Default hero image

New products to support sustainability, efficiency, and workplace safety, launched at BRE China Annual Conference

Note: This press release is over six months old and the details may have been superseded. Please contact the Press Office for the latest information.

New products designed to support China’s drive for increased construction industry sustainability and efficiency, and workplace safety, have been launched at the second BRE China Annual Conference, on 18 April at the Waldorf Astoria in Shanghai.

They include two digital tools, adapted for use in China with the help of Chinese software developers. The first of these – called SmartWaste – is a proven resource management tool that helps to reduce waste, and find ways of turning unavoidable waste into valuable assets.

The second, called YellowJacket, focuses on enhancing workplace health and safety. “We believe that YellowJacket can help development projects to ensure the welfare of their construction operatives on sites across China,” said Niall Trafford, Chief Operating Officer of the BRE Group and Chairman of BRE China, in his opening address to the Conference. “This will support the Chinese Government’s drive to improve safety in workplaces, which has already seen a significant decrease in occupational accidents in 2016-17.”

In addition, access in China to the BREEAM sustainability assessment standard is being extended, with the introduction of BREEAM In-Use. “The great progress in building sustainability in this country has so far focussed on new housing developments,” said Trafford. “But there is now a move to include the management and value of existing buildings. BREEAM In-Use has proved effective in helping building managers and owners to reduce running costs, improve environmental performance and increase the value of existing buildings.”

Also announced at the conference was the extension of BRE China’s training activities (provided by the BRE Academy), with the launch of Building Information Modelling – or BIM – training courses. BIM is proving to be a valuable online tool for reducing waste and costs in the design, construction and operation of buildings.

Niall Trafford took the opportunity provided by the Conference, to welcome the newly appointed General Manager of BRE China, Qian Li . She has taken over leadership of the company from Jaya Skandamoorthy, who has led BRE China since its launch in Shenzen in April 2016. “Our thanks to Jaya for his tireless work in establishing BRE China and its vital relationships with our valued Chinese partners,” said Trafford, “and our very best wishes to Qian Li, under whose guidance I am sure BRE China will continue to flourish.”