What is BREEAM Certification? A Key to Sustainable Building Success

Buildings from all over the world account for 40% of global energy consumption and 33% of greenhouse gas emissions. 

This reality has pushed more and more building owners and organizations to use green building certifications to evaluate the environmental impacts and the performance of newly constructed and existing built environments – and of all these certification programs, BREEAM certification is one of the most popular. 

What is BREEAM? 

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a certification scheme for sustainable buildings, infrastructure, and communities. Launched in the United Kingdom in 1990 by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), the program provides a flexible foundation for green buildings and encourages occupant health and well-being throughout the entire planning, construction, operation, and renovation process. 

BREEAM categories 

If you are aiming to secure a BREEAM certification for your building project, obtaining a clear and robust understanding of the different BREEAM categories is a crucial step. 

There are a number of different BREEAM categories that are evaluated in order to determine a building’s overall sustainability performance. These categories include:

BREEAM Assessment Schemes

BREEAM Schemes

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) offers a range of sustainability assessment schemes, each tailored to specific stages of a building’s lifecycle. These schemes provide a framework for measuring and improving the environmental, social, and economic performance of buildings—from initial design to everyday operations. Here’s a quick look at the main BREEAM schemes:

BREEAM New Construction
This scheme focuses on assessing the environmental performance of new, non-residential buildings during the design and construction phases. It helps project teams make sustainable choices right from the start, ensuring the building is eco-friendly from the ground up.

BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out
Designed for existing buildings, this scheme focuses on sustainability improvements during renovations or interior fit-outs. It helps breathe new life into older buildings by reducing their environmental impact while extending their operational lifespan.

BREEAM In-Use
For operational buildings, BREEAM In-Use evaluates the ongoing performance of a building, covering areas like energy, water use, indoor environmental quality, and management practices. It supports continuous improvements to keep buildings efficient and healthy for occupants.

BREEAM Communities
This scheme is all about large-scale developments, like new neighborhoods or master plans. It looks at the planning and design stages, assessing the sustainability of entire communities and ensuring they’re well-planned, livable, and environmentally responsible.

How to get BREEAM certification

Here’s a general overview of the process to make your building become BREEAM-certified:

1. Choose the appropriate, BREEAM scheme for your project BREEAM offers a range of schemes for different building types and stages of the project, such as New Construction, In-Use, Refurbishment & Fit-Out, Communities, and Infrastructure. Choose the scheme that best fits your building type.
2. Appoint a BREEAM assessor, You must appoint a qualified BREEAM assessor to guide you through the assessment process and ensure that your project meets the BREEAM requirements. You can find a BREEAM assessor through the BREEAM website or by contacting a certification body.
3. Register your project with BREEAM, Register your project on the BREEAM website and pay the appropriate registration fee.
4. Begin and complete the BREEAM Assessment, The BREEAM assessment involves completing a series of questionnaires and providing evidence to demonstrate compliance with the BREEAM requirements.
5. Achieve BREEAM certification, Your appointed BREEAM assessor will evaluate your project against the BREEAM criteria. The assessor will also provide a benchmarked percentage score and an overall BREEAM rating for a building.

Ratings are broken down into six classifications: 

• Outstanding (minimum 85%)
• Excellent (minimum 70%)
• Very Good (minimum 55%)
• Good (minimum 45%)
• Pass (minimum 30%)
• Unclassified (less than 30%)

It is important to note that achieving a higher BREEAM rating requires a higher level of environmental performance, and it is an indication of the building’s sustainability credentials. A higher BREEAM rating can also result in benefits such as lower running costs, increased asset value, and improved occupant health and well-being.

Validity of a BREEAM certification

The BREEAM certification is valid for a specific period. This varies on the type of scheme and the certification level achieved. 

BREEAM New Construction

For this scheme, the certification is valid for three years from the date of issue. After three years, the building’s performance must be reassessed to maintain its certification.

BREEAM In-Use

The certification is valid for one year from the date of issue. After one year, the building’s performance must be reassessed to maintain its certification.

BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out 

With these schemes, the certification is valid for the design and construction phase of the project. Once the project is complete, the BREEAM rating becomes fixed and does not require renewal.

It is important to note that BREEAM certifications are not permanent and must be maintained to ensure the building’s ongoing environmental performance. Regular monitoring and assessment are required to maintain the BREEAM certification and ensure that the building continues to meet the required environmental standards.

Benefits of BREEAM certification

BREEAM provides several benefits for building owners, occupants, and the environment. Here are some of the benefits of obtaining a BREEAM certification:

Improved energy efficiency

BREEAM requires buildings to meet specific energy efficiency standards, which can help lower energy consumption, and improve resource efficiency.

Enhanced property value

BREEAM is widely recognized as a mark of excellence in the construction industry which can increase the building’s asset value and attractiveness to potential buyers or tenants.

Improved health and wellbeing of occupants

BREEAM-certified buildings follow certain standards that can lead to improved indoor air quality, natural lighting, and access to outdoor space, thus improving the health and wellbeing of occupants. 

Compliance with regulations

BREEAM certification can help building owners comply with regulatory requirements for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Future-proofing

BREEAM certification encourages the use of innovative, sustainable solutions that can future-proof buildings and ensure that they remain environmentally responsible for years to come.

BREEAM and indoor environmental quality

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is taken into account when pursuing BREEAM certification. By adopting IEQ solutions, pollutants that contribute to noise, air, and light pollution can be controlled, the health of the occupants can be maintained, efficient energy use can be ensured, and carbon emissions can be reduced – which are all essential in securing a BREEAM certificate. 

Improve occupant health, control climate change, and enjoy the benefits of becoming BREEAM-certified using the right indoor environmental quality data from uHoo Aura. 

BREEAM requirements supported by uHoo Aura

Contact us today and explore the benefits of uHoo Aura for your business.