The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology, or BREEAM, is a rating system for building projects that is based on their environmental impact.
BREEAM was first established in 1990 and it has since become the leading building methodology used in both the UK and Europe. BREEAM’s focus on sustainable design has made it possible to create a green environment within many urban centres.
If you are an architect or developer, the process will involve working with a third party who will conduct the BREEAM assessment. You will also need to have an understanding of the various factors that will enable your building project to pass the BREEAM assessment.
Your BREEAM assessor will take account of various criteria that can provide economic, environmental and social benefits.
What BREEAM criteria does your project need to satisfy?
The assessment will take place at various stages of the project’s life cycle, from design to refurbishment. Your assessor will award your building credits or points based on the following categories.
Energy
At your building’s design phase and operations, you can receive up to nine credits for energy performance.
Health and wellbeing
Enconassociates.comexplained that it is a prerequisite to provide an indoor air quality plan. This means you will be unable to obtain the remaining credits for this criterion unless you present an acceptable plan. There is also a separate air quality standard for certain building sections, such as laboratories.
Land use and ecology
You will need an ecologist to help you with your building project, from the design concept right through until completion.
You can receive all the credits for this criterion by assessing and managing the project’s negative effect in relation to: Avoidance; Compensation; Consideration; Damage reduction or limitation; Protection
Management
As a developer, you need to present two building user guides and offer training for the Building user or occupant and the Building manager
Materials
This criterion allows you to earn various credits, including for hard landscaping and insulation. While the benchmark for earning material credits has been lowered, it is not an easy task to obtain them all. The BREEAM 2018 standards have also included protection against malicious damage.
Pollution
Under this criterion, you need to focus on local air quality, including:
- Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions
- Volatile organic compounds (VOC)
- Particulate matter emissions
It is essential to have a consultant on board to obtain your credits. Furthermore, you need to customise the water pollution prevention systems based on your building’s specific needs.
Transport
You can only receive two credits under this criterion. Your team will need to submit travel plan requirements. The project must have a sustainable transport system, such as cycle racks or car-sharing spots.
You can also obtain more credits for other criteria relating to water and waste.
What is the BREEAM rating scale?
Understanding the BREEAM ratings will help you determine whether your project has passed the assessment. Here are the possible grades your project can receive.
- Unclassified – Obtaining a score below 30 per cent means the building project has failed its BREEAM assessment.
- Pass (more than 30 per cent) – In the UK, around three out of four new non-domestic (commercial and industrial) buildings achieve this rating.
- Very Good (more than 55 per cent) – Around one out of four new commercial buildings in the UK are awarded this rating.
- Excellent (more than 70 per cent) – Only around 10 per cent of new UK commercial buildings achieve this score.
- Outstanding (more than 85 per cent and the highest score possible). This rating is awarded to less than one per cent of new UK commercial buildings.
Conclusion
If you are an architect or developer who wants a building project to be certified as environmentally friendly, it is vital that it passes the BREEAM assessment. To achieve this, you will need to implement a variety of mandatory plans and enlist the help of consultants. BREEAM assessors will provide you with a list of criteria that your project must meet in order to obtain a favourable score. The more compliant your building, the higher the rating you will receive.