BREEAM - Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

Reduce regulated energy use and CO2 emissions through fabric efficiency and building services design with dynamic simulation modelling.

• DSM energy model
• EPC
• Carbon emission rate calculation

• Steady state model used
• No comparison to notional building

Install sub metering of energy end uses and major plant items with provision for ongoing energy management.

• Sub metering strategy
• Meter schedule
• BMS configuration

• No sub metering at major plant level
• BMS does not record consumption

Consider passive design analysis and low or zero carbon technology feasibility study at concept design.

• Passive design report
• LZC feasibility study
• Selected technology specification

• No passive design study
• LZC study post tender

Building energy demand and associated carbon emissions are minimized through efficient design.

• energy model
• carbon assessment
• reduction strategy
• commissioning report

• weak modeling
• no commissioning
• stale targets

Sub-metering systems enable monitoring and management of energy consumption.

• sub-meter inventory
• monitoring dashboard
• data logging procedure
• review log

• incomplete sub-metering
• no monitoring
• stale data

Passive and active low carbon design strategies reduce operational energy use.

• low carbon strategy
• passive design analysis
• feasibility report
• review record

• weak strategy
• no feasibility study
• missing review

Provide adequate daylight, view out, internal and external lighting levels, and glare control for occupant visual comfort.

• Daylight factor calculations
• Lighting design report
• Glare assessment

• No daylight modelling
• Lighting design ignores task variation

Design ventilation, manage VOC emissions from materials, and provide post construction air quality testing.

• IAQ plan
• Material VOC declarations
• Post completion air test report

• No VOC limits in specifications
• No post completion testing

Design building services to deliver adequate thermal comfort levels assessed using dynamic thermal modelling.

• Thermal modelling report
• Comfort criteria
• Local control documentation

• No dynamic modelling
• Comfort assessed for default occupancy only

Achieve acoustic performance criteria for sound insulation, indoor ambient noise, and reverberation appropriate to building use.

• Acoustic design report
• Pre completion test results

• No acoustic consultant engaged
• Tests not done in worst case rooms

Adequate daylighting and glare control are provided to ensure visual comfort for occupants.

• daylight analysis
• glare assessment
• lighting design
• measurement record

• weak analysis
• no glare check
• stale measurements

Indoor air quality is maintained through ventilation, low-emission materials, and pollutant control.

• IAQ assessment
• VOC test results
• ventilation design
• monitoring log

• no VOC testing
• weak ventilation
• stale monitoring

Thermal comfort levels are achieved through effective heating, cooling, and ventilation design.

• thermal modeling
• comfort survey
• HVAC design
• commissioning record

• no surveys
• weak modeling
• poor commissioning

Acoustic design ensures appropriate sound insulation and ambient noise levels.

• acoustic design
• test results
• occupant survey
• review record

• no testing
• weak design
• no occupant input

The building is designed to be accessible and inclusive for all users.

• accessibility assessment
• compliance certificate
• review record
• user consultation

• weak assessment
• no consultation
• stale review

Achieve innovation credits via exemplary level criteria, approved innovations, or BRE approved innovative measures.

• Innovation application
• BRE approval letter
• Exemplary level evidence

• No innovation pursued
• Application not submitted in time

Locate the development on previously developed land or contaminated land with appropriate remediation.

• Land contamination report
• Remediation strategy
• Site history evidence

• Greenfield site without justification
• No contamination assessment

Engage a Suitably Qualified Ecologist to enhance site ecology through planting, habitat creation, and biodiversity action plan.

• SQE report
• Biodiversity action plan
• Landscape design with ecology

• No SQE engaged
• Plan ignored at construction

Development is steered towards previously developed brownfield land to protect greenfield sites.

• site assessment
• contamination report
• ecological survey
• approval record

• weak assessment
• no ecological survey
• missing approvals

The ecological value of the site is maintained and enhanced through biodiversity management.

• ecology survey
• biodiversity action plan
• monitoring schedule
• review record

• weak survey
• no action plan
• stale monitoring

Refrigerant selection minimizes global warming and ozone depletion potential.

• refrigerant inventory
• GWP assessment
• leak detection log
• disposal procedure

• high-GWP refrigerants
• weak leak detection
• no disposal record

Heating system NOx emissions are minimized to reduce local air pollution.

• NOx emissions data
• equipment register
• compliance certificate
• monitoring log

• non-compliant equipment
• weak monitoring
• no certificate

Sustainable drainage systems manage surface water run-off and reduce flood risk.

• SuDS design
• flood risk assessment
• drainage plan
• monitoring record

• weak SuDS
• no flood assessment
• stale monitoring

Establish a project brief through stakeholder consultation and sustainability workshops that define sustainability targets and BREEAM aspirations.

• Project brief
• Stakeholder consultation report
• Sustainability champion appointment letter

• No documented consultation
• Targets set after design freeze

Conduct life cycle costing and service life planning at strategic and detail design stages to inform asset decisions.

• LCC analysis report
• Service life plan
• Maintenance strategy

• LCC done only on capital cost
• Service life not modelled

Operate the construction site under a Considerate Constructors scheme or equivalent with environmental management and community engagement.

• CCS registration
• Site environmental plan
• Community liaison records

• No environmental site plan
• No community engagement

Commission building services with seasonal commissioning, and provide handover information including building user guide.

• Commissioning plan
• Test results
• Building user guide
• Aftercare contract

• No seasonal commissioning
• User guide not provided

Sustainable development principles are integrated into project brief and design.

• Privacy program charter with executive sponsorship
• Privacy policy with version control and review cadence
• Privacy risk assessment and DPIA register
• Privacy incident log with root cause analysis

• Privacy notice not updated for new processing activities
• DSAR responses exceeding statutory deadlines
• Vendor inventory incomplete or stale
• Retention schedule not applied operationally

Whole life costing and service life planning are used to improve design and maintenance.

• Privacy program charter with executive sponsorship
• Privacy policy with version control and review cadence
• Privacy risk assessment and DPIA register
• Privacy incident log with root cause analysis

• Privacy notice not updated for new processing activities
• DSAR responses exceeding statutory deadlines
• Vendor inventory incomplete or stale
• Retention schedule not applied operationally

Construction site management follows best practice sustainability standards.

• Privacy program charter with executive sponsorship
• Privacy policy with version control and review cadence
• Privacy risk assessment and DPIA register
• Privacy incident log with root cause analysis

• Privacy notice not updated for new processing activities
• DSAR responses exceeding statutory deadlines
• Vendor inventory incomplete or stale
• Retention schedule not applied operationally

Building systems are properly commissioned, tested, and handed over to the end user.

• Privacy program charter with executive sponsorship
• Privacy policy with version control and review cadence
• Privacy risk assessment and DPIA register
• Privacy incident log with root cause analysis

• Privacy notice not updated for new processing activities
• DSAR responses exceeding statutory deadlines
• Vendor inventory incomplete or stale
• Retention schedule not applied operationally

Post-occupancy evaluation and aftercare support ensure building performance in use.

• Privacy program charter with executive sponsorship
• Privacy policy with version control and review cadence
• Privacy risk assessment and DPIA register
• Privacy incident log with root cause analysis

• Privacy notice not updated for new processing activities
• DSAR responses exceeding statutory deadlines
• Vendor inventory incomplete or stale
• Retention schedule not applied operationally

Use materials with lower environmental impact assessed via the BREEAM Mat 01 calculator or third party EPDs.

• Mat 01 calculator
• EPDs for major elements
• Material schedule

• EPDs unavailable for key elements
• Calculator not completed

Source materials from suppliers with recognised responsible sourcing certification such as FSC, PEFC, BES 6001, or equivalent.

• Certificates from suppliers
• Chain of custody records
• Material sourcing tracker

• No certificates for steel
• Timber not FSC or PEFC

Design protection against vehicle, vandalism, and weather damage to vulnerable areas to extend material service life.

• Protection design drawings
• Bollard specifications
• Corner protection details

• No protection at loading areas
• No design rationale

Construction materials are selected based on environmental life cycle assessment.

• LCA report
• materials inventory
• embodied carbon assessment
• review record

• weak LCA
• no embodied carbon view
• stale assessment

Materials are sourced from responsible and sustainable supply chains.

• responsible sourcing certificate
• supplier register
• procurement policy
• review record

• weak sourcing
• stale certificates
• no review

Construction waste is minimized and diverted from landfill through reuse and recycling.

• waste management plan
• waste audit
• diversion rate report
• disposal record

• weak plan
• no audit
• low diversion rates

Use of recycled and secondary aggregates reduces demand for virgin materials.

• recycled content register
• procurement records
• Certification
• review log

• low recycled content
• weak certification
• no review

Specify refrigerants with low Global Warming Potential and install leak detection systems on refrigerant containing plant.

• Refrigerant schedule with GWP values
• Leak detection specification

• Refrigerant GWP above threshold
• No leak detection

Locate the building outside flood zones where possible and provide sustainable drainage to control surface water run off.

• Flood risk assessment
• SuDS design
• Drainage strategy

• No FRA done
• SuDS treated as last resort

Conduct a transport assessment and develop a travel plan promoting sustainable transport modes for occupants.

• Transport assessment
• Travel plan
• Cycle storage design

• No baseline travel survey
• Cycle storage undersized

Provide compliant cyclist facilities including covered storage, showers, lockers, and changing facilities.

• Facility specifications
• As built drawings
• Storage capacity calculation

• No showers provided
• Storage not secure

Implement a site waste management plan with targets for diversion from landfill and segregation of waste streams.

• SWMP
• Waste transfer notes
• Audit of waste streams

• SWMP not updated monthly
• Mixed skip dominant

Provide dedicated space for segregation and storage of operational recyclables and waste with adequate sizing for the building use.

• Waste storage area drawings
• Volume calculations
• Operational waste plan

• Storage undersized
• No segregation streams

Specify sanitaryware and appliances to reduce potable water demand using a BREEAM water calculator.

• Water calculator output
• Sanitaryware specifications
• Flow rate test

• Calculator not completed
• Specifications changed at procurement

Install pulsed output water meters on incoming supply and major water consuming areas connected to the BMS.

• Meter schedule
• BMS data feed evidence
• Leak detection specification

• No leak detection
• Sub metering not linked to BMS