IAQ Certification Scheme – Background

Background

To improve the IAQ and promote public awareness of the importance of IAQ, the Government implemented an IAQ Management Programme in 2000. One of the core tasks of the Programme is to launch a voluntary IAQ Certification Scheme for Offices and Public Places (the “IAQ Certification Scheme”) in 2003.

The IAQ Certification Scheme aims to:

  • recognise good IAQ management practices; and
  • provide incentives for owners of premises/buildings or property management companies to pursue the best level of IAQ.

Key features of the IAQ Certification Scheme

Key features of the IAQ Certification Scheme are – 

  • a 2-level IAQ objectives (Excellent Class and Good Class) is used as the benchmark to assess IAQ of premises/buildings; 
  • a voluntary and self-regulatory approach is adopted for annual certification; 
  • participation is free but premises/building owners or management are responsible for all expenses, including but not limited to, employing accredited  IAQ Certificate Issuing Bodies (CIB) to assess IAQ of their premises/buildings against the IAQ objectives;
  • CIB will issue an IAQ certificate for premises/building owners or management to register with the IAQ Information Centre if the IAQ objectives are complied with. The certificate and IAQ labels provided by the IAQ Information Centre should be put up at a prominent location for the public information;
  • IAQ Information Centre will issue electronic IAQ logo to premises/building owners upon request. The use of the electronic IAQ logo should follow the prescribed  guidelines
  • the certificate is valid for 12 months. For certificate renewal, a full set of parameters on IAQ objectives shall be measured/assessed once every 5 years, and for the 4 years in between, only selected parameters need to be measured/assessed annually if certain conditions are met; 
  • certification is generally made on the basis of a building as a unit. Nevertheless, premises/building owners or management can choose to certify certain parts or certain floors of a building; and 
  • premises/building owners or management have to manage post-certification IAQ to ensure IAQ is maintained at the certified level.

Since the launch of the IAQ Certification Scheme in 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published two IAQ guidelines in 2009 and 2010 respectively on dampness and mould, and selected pollutants (viz. formaldehyde (HCHO), radon, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), benzene, naphthalene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene). Taking into account local circumstances and the practicability of adopting the latest WHO’s IAQ guidelines, the IAQ objectives of the IAQ Certification Scheme adopted since 2003 (“Old IAQ Objectives”) have been revised for implementation starting from 1 July 2019 (the “New IAQ Objectives“)

New IAQ Objectives

In light of the IAQ guidelines published by the World Health Organization in 2009 and 2010 respectively on dampness and mould, and selected pollutants (viz. HCHO, radon, CO, NO2, benzene, naphthalene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene), EPD has completed a review of the prevailing IAQ objectives adopted since 2003 (Old IAQ Objectives) under the IAQ Certification Scheme for Offices and Public Places (the Scheme) to update the IAQ objectives. The new IAQ objectives, including a new parameter of mould, (New IAQ Objectives) were launched on 1 July 2019.

Summary of the updates of the IAQ objectives

New premises that join the Scheme or existing premises which have completed their 5-year certification cycle on or after 1 July 2019 shall adopt the New IAQ Objectives for the certification. For those premises which have joined the Scheme before 1 July 2019 (refers to the start date of the validity period of the IAQ certificate), they may (i) continue to carry out the annual re-certification of CO2 and PM10 to renew the IAQ certificate until the expiry of the 5-year cycle, (ii) to start a new 5-year certification cycle by carrying out full certification of all IAQ parameters using the Old IAQ Objectives before 1 July 2019 (renewal application should be submitted to the IAQ Information Centre before 1 July 2019 and the starting date of the renewed IAQ certificate will be the date the IAQ Certificate Issuing Body signs the certificate), or (iii) to adopt the New IAQ Objectives before the expiry of the 5-year cycle by carrying out full certification of all IAQ parameters. This transitional arrangement allows time for IAQ certificate holders to carry out necessary improvement/rectification works to migrate to the New IAQ Objectives.

To distinguish premises complying with the Old or New IAQ Objectives, new IAQ certificates and new IAQ labels will be issued for premises certified under the New IAQ Objectives. In addition, starting from 1 July 2019, the IAQ Information Centre will issue electronic IAQ logo (“e-Logo”) to IAQ certificate holders upon request for promotion of their efforts in maintaining good IAQ and for raising public’s awareness of IAQ. The use of the e-Logo should follow the prescribed guidelines.

IAQ certificates

IAQ certificates for certification against the Old IAQ Objectives
IAQ certificates for certification against the New IAQ Objectives

IAQ labels

IAQ labels for certification against the Old IAQ Objectives
IAQ labels for certification against the New IAQ Objectives

Why participate?

Good IAQ in offices and public places could –

  • safeguard the health of building users
  • increase productivity of the workers
  • attract more tenants or customers

By participating in the IAQ Certification Scheme, your efforts in achieving good IAQ will be publicly recognised. It will also help develop a partnership amongst all stakeholders in the premises in maintaining a pleasant indoor environment.

Applicability

In general, buildings or enclosed areas for the use as offices or public places which are served by mechanical ventilation and air conditioning (MVAC) system may join the IAQ Certification Scheme. MVAC system means the equipment, distribution network and terminal that provide, either collectively or individually, the processes of heating, cooling, humidification, dehumidification, ventilation or air-purification or any other associated processes to a conditioned space. It does not cover window-type air conditioners or split-type air conditioners. Public places is defined as “any theatre, place of public entertainment of any kind, or other place of general resort, admission to which is obtained by payment or to which the public have or are permitted to have access”. Examples of eligible buildings are office buildings, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and funeral parlours, etc.

The certification is generally made on the basis of a building as a unit. Nevertheless, premises/building owners or management can choose to certify certain parts or certain floors of a building. Where a shopping mall or scheduled premises* listed under Schedule 2 of the  Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) forms part of the building, it is required to be certified separately. The location of the certified premises/buildings must be clearly stated in the application form and the certificate.

* As at July 2018, the scheduled premises listed are restaurants, dancing establishment, theatres, cinemas, funeral parlours and factory canteens.

Fees

Participation in the scheme is free of charge. 

However, owners/management of premises/buildings are responsible for all expenses associated with participating in the scheme (e.g. cost for employing the CIB for certification and undertaking remedial actions, etc.).

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