6.1
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Q |
NRNC EQ10 Electric Lighting Levels
In the reference guide, it states that the ambient lighting level should be designed in accordance with the illumination level specified in MS1525-2007. Task lighting may then be provided for occupants who require a higher lighting level either for their own preference or for various task needs.
If the project designs for a lower ambient lighting level which is lower than the illumination level specified in MS1525, but then meets the recommended illumination level in MS1525 using task lighting, is this deemed compliant?
For example, office lighting lux level is 350 lux. If the ambient lighting is designed at 250 lux, and then with the task lighting, the lux level measured on the working plane is 350 lux, is this design deemed compliant? |
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A |
EQ10 requires that the lighting levels do not exceed those recommended in MS1525. Therefore a lower ambient lighting level supplemented with appropriate task lighting is well within the intent of EQ10.
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6.2 |
Q |
GREEN COSTS
For the green costs that have to be submitted for tax incentives, does the green cost have to be supported with invoices and delivery orders?
Is it possible to take off the quantities from the as-built drawings and use the scheduled unit of rate in the BQ as support of the additional green costs for tax exemption?
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A |
Green costs need to be categorized into the 6 GBI criteria and must be certified by the Principal Submitting Person of the project (details are normally prepared and signed off by the project QS and M&E consultant).
There is no necessity to attach supporting documents to GBI. However, such supporting documents need to be archived should the relevant authorities wish to check in future.
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6.3 |
Q |
Thermal Controllability
Can individual thermal controls be met with the provision of task fans? The definition of thermal comfort control means being able to control the temperature, air speed, humidity or radiant temperature. Using task fan is a mean of controlling the air speed which should be compliant to fulfilling the objective of this requirement.
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A |
YES, if the nett effect of the air speed, temperature, humidity, etc. is within the comfort range as recommended in ASHRAE 55 with relevant localized parameters as listed in MS1525.
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6.4 |
Q |
Waterless Urinals
What is the provision of the quantity of waterless urinals that is required to achieve the point under Innovation? Is provision of 50% of the total number of quantity of urinals sufficient to achieve this credit?
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A |
NO. The requirement calls for ALL urinals. However, at least 90% may be acceptable if valid reasons given are acceptable to GBI.
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6.5 |
Q |
Bicycle Racks
Does the provision of bicycle racks entitle the project to a claim for Innovation point?
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A |
Can be considered if bicycle use is part of the overall Transportation Plan for the building occupants and visitors, e.g. provision of bicycle lanes, shower and locker rooms for cyclists, etc.
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6.6 |
Q |
Permanent Synchronous Lifts
Does the use of lifts with synchronous motor with permanent magnets entitle a claim under Innovation credit? The reason being that the use of AC synchronous motors avoids the problem of poor power factor associated with AC asynchronous motors. This also reduces the problem of torque pulsation when operating at low frequency and low speed range.
How about the use of lift with motor drive – the gearless or the planetary type? The elimination of gear can improve the energy efficiency of gear as there is no gear transmission loss. Also planetary gears are more efficient than the worm gears.
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A |
Thus far only Regenerative Lifts are approved under Innovation. Gearless lifts are not entitled for an innovation credit as this technology is not new for lifts and also because EE features for lifts are already contributing directly to the EE5 score.
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6.7 |
Q |
Electrostatic MERV 13 Filters
Can electrostatic MERV 13 filters qualify as an Innovation credit?
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A |
Electrostatic filters – YES. MERV 13 filters alone – NO. Note that such filters must serve at least 50% NLA.
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6.8 |
Q |
Definition of NLA
Can the definition of NLA differ for the different GBI credits?
For example, for motion sensor coverage of 25% of NLA, can the NLA include toilet and stairs ? - because these areas are usually areas where it is practical to put motion sensors.
However, for Day-Lighting credit, the NLA excludes the toilets and stairs?
Or is it possible to use the same NLA (exclude toilets and stairs) but the area coverage of motion sensors for toilets and stairs are used in the calculations.
As an example, the NLA is 100m2 (exclude toilets and stair areas). But motion sensors are placed in the toilets and stairs (20m2). Hence the coverage is 20/100= 20%. Is this acceptable?
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A |
There is only one definition for NLA: Nett Lettable Area (excluding staircase, toilet, etc.)
The “same’ NLA is used as the denominator in the calculation for both EE2 and EQ8.
For EE2, all areas fitted with motion sensors (within or outside the office areas) can be included in the calculation. Therefore your sample calculation is correct.
For EQ8, the compliance area must be from part of the NLA.
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6.9 |
Q |
Atmospheric Generators
Can this qualify for Innovation point?
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A |
Facilitator to furnish details to justify consideration.
Note that percentage of NLA served is also important.
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6.10 |
Q |
Airflow Sensors
Can airflow sensor linked to BMS to monitor and ensure that the minimum amount of fresh air is always supplied to the space for good indoor air quality qualify as Innovation point?
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A |
Facilitator to furnish details to justify consideration including at least 90% of NLA served.
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6.11 |
Q |
BEI of Airport
In order to calculate the Building Energy Index of the airport, can we take out the energy consumption of the baggage handling system?
The reason being this is the same principle employed in taking out the datacenter energy consumption as it will distort the overall energy consumption.
If the baggage handling system energy consumption is taken out, the BEI calculated after normalizing to 2700 hours will enable a more accurate benchmark to be established with other buildings.
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A |
Please note that the terminology of BEI is Building Energy Intensity and not Index.
For airports, Facilitator should opt for Airport BEI and not use the Office BEI formula. In this regard, all airport systems must be included.
Facilitator/owner to collate BEI for existing airports and propose improvements to justify EE5 credit points based on improvement percentage using the Office BEI formulation as template (ie normal MS1525 BEI = 200 to 220; credits start at 150 ie improvement of at least 25% onwards)
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6.12 |
Q |
OTTV Calculation
Please confirm that the OTTV calculation includes non air-conditioned areas as well? Does the façade area encompassing non-air conditioned areas need to be included as well?
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A |
OTTV measures the average heat gain into the building through its envelope. MS1525:2007 calls for this measurement to be made along the entire façade, even if the areas that the façade envelopes are non-air conditioned, e.g. toilets, stairs, pantry, etc.
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6.13 |
Q |
Interior Fit-outs
Can new interior fit-outs (medical facility within an existing retail podium of an office building) obtain GBI certification? If yes, which is the relevant tool - NRNC or NREB tool.
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A |
Current GBI tools apply to a whole building and not a portion or part of the premise.
There is no GBI tool for interior fit-out at this point in time.
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6.14 |
Q |
NRNC EE1 & EE5 – Min & Advanced EE
If a thermal model has been done for the building in compliance to EE5-Advanced EE Performance, is it still a requisite to submit OTTV calculations to comply with EE1-Minimum EE Performance? Or would scoring in EE5 automatically mean full marks are scored for EE1?
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A |
To derive EE5, building envelope derivation would need to be done and such a step would need to be submitted to verify the advanced EE calcs. Hence, EE1 calcs must be separately submitted.
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6.15 |
Q |
NRNC EE6 – CxS
Please elaborate on the requisite CVA submittals, e.g. what are the documents required to prove the carrying out of CxS’s full scope of work and what are the contents of the final commissioning report?
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A |
Please refer to the specific tasks of the CxS as posted on the website.
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6.16 |
Q |
NRNC MR1 & RNC MR2 – Material Reuse
If the reusable system formwork approach is used for compliance, should the material cost be the system formwork cost or the cost of conventional form that the system formwork is substituting?
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A |
You may use the cost of the system formwork in conjunction with the explanation given in the Design Reference Guide.
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6.17 |
Q |
NRNC & RNC WE3 – WE Landscaping
For compliance with the requirement of “not using potable water at all for irrigation”, can there be temporary potable supply for the first year for the purpose of ensuring the plants survive until the roots are matured? There is an allowance in LEED for this.
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A |
GBI is a performance based tool and encourages you to submit innovative, practical and well substantiated rationale for consideration.
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6.18 |
Q |
NRNC & RNC WE4 – WE Fittings
1. Can the flow rates below be used for the base condition?
2. Can the values below for fixture usage per occupant be used for the water consumption calculations?
If not, please advise what the values should be.
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A |
Flowrates and values used should be obtained from authoritative source/s such as Code of Practice etc., and sample case studies are provided in the GBIF Course.
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6.19 |
Q |
NRNC EE4 – Renewable Energy
Assuming the FiT is not addressed by this year (building completed earlier than this issue being involved), is there any mechanism to address the selling of RE back to the national grid?
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A |
Currently RE produced can already be connected to the grid and is being done so but to our knowledge, there is no other mechanism to address the selling back of RE to the national grid besides the impending FiT.
Implementation of FiT will obviously provide incentive to accelerate the growth of the relevant RE installations.
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6.20 |
Q |
Re-Certification every 3 years
How does GSB define the time-frame and cut-off period of 3 years before the expiry of the first CVA certificate?
Is there a recommended preceding period to kick-start the re-certification process?
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A |
The validity period of the CVA aka Final GBI certificate is printed on the GBI certificate. It is recommended that application for re-certification or renewal be submitted at least 3 months before the expiry date.
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6.21 |
Q |
Re-Certification Performance Parameters
Is there any additional performance parameters required for re-certification submission apart from those defined in the Reference Guide for CVA for NRNC tool?
As an existing building designed for green and sustainability, it makes more sense to implement monitoring tools to track and measure the effectiveness of having in place such facilities like recycling bins, car-park priority for green vehicle and carpooling and so on. As such, we wish to seek clarification if such measures would possibly be in place in future, thus helping us in our planning for re-certification process.
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A |
All required parameters for re-certification shall strictly follow the criteria of the NREB tool in this instance.
Thank you for your comments on implementation of monitoring measures.
For your information, all your suggested monitoring elements and more are required to comply with the respective criterion in NREB to ensure successful re-certification of your project.
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6.22 |
Q |
BEI Derivation
We wish to have some illustration on how BEI is derived and normalised, starting from manipulating the real kW-hourly data collected from energy monitoring system to how to determine the actual building operation hours for normalisation purposes.
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A |
The BEI formula is downloadable from the website together with calculated examples. For office building, the normalised operating hours is also clearly stipulated as 2,700 hours per annum. Finally, please note that no manipulation of data is permitted.
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6.23 |
Q |
BEI Simulation
We wish to have an elaborated explanation on the approach and need statement of Dynamic Energy Modelling for GBI Gold. What is the rationale of using Dynamic Energy Modelling to model the targeted BEI (instead of using it as a tool for adjusting baseline to measure and verify the energy savings)?
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A |
Please refer to MS1525:2007 Chapter 10 Building Energy Simulation Method for the elaborated approach. Dynamic Energy Modelling is necessary to ascertain accuracy of targeted BEI for EE enhancement criteria for DA submission for Gold or Platinum rating. Note that simulation is not necessary if DA is not required.
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6.24 |
Q |
BEI Degradation
BEI degradation due to equipment aging over time. We seek clarification if there is such consideration of leniency in point allocation on the targeted BEI due to equipment aging over time. The degradation is in line with the inherent deterioration on system efficiency (partly or as a whole) despite regular scheduled maintenance being conducted as per manufacturer’s recommendation.
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A |
GBI emphasises on sustainable maintenance and requires building to perform efficiently at all times, and believes that degradation can be addressed with proper maintenance, replacement and upgrade.
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6.25 |
Q |
NRNC EE5 – BEI
Is there any default COP for GDC plants if no information is forthcoming from the GDC operator? |
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A |
If such info is not available, you may then use the default GDP Plant COP = 3.8
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6.26 |
Q |
NREB: DA
If the existing building is able to score enough points for certification without requiring retro-fitting/renovation, is it possible to skip the Design Assessment process (as there is no new design required) and only submit for the Completion & Verification Assessment?
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A |
YES. DA is not mandatory even for New Construction tools.
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6.27 |
Q |
RNC EQ2 - Daylighting
Is the Kitchen considered habitable space to be taken into consideration for the calculations?
For verification using measured results, how does GBI want Daylight Factor (DF) to be measured?
DF is a ratio of inside lux level to outside lux level – do simultaneous measurements of inside and outside illumination have to be taken or are there some other criteria or method that we have to comply to?
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A |
Kitchen is part of habitable space.
Simultaneous measurement is required.
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6.28 |
Q |
RNC SM2 – Public Transport Access
What is the definition of Urban and Sub-urban Housing? Would a high rise condominium along Jalan Dutamas in Segambut, KL be considered Urban or Sub-urban Housing, i.e. pursuing SM2A & SM2B or SM2C & SM2D ?
In pursuing credit SM2C for a high rise condominium, would a new-built bus stop provided by the developer located outside the site but less than 750m from the entrance door to the lift lobby be compliant?
If the condominium consists of 290 apartment units, would the compliant seating capacity of this bus stop be for 29 people (10% of units)?
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A |
High rise condos are classified as under URBAN site. Therefore SM2A & SM2B would apply.
Bus stop as described and to be built by Developer is compliant provided it is completed upon application of CVA.
Yes the 10% of units complies with the 10% rule.
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6.29 |
Q |
RNC SM6 – Stormwater Management
Currently MSMA does not take into cognizance the reduction of water run-off from green roofs.
Can the assumptions in Table 2.2 in the enclosed New Zealand Stormwater Practice Note be adopted for GBI calculations? In this table, green roofs, wooden decks, pervious paving and swimming pools are considered self-mitigation areas that do not require additional mitigation.
Alternatively, can the enclosed Maryland ESD Computation that considers green roofs and permeable pavements as alternative surfaces with corresponding reduced RCN (runoff curve number) be used? LEED accepts calculation methods in this guide for compliance to the Stormwater Design credit.
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A |
MSMA requirements must be complied with for the 1st Credit point. Additional credit points rewarded are performance-based for GBIF to demonstrate compliance. Foreign guidelines do not apply unless specifically permitted.
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6.30 |
Q |
RNC WE1 – Rainwater Harvesting
The latest reference guide states that this credit covers common property usage only which is mainly irrigation and cleaning of common areas. For the cleaning usage, is it acceptable to estimate the base water consumption by estimating the number of 1-litre pails of water used?
If not, please provide calculation assumptions for base conditions.
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A |
Common area usage should include the following: Public toilets, Gym toilets, general cleaning, swimming pool usage, landscape water, pantry for community halls, etc.
Water consumption values used should be obtained from authoritative source/s such as Code of Practice etc., and sample case studies are provided in the GBIF Course.
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6.31 |
Q |
RNC IN1
Can exemplary performance be considered for innovation points?
For example, would an innovation point be granted if the softscape coverage is 30%, which is one step up the 25% coverage to score the maximum 4 points for Credit SM4 Open Spaces, Landscaping & Heat Island Effect (RNC tool)?
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A |
Appeal for innovation point may be submitted but it will be unlikely to be given unless the increase is very substantial. Vertical planting or green walls of significant quantum may qualify for one innovation point.
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6.32 |
Q |
RNC IN1
Control of construction activity pollution from soil erosion, waterway sedimentation and airborne dust generation is not addressed in any credit in the RNC tool. Would taking initiative to implement an Erosion and Sedimentation Control plan be awarded an innovation point?
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A |
Although not specifically stated, SM5 does include NOT polluting the surrounding waterways. No innovation point will be given for doing the minimum to protect the environment.
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6.33 |
Q |
RNC Version 1.0 and 2.0
Now that RNC Version 2.0 has come out, which version do I use? |
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A |
You may use either version at your discretion. Grace period for RNC 1.0 will be until 31st December 2011 before it is phased out.
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