This article was produced by Olswang LLP, which joined with CMS on 1 May 2017.
The BREEAM UK environmental assessment for non-domestic buildings has just been updated. In terms of assessing how environmentally friendly your building is, BREEAM is one of most comprehensive and widely recognised benchmark systems in the world and this new update (BREEAM 2011) came into force on 1 July 2011.
Taken directly from the BREEAM website, the key updates are:
- Setting new benchmarks and assessment methodology for energy efficiency and operational.
- Carbon emissions, including benchmarks that encourage the zero carbon hierarchy and reward ‘carbon negative’ buildings.
- Updated benchmarks for construction waste and water consumption.
- Introduction of new standards on sustainable procurement and post-construction operational aftercare, including monitoring of building performance.
- Updated approach to assessing and quantifying service life planning, stakeholder participation, life cycle impacts and recycled aggregates.
- New and updated reporting requirements of key performance indicators, including building life cycle CO2 emissions, construction and operational water consumption, construction waste volumes and VOC emissions.
- Re-classification and consolidation of issues and criteria to ensure the method continues to deliver in an efficient, cost effective and value added manner.
Importantly, however, please note that BREEAM 2011 is not designed to be used for fit-out and refurbishment works (unless they are major refurbishments). Constructive understands that a refurbishment-specific assessment is in the pipeline and due for launch in 2012. Until then, for anything other than major refurbishment works, you will still be able to apply BREEAM 2008 assessment standards.
