling/heating power (kW) &
energy (kWh)
COP

14

BEC Electrical Installations

Not regarded as installations to which the BEEO applies Operating on high voltage or extra low voltage
Owned by electricity supplier & installed in consumer substation

15

BEC Electrical Installations

Power Distribution Loss Max Allowable Circuit Copper Loss
Circuit type

Connection

Main circuit

Distribution
transformer to LV
Sw/Bd

Feeder

LV Sw/Bd direct to
equipment

Sub-main circuit 100m

in non-residential building

LV Sw/Bd to local DB

Sub-main circuit

beside, above or below each other)

Neutral conductor rating phase

conductor rating
2.5 %

2.5 % [subject to sum of losses in sub-main and

final circuits (> 32A) 2.5%]

2.5 %

in residential building

Final circuit > 32 A

0.5 % (unless Tx Rm & Main Sw Rm directly

1.5 %

in non-residential building

Sub-main circuit > 100 m

Copper Loss @

Local DB to
equipment / outlet
points

1%

@ copper loss of total active power (1 or 3-phase) at designed circuit current

16

BEC Electrical Installations

Min Allowable Motor Efficiency
Nominal Full-Load (Single-Speed Three-phase Totally Enclosed)
Motor Rated Output (P)

17

Min Rated Efficiency (%)

2-pole

4-pole

0.75 kW P < 1.1 kW

77.4%

79.6%

1.1 kW P < 1.5 kW

79.6%

81.4%

1.5 kW P < 2.2 kW

81.3%

82.8%

2.2 kW P < 3 kW

83.2%

84.3%

3 kW P < 4 kW

84.6%

85.5%

4 kW P < 5.5 kW

85.8%

86.6%

5.5 kW P < 7.5 kW

87%

87.7%

7.5 kW P < 11 kW

88.1%

88.7%

11 kW P < 15 kW

89.4%

89.8%

15 kW P < 18.5 kW

90.3%

90.6%

18.5 kW P < 22 kW

90.9%

91.2%

22 kW P < 30 kW

91.3%

91.6%

30 kW P < 37 kW

92%

92.3%

37 kW P < 45 kW

92.5%

92.7%

P 200 kW

95 %

95.1 %

BEC Electrical Installations

Motor sizing for motor > 5 kW output power rating
Ratio of motor output power to anticipated system load
125% (unless requiring a special high starting torque)

Balancing of Single-phase Loads

3-phase 4-wire circuits 400A, having 1-phase loads
max unbalanced single-phase loads 10%

18

BEC Electrical Installations

Min Allowable Total Power Factor (TPF)
Circuit design TPF (at design circuit current) 0.85

for circuit 400A, or

3-phase circuit connecting to meter of electricity supplier

Max Allowable Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)

Harmonic current
for circuit 400A, or
3-phase circuit connecting to meter of electricity supplier

19

Designed Circuit Current

(I, in A)

THD in % of Fundamental Current

I 40A

20.0 %

40A I 400A

15.0 %

400A I 800A

12.0 %

800A I 2000A

8.0 %

I 2000A

5.0 %

BEC Electrical Installations

In fulfilling above TPF or THD requirement, a correction device or a
connection point for the device should be incorporated
at the source motor control centre or local distribution board
in case a connection point, it should constitute a spare way
solely for supplying power to the connection device

Metering & Monitoring Facilities

Main circuit at or above 400A
measuring voltage (phase-to-phase & phase-to-neutral), current
(phases & neutral), energy consumption,
max demand, TPF, THD
Feeder & Sub-main circuit

Circuit exceeding 200A & below 400A

measuring current (phases & neutral), energy consumption

20

Circuit at or above 400A

measuring voltage (phase-to-phase & phase-to-neutral),
current (phases & neutral), energy consumption,
max demand, TPF, THD

BEC Lift & Escalator Installations

Not regarded as installations to which the BEEO applies

21

Mechanized vehicle parking system

Service lift, stairlift
Industrial truck loaded freight lift
Lift in a performance stage
Powered lifting platform
Non-traction / Non-hydraulic driven

BEC Lift & Escalator Installations

22

Max Allowable Electrical Power running active electrical power

Traction drive lift Power of motor drive, at rated load rated speed upward

Hydraulic lift Power of hydraulic oil pump motor, at rated load rated speed
upward

Escalator / Passenger conveyor - Power of steps driving motor, no-load at rated

speed

BEC Lift & Escalator Installations

Max Allowable Electrical Power of Traction Drive Lift (kW)
Rated Speed Vc (m/s)

Rated Load
L (kg)

1.5 Vc < 2

2 Vc < 2.5

2.5 Vc < 3

3 Vc < 3.5

3.5 Vc < 4

L < 750

11.4

15.2

17.1

20

21.9

750 L < 1000

16.2

20

22.8

25.7

29.5

1000 L < 1350

20.9

25.7

30.4

34.2

38

1350 L < 1600

25.7

30.4

36.1

40.9

46.6

1600 L < 2000

30.4

37.1

43.7

50.4

57

2000 L < 3000

44.7

56.1

66.5

75.1

85.5

Max Allowable Electrical Power of Escalator (W)

Non- Public Service Escalator, at Rated Speed Vr (m/s) No Load

800 mm

Nominal Width

23

1000 mm

R < 3.5

1425

1615

1948

1520

1805

2185

3.5 R < 5

1710

1995

2423

1900

2185

2708

5 R < 6.5

1995

2375

2898

2214

2660

3230

6.5 R < 8

2328

2755

3373

2613

3040

3753

R 8

230R + 588

253.6R + 694

312.5R + 853

268R + 653

349.6R + 771

346.7R + 997

BEC Lift & Escalator Installations

Max Allowable Lift Decoration Load
Max Lift Decoration Load
Lift Rated Load
L (kg)

Allowable Decoration Load

D (kg)

L < 1800

D = 0.5 x L, or 600
whichever is smaller

L 1800

D = 0.38 x L 0.000026 x L2, or 1250

whichever is smaller

Lift Parking Mode

Lift bank : at least 1 lift to run at parking mode (during low traffic) and not
respond to passenger call until return to normal operation mode

24

BEC Lift & Escalator Installations

Lift Ventilation and Air-conditioning

Ventilation
Lift car after idling for 2 minutes : ventilation to be shut off
automatically, until lift activated again by passenger call

If air-conditioned
Lift after idling for 10 minutes : air-conditioning to be shut off
automatically until lift activated again by passenger call, and resume
operation no earlier than 5 minutes after the shut-off
Exception : observation lift in unconditioned space

25

BEC Lift & Escalator Installations

Min Allowable Total Power Factor (TPF)
TPF of motor drive 0.85
(at the isolator connecting to buildings electrical supply circuit)
Lift at rated load rated speed upward
Escalator / passenger conveyor at brake load rated speed (for equipment
with a rise equipment travelling upward)

Max Allowable Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)

26

Circuit
Fundamental
Current of
Motor Drive
I (A)

THD (%) of Motor Drive in Each Phase

(at isolator connecting to buildings electrical supply circuit)
Lift
(rated load, rated speed up)

I < 40A

40%

40A I < 80A

35%

35%

80A I < 400A

22.5%

22.5%

400A I < 800A

15%

Not applicable

Escalator and Passenger Conveyor

(no load, rated speed)
35%
(direct from feeder)

# See remarks in next slide

40%
(not direct from feeder)

BEC Lift & Escalator Installations

# Remarks (to last slide)
In fulfilling TPF & THD requirements, corresponding correction device
can be installed at the source motor control centre
Circuit fulfilling TPF & THD requirement not further governed by TPF &
THD requirement under Electrical Installations

Metering & Monitoring Facilities

(for each Lift, Escalator & Passenger Conveyor)
Metering devices or the provision for measurement should be provided
Measuring voltage (phase-to-phase & phase-to-neutral), current (phases &
neutral), power, energy consumption, max demand, TPF, THD
Provision for measurement
Electrical cubicle or junction box through which the electrical supply circuit
passes
Right beside the control panel of the motor drive
Facilitate the ready connection and subsequent removal of the metering devices
for measurement not entailing a stoppage or disruption to operation

27

BEC Other Requirements

Performance-based approach

Alternative BEC compliance approach

Focusing on total building energy using simulation software

Design energy should not exceed energy budget
Relaxing certain prescriptive requirements such as LPD, COP
Trade-off items of same ownership

Requirements for Major Retrofitting Works

28

Examples (for Works Area of 500 m2)

Replacement of luminaries with total circuit wattage < 3kW - does not
have to meet LPD requirements
Replacement of AHUs with cooling capacity < 60kW
does not have to meet various requirements

EAC Requirements
Objective

Key Steps

Systematic
review
Energy
consuming
equipment /
systems
Information for
decision making
accounting for
environmental &
economic benefits

Collection of information of the

building

Review of energy consuming

equipment / systems

Identification of EMO (Energy

Management Opportunity)

Cost benefit analysis of EMO

Recommendations

6 Compiling energy audit report / Energy

Audit Form

Implement
energy saving
measures
29

Energy audit for the building,

after commencement, is to
complete in 6 months

EAC Requirements
Energy audit report
Energy utilization index (EUI) (MJ/m2/annum)
Energy audit form (exhibit at building main entrance)
Energy management opportunities (EMO)
Implementation not mandatory
Executive summary

30

BEC & EAC Way Forward

ENB public consultation on climate change end 2010
SDC public engagement on energy saving in buildings Aug
2011
SDC report Mar 2012

The

BEEO is welcomed by general public, and

energy audit is an effective tool to improve energy
saving

The

BEC systematic review & enhancement

to align with technology advancement

to tighten energy efficiency standards

Facilitation

of behaviour change through energy audit

What gets measured gets managed

Energy audit provides baseline for comparison & data to
establish benchmark

EMSD planning to tighten the BEC requirements,

aligning with international practices & technologies
31

Energy Efficiency Office

Enquiry : 37576156
Email : mbec@emsd.gov.hk
Address : 3 Kai Shing Street, Kowloon
Website : http://www.emsd.gov.hk

Thank You!
!
Information in this PowerPoint are extracted from the BEC / EAC. The extract is for purpose of
this presentation only, which serves to provide an overview but not the full details of the BEC /
EAC requirements.

32