Breeam Rating, Breeam Assessment, Breeam Certification

Breeam assessment (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method) is an allround measure of the sustainability of a building. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and specification and has become the de facto measure used to describe a buildings overall environmental performance.

What does BREEAM Assessment measure?

The energy efficiency of a building is an important part of its BREEAM rating, however it also takes into account other issues such as, water usage, construction materials, surface water run off, waste, the effect on the ecology of the site plus other important factors.

How are buildings rated under BREEAM?

Credits are awarded for achieving certain criteria and these are accumulated to give a final BREEAM rating. The BREEAM ratings are PASS, GOOD,VERY GOOD, EXCELLENT or OUTSTANDING

What is involved?

1) The Design Stage Assessment: Based on design drawings, specifications and commitments. This provides an Interim Certificate of Compliance
2) The Post Construction Review: This is confirmation that the Design Stage Assessment has been achieved on site and includes site records and visual inspections. The final BREEAM rating is then issued.

Example BREEAM considerations:

» Management – BREEAM encourages effective building operation including best practice
    commissioning, the effective use of operating manuals etc.
» Health & Wellbeing – Credits are awarded where the environment is designed to maximise
    occupant control
» Energy & CO2 – This section focuses on reducing CO2 emissions from the operation of the
    building
» Transport – This section awards credits for minimising CO2 emissions from transport,
    including the provision of cycle facilities, access to public transport etc.
» Water – This area encourages water efficient appliances, water metering, leak detection
    systems etc.
» Material – Credits are gained for using materials with a low environmental impact.
» Waste – This area deals with construction waste as well as building use waste
» Land Use & Ecology – The development will gain credits for enhancing the ecological effect on
    the site, protecting ecological features etc.
» Pollution – This section encourages the use of more environmentally friendly insulation,
    attenuation of surface water run off etc.

If you need assistance or would like to know more, call us on 01454 317 940 and we’ll do all we can to help.

Breeam Rating, Breeam Assessment, Breeam Certification