UPDATE - BREEAM 2008

Key Features

• In force from 6 August 2008.

• Revised weightings to each element of the BREEAM test.

• Defined, more stringent targets.

• Introduction of rewards for environmental innovations.

• Introduction of post-construction reviews.

• Full details of BREEAM 2008 technical manuals available for download from http://www.breeam.org.

The Current Picture

The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method ("BREEAM") has been the benchmark against which the sustainability of buildings has been measured in the UK for over a decade. It promotes sustainability through a system for measuring the environmental impact of any building by assessing its performance in terms of energy use, pollution, materials and management policy.

Lately the BREEAM technical manuals have been viewed as a 'soft touch', particularly in the face of increasing global competition from alternate environmental testing methods.

BREEAM 2008

The new BREEAM technical manuals introduce the following key changes:

Post-construction certifications to show whether or not the building lives up to design specifications

Each construction project must prove that the building has lived up to its environmental claims and is sustainable in the terms envisaged. A post construction review must be carried out by the original assessor on completion of construction to check that environmental commitments at the design and procurement stage have been accommodated into the construction phase. Otherwise, the building will no longer be eligible for a high BREEAM rating, and the assessor may reduce the building's original BREEAM rating to reflect its failure to achieve the environmental promises made during design.

Revision of the weightings attached to each environmental issue

New weightings are to be attached to each arm of the BREEAM test. The weightings are updated to bring the standards in line with the Code for Sustainable Homes. For example, energy now has the greatest weighting, while water and minerals usage decrease in importance to below 10% each. This avoids a quick fix approach to increase the score of a building with obvious environmental failings.

More stringent requirements (and definite targets) for factors such as energy, waste and water consumption and minerals selection

BREEAM 2008 standards are more robust and better reflect the environmental impact of each new building. This increases the attractiveness of the BREEAM regime to countries outside the UK, and, as a consequence, increases overseas opportunities for the UK construction industry.

Rewards for environmental innovations

Schemes and technologies that do not accord with generally accepted environmental standards, yet which nevertheless offer clear environmental and sustainability benefits, will be recognised and awarded additional credits. This will ensure that there is a tangible reward for those who go above and beyond recognised industry standards and 'think outside the box' in pushing forward sustainability standards.

Other significant changes

BREEAM 2008 will also include new schemes and types of rating for healthcare and further education buildings to encourage sustainability in government sponsored projects:

• new top rating level called "BREEAM Outstanding" to recognise buildings with a real focus on sustainability and with an innovative and effective approach to environmental issues from design to construction and throughout the life of the building; and

• removal of credits for anything that has become a legislative requirement since the 2006 version, including, for example, Site Waste Management Plans and Energy Performance Certificates.

Benefits

The most significant implications of compliance with BREEAM 2008 relate to marketability of new developments (both home and abroad), profits and environmental benefits. BREEAM 2008 will also better allow end-users to dictate during the design phase what are their own environmental expectations in relation to the building - be they low energy bills, environmental kudos or improved building efficiency.

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