BREEAM: An Overview

Sustainability is one of the fastest growing elements within the built environment.

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) sets a standard for the design, construction and operation of all building types (see HQM for residential new construction) to ensure sustainability is considered at an early stage.

Why should you use BREEAM?

More and more councils are requiring BREEAM certification as part of their planning requirements. The 'Excellent' rating is often requested as a minimum standard. Many clients choose BREEAM despite there not being a legal requirement to do so because it offers a range of advantages.

Which BREEAM Scheme is right for you?

• BREEAM in Use: Asset owners certify their buildings and management procedures to the BREEAM standard. This scheme is preferred by real estate portfolio managers for its alignment with the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB).
• BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit out: Owners renovate existing buildings undergoing major refurbishment or fit out works to BREEAM standards, allowing tenants to certify their fit out.
• BREEAM New Construction: Developers use this scheme for new buildings in the UK.
• BREEAM International New Construction: Projects outside the UK (except countries with a National Scheme Operator) use this scheme.

Anticipated Changes for BREEAM Version 7 (V7)

Operational Carbon

Revisions are forthcoming for several categories, including Energy, Water, Pollution, and Management, with a focus on the following key areas:

• Introducing means to recognize operational carbon reduction in BREEAM assessments for New Construction (NC), Refurbishment and Fit-out (RFO), and Building In-Use (BIU) schemes through comprehensive whole building modelling and benchmarking.
• Minimisation of CO2 emissions from refrigerant and water use.
• Implementation of consistent measurements for operational carbon.
• Increased emphasis on outcomes, with a focus on performance compared to established benchmarks.
• Removal of issues with limited value, such as energy-efficient equipment.

Embodied Carbon

Updates will extend to Material 01 (Mat 01) within NC and RFO, ensuring greater consistency across schemes and aligning the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. Changes to this area include:

• Streamlining a consistent approach for measuring embodied carbon and awarding credits, with overarching requirements adaptable to all BREEAM schemes (NC, RFO).
• Establishing reliable benchmarks to measure the embodied carbon performance of developments, considering factors such as lifecycle stage, country and building type.

How can we help?

Amidst mounting pressure for companies within the property sector to minimise environmental impact and implement carbon reduction plans, BREEAM stands out as a leading tool in guiding them on their Net Zero Carbon journey. Our team of specialist assessors provide comprehensive support, from project inception to completion, assisting clients in identifying and addressing building performance gaps across the project lifecycle.