Thermal Comfort as Prerequisite for Air-conditioned Spaces
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns a proposal by Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang to make thermal comfort a prerequisite for air-conditioned spaces in all non-residential buildings under the Green Mark certification scheme. Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong clarified that thermal comfort is already a prerequisite for all new non-residential buildings under the 2015 scheme revision. While it remains a voluntary criterion for existing non-residential buildings, the Building and Construction Authority is currently reviewing the scheme and consulting with industry stakeholders. The Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong highlighted that comfort depends on building operation and is based on Singapore standards for air-conditioning and ventilation. He further encouraged building owners and managers to be responsive to the needs of their tenants and dwellers to maintain comfortable indoor environments.
Transcript
37 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development whether BCA will consider setting the criteria of thermal comfort as a prerequisite requirement for air-conditioned spaces in all new and existing non-residential buildings, including commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, as part of its Green Mark Award certification schemes.
Mr Lawrence Wong: The Green Mark certification scheme was launched in 2005 to shape a greener and more sustainable built environment. The scheme allows developers to evaluate and benchmark their buildings to established environmental performance standards. There are both prerequisite and voluntary criteria in the certification process.
Under the revised Green Mark certification scheme of 2015, designing for thermal comfort is now a prerequisite for certification for all new non-residential buildings. This includes commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. The specifications for thermal comfort are based on the Singapore standards on air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation in buildings.
Thermal comfort is currently a voluntary criterion for existing non-residential buildings applying for Green Mark certification today. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is reviewing the scheme and will consult industry stakeholders for their views.
Ultimately, how comfortable the indoor environment is depends on how the building is operated. We encourage building owners and managers to be responsive to the needs of their tenants and dwellers.