Gulf Construction Online - Ashghal adopts QSAS system

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Ashghal adopts QSAS system

01 June 2010

QATAR’S Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has signed an MoU with the Barwa and Qatari Diar Research Institute (BQDRI) to assist it in adopting the concept of sustainability in public building projects, using the Qatar Sustainable Assessment System (QSAS).

QSAS, launched by BQDRI, is described as the first of its kind performance-based sustainability rating system in the Middle East and North Africa region. This initiative is in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 that calls for a focus on sustainable development.
Under the terms of the agreement, the organisations will aim to preserve the environment and enhance the concept of sustainability by applying the QSAS in various building projects.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ashgal president Nasser Al Mawlawi said: “Our MoU with BQDRI and the adoption of QSAS will allow Ashghal to take the lead in addressing strategic issues related to preserving Qatar’s natural resources, reducing carbon emissions, minimising the ecological impact, and assuring environmental quality.”
“QSAS is the first of its kind in the Middle East which depends on the objective performance, and was developed based on local needs while leveraging best practices which is a definite advantage, especially for regions where environmental, economic, social, and cultural conditions are unlike other areas in the world such as desertification, scarcity of water and the cultural and national identity,” he added.
QSAS is divided eight categories, each with a direct impact on reducing environmental stress and can measure a different aspect of the project’s environmental impact. Of these, water, energy, material and cultural and economic values account for a cumulative total of 61 per cent of the total impact of the built environment according to QSAS.
The Ashghal-BQDRI agreement focuses on challenges related directly to energy and water.
According to the QSAS, energy, which represents 24 per cent of the total impact of the build environment in Qatar, relates to energy demand of buildings, the efficiency of energy delivery, and the use of fossil fuel. To mitigate the impact on Qatar’s environment, QSAS focuses on designing buildings to lower their energy demand; selecting efficient building systems; lowering the demand on non-renewable energy sources thereby reducing harmful emissions and depletion of fossil fuels; and minimising the amount of harmful substances produced by the energy delivery systems and the supply network.
In the water segment, which represents 16 per cent of the total impact by Qatar’s build environment, QSAS will help in specifying efficient plumbing fixtures; creating a system for the collection and storage of rainwater; on-site treatment of water for reuse; and designing a landscaping plan that minimises irrigation needs.
The materials category, representing eight per cent of the total impact, relates to factors associated with material extraction, processing, manufacturing, distribution, use/re-use, and disposal. Measures that can be taken to reduce the environmental impact due to material use include recycling and reusing materials, on and off site; using local materials to reduce transportation need; using responsibly sourced materials; and designing for ease of disassembly and reuse/recycling.
The cultural and economic value category represents 13 per cent of the total environment impact. Using QSAS, Asghal and BQDRI aim to encourage designs to align with cultural identity and traditions; designing for a seamless integration into the existing cultural fabric; and planning for the use of local materials and workforce.
Both Barwa and Qatari Diar Real Estate Development Company have already started using QSAS for all their buildings. Currently, more than 128 buildings in Barwa’s Barwa City are rated as green projects under the QSAS scheme.