A Comprehensive Guide to BREEAM Certification

BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. This science-based validation and certification system, created by BRE Global in 1990, is used to unify the approaches of both construction and design to ESG, health and achieving Net Zero goals. With such a comprehensive system, it’s important to understand the core principles utilised in order to recognise whether it is right for you and your building. ‍

The basics of BREEAM

BREEAM's core differentiator is their sustainability assessment and certification methodology. Over the last 30 years, they’ve worked to meticulously design a system that considers the ecological, social, and economic sustainability of buildings, communities, and infrastructure projects to give them a unified certification. A BREEAM certified project is an external validation that the space has measured for its environmental performance taking into account the impact of the structure across various stages of its lifecycle – from design and construction to operation and refurbishment.‍

Core Principles

At the heart of any BREEAM certification are a set of principles that guide the evaluation process:

Scientific Rigor: BREEAM assessments are based on scientific principles, ensuring that the sustainability criteria chosen are measurable, verifiable and continuously aligned with the ever-increasing understanding of our environmental impact.

Holistic Approach: BREEAM considers a wide range of sustainability factors, including energy efficiency, resource utilisation, ecological impact, the well-being of occupants, and socio-economic viability.

Third-Party Validation: BREEAM evaluations are not conducted by the contractors but instead by independent assessors, ensuring the results are impartial and maintaining the credibility of the findings.

Continuous Improvement: BREEAM emphasises the need for buildings to continually improve, encouraging projects to keep up with technologies that can help them maintain increasing requirements of sustainability.‍

Categories Evaluated

BREEAM certification evaluates sustainability through a variety of different lenses. The following are the main categories:

1. Energy: Assessing energy efficiency, carbon emissions, and the integration of renewable energy sources.
2. Land Use and Ecology: Focusing on sustainable land use, habitat preservation, and improving biodiversity.
3. Materials: Evaluating the responsible sourcing, use, and disposal of construction materials to minimise the environmental impact.
4. Pollution: What strategies have been put in place to mitigate noise, air, water, land, and light pollution through design and management.
5. Waste: Focusing on waste reduction, recycling, and efficient material management throughout a structure's lifecycle.
6. Water: Does the project promote water conservation, efficient usage, and deploy measures to prevent water wastage.
7. Health and Wellbeing: Prioritising occupant comfort, health, and safety through design and indoor environmental improvements.
8. Transport: Encouraging sustainable transportation options and minimizing the environmental impact of commuting.
9. Management: Deploying sustainable practices across planning, design, construction, and ongoing operations.
10. Innovation: Recognising and deploying innovative features that go further than the standard requirements.‍

Certification Levels

A BREEAM certification is a tiered rating system based on the project's performance across the above categories. These rating levels are based on performance across all the UK new non-domestic buildings.

• Outstanding - Top 1% (innovator)
• Excellent - Top 10% (best practice)
• Very Good - Top 25% (advanced good practice)
• Good - Top 50% (intermediate good practice)
• Pass - Top 75% (standard good practice)‍

Process Overview

BREEAM certification broadly takes place in 5 stages:

1. Select the Applicable Standard: First you need to choose the relevant BREEAM standard that aligns with your project's type and scope. Not every building is a good fit for every standard.
2. Pre-Assessment: Next you need to assess where you currently stand by engaging a BREEAM-certified assessor to conduct a preliminary assessment, outlining potential sustainability strategies.
3. Project Implementation: During the process of building or retrofitting the space, you collaborate with your chosen sustainability consultants to incorporate the necessary best practices and strategies into your project's design and construction.
4. Third-Party Assessment: An independent BREEAM assessor     evaluates your project's performance, verifying your improvements are helping achieve your sustainability objectives.
5. Certification: Once the assessment is complete and compliance is confirmed, the building receives it’s BREEAM certification.‍

Benefits of BREEAM Certification

Environmental Impact: BREEAM-certified projects are designed specifically to reduce their ecological footprint, contributing to company net zero goals and requirements.

Operational Efficiency: By implementing sustainable design practices, buildings are more energy efficient with lower ongoing operational costs.

Market Recognition: BREEAM certification proves your company’s commitment to sustainability, improving the project's market value and reputation.

Occupant Well-being: Certified buildings have higher indoor environmental quality scores and occupant comfort levels improving health and well-being.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance: BREEAM certification often aligns with corporate legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance with ever evolving sustainability obligations.‍

BREEAM vs. Other Systems

While BREEAM enjoys global recognition, it is not the only sustainability certification program. It's essential to understand its differences from other certification systems like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), RESET (Regenerative Ecological, Social and Economic Targets), WELL and AirScore. We here at NCG can help you do that.

Final thoughts

Ultimately, BREEAM certification can represent a necessary first step toward sustainable building practices, harnessing innovative environmental strategies and improving ecological monitoring in order to minimize the environmental impact of your spaces.