Building Materials and Construction

Responsible Authority:

Buildings Department (private buildings)
Architectural Services Department (government/public buildings)

Ordinance(s)/Regulation(s) and Brief Description:

The Buildings Ordinance (Cap 123) provides for the planning, design and construction of buildings and associated works; to make provision for the rendering safe of dangerous buildings. While it governs the quality of buildings, the subsidiary Building Regulations and Codes of Practices prescribe the performance requirements and technical standards of building materials respectively. Under the Ordinance, building works of private development in Hong Kong, China are required to be coordinated, designed and supervised by Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and Registered Geotechnical Engineers. The appointment of a registered contractor is required to carry out the building works.

Conformity Assessment Mechanism:

Pre-market approval and inspection:

Under the Buildings Ordinance, an Authorized Person is required to seek approval of the prescribed plans of the proposed building works and consent from Building Authority before its commencement. During the course of construction works, the Buildings Department will monitor and inspect sites with works in progress regularly. Final checks will be conducted before issue of an occupation permit.

Post-market surveillance:

The Buildings Department acts on reports on dangerous and defective buildings. It also initiates surveys on buildings to establish their general conditions, to identify dangerous or defective buildings and to order such buildings to be repaired or demolished.

Standardised Components and Practices

The Development Bureau (DEVB) maintains a "Standardised Components and Practices" database. It is a one-stop service to help users access and locate those standardised components and modular components that have been successfully used in construction, and find out the standardised practices, including standard designs, construction methods, and techniques adopted in the construction industry. It contains a standardisation database of hyperlinks which promotes the wider use of standardised and modular components in local construction, with the public sector taking the lead. To give a snapshot, one can find there design manuals/guidelines, standard drawings, standard precast concrete profile barriers, drainage backdrop manholes, curtain wall systems, corrosion resistant water pipe material and prefabricated units in housing blocks.

The legislation and codes of practices which prescribe the performance requirements and technical standards of building materials can be viewed at the website of the Buildings Department.

Construction Standards

A database of construction standards used in Hong Kong, China can also be found on the website of the DEVB. The database provides a convenient collection and search of construction standards used in different areas. The list contains international and national standards, such as ISO, IEC, EN, BSEN standards, British, American and DIN standards and local standards including CS1 and CS2 and other local manuals/ code of practice for Hong Kong, China's conditions.

The contents in this collection are for reference only and subject to changes from time to time. Users should make reference to the latest catalogues published by the relevant standard organisations for accurate descriptions of the standards, their status, and any subsequent amendments or supplements and approach the relevant government departments and organisations regarding the versions or parts of the standards being used by them.