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29 March 2024

Estidama unveils new Pearl Rating System

Estidama unveils new Pearl Rating System. (REUTERS)

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By Staff Writer

Estidama, the sustainability programme managed by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, yesterday unveiled the most recent version of its Pearl Rating System, which was established in 2009.

The programme encompasses a Pearl Building Rating System (PBRS), a Pearl Community Rating System (PCRS) and a Pearl Villa Rating System (PVRS).

The system addresses seven categories – integrated development process, natural systems, livable communities and buildings, water, energy materials and innovating practice. For each category, there are mandatory and optional credits as well as weights with maximum credit points.

The PBRS will apply to general buildings, offices, retail, multi-residential buildings, schools and mixed-use projects. The PCRS addresses developments supporting a minimum permanent residential population of 1,000 people. For developments designed to accommodate up to 30,000 people, the system asks for division into individual districts each requiring a separate application.

Falah Mohamed Al Ahbabi, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, said: "The PRS establishes Abu Dhabi's regional and global leadership in sustainable urban development, and provides a reliable sustainability benchmark tool for the region at large as per Estidama's cross-disciplinary approach."

It will cover three levels of rating. Pearl Design Rating is engaged at the design phase of the project and is relevant until construction is complete. Pearl construction rating is introduced for two years post a project's completion. Pearl Operational rating then assesses the operational performance of a development and takes effect for a minimum of two years after completion and when it has reached a occupancy of 80 per cent.

The PBRS and the PCRS are applied at the design and construction stages of the process.