Assessing The Health And Safety Performance Of Residential Buildings In Hong Kong

Abstract

Hong Kong is well known for its high population density and its highly compact living environment. With the outbreak of SARS in densely populated areas and the prolonged neglect of fire risk and structural safety in condominium buildings, it is necessary to understand the concept of sustainable cities in the light of building health and safety. This paper applied an assessment model to evaluate the health and safety performance of residential buildings in Hong Kong. The model consists of a set of performance-based objectives and can be translated into a hierarchy of parameters concerning the quality of building design, building management, and the surrounding environment. The assessment results of 140 residential buildings in Hong Kong were presented and discussed. To encourage more sustainable buildings at the community level, a method was also devised to integrate the assessment results into two simple and user-friendly performance indicators for public consumption, namely the Building Health and Hygiene Index (BHHI) and the Building Safety and Conditions Index (BSCI). These indices help inform the public of the health and safety risks of different buildings so that building owners, developers, and government bodies can make more informed and socially responsible decisions in the future.