ISO focuses at Dubai event on standardization needs of "Buildings for a sustainable future"

An open session on "Buildings for a sustainable future" was the highlight of yesterday’s programme at the 31st ISO General Assembly taking place on 14-16 October in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The event addressed the expectations on international standardization in this area and highlighted a number of exemplary achievements around the world. It was also intended to foster new avenues for the development of ISO standards supporting the incorporation of new technologies and best practice for the construction and operation of the sustainable buildings of the future.

The UAE Minister of Environment and Water, Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, officially opened the event, of which he was also the patron.

ISO's 31st General Assembly is hosted by ISO's local member, the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) and the country's Minister of Environment and Water, Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, is Chair of the Higher Organizing Committee for the event, including the open session, which was moderated by Mr. Rashad Mohammed Bukhash, Director of the Architecture Heritage Department of Dubai Municipality.

The background to the open session is that with sustainability becoming a global imperative, the trade in products and services more open and the design and construction of buildings more subject to international competition, International Standards must provide the means by which sustainable technologies and best practices can be disseminated and implemented efficiently and effectively on a global scale.

International Standards, supporting energy efficiency, environmental performance, environmental impact of building products or greenhouse gas emission accounting and verification, provide a firm foundation for designers, architects, engineers, owners, facility managers and government authorities to develop and operate sustainable buildings.

The keynote address was delivered by President of the International Union of Architects, Mrs. Louise Cox.

The keynote address to the ISO event was delivered by Mrs. Louise Cox, President of the International Union of Architects, who spoke on the theme of, "Sustainable building for the global village: the vision and standards needs for architects and designers."

Mrs. Cox pointed out that, over the past decade, communities in cities and towns around the world recognise that large-scale efficiency and energy conservation programmes and the introduction of revolutionary renewable energy generation technologies tangibly help to pursue beautiful visions of the future.

"Renewable energy technology and other carbon emissions reduction programmes are being introduced most visibly, and at an increasing, ultimately global scale," she said. "International Standards in architecture, building and engineering, alternative energies and landscape design need to develop with this change and should not always be prescriptive. They could be performance-based, to encourage innovation and adjustment to suit differing cultures and applications.

"For the developed and developing world, heritage and sustainability issues, equity, social responsibility, cultural identity, resistance to natural disasters, all need to be considered in integrated sustainable design and in standards."

Mrs. Cox's speech was followed by two panel sessions:

• Standards for energy efficient and environmental friendly buildings
• Standards for security, safety and accessibility in buildings

Mr. Khaled Awad, Director of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company's Property Development Unit, spoke on the local Masdar project to establish a base for the world's first carbon-neutral, waste-free city.

Presentations on aspects of these themes were made by eminent experts from France, the European Commission, the USA's White House Task Force on Energy, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The theme of World Standards Day, 14 October 2008, is "Intelligent and sustainable buildings" and the October 2008 issue of ISO Focus magazine includes numerous articles on the contributions of ISO standards to various aspects of this topic.