BREEAM RATING SYSTEM

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE – HISTORIC AND COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE

R.T EZHIL THALAPATHI
ezhilthalapathi@gmail.com
 BREEAM (BUILDING RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
METHOD)

History and Overview:

• The first certification system to assess the sustainability of the buildings was BREEAM, which was
published in United Kingdom.
• The system was administrated and developed by BRE (Building Research Establishment) at the end of
1980s and introduced to the market in 1990.
• It was originally designed as a national system for office and residential buildings.
• The certification system is now used worldwide for a range of different building types.
• According to BRE, any building throughout the world can be assessed with BREEAM.
• Although the certification system has been used in different countries around the world, the main
focus is UK.
• In comparison with other certification systems worldwide, BREEAM has the highest number of
registered (buildings that have applied for the certification) and certified buildings. A large number of
these buildings in UK are residential buildings
 Introduction to BREEAM

• BREEAM is the world’s first and leading sustainability assessment and certification
scheme for the built environment.
• It is an international standard that is locally adapted, operated and applied through a
network of scheme operators, assessors and industry professionals.
• Through its application, BREEAM recognizes and reflects the value in higher performing
assets and aims to inspire and empower change by rewarding and motivating
sustainability across the life cycle of master-planning projects, infrastructure and
buildings.
 Introduction to BREEAM

A number of BREEAM versions, each designed to assess the sustainability performance

of buildings, projects or assets at various stages in the life cycle, and these include:
 What is BREEAM?
• BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for masterplanning projects, infrastructure 
and buildings.

• It recognizes and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from 
new construction to in-use and refurbishment.

• BREEAM does this through third party certification of the assessment of an asset’s environmental, social and
economic sustainability performance, using standards developed by BRE.

• This means BREEAM rated developments are more sustainable environments that enhance the well-being of
the people who live and work in them, help protect natural resources and make for more attractive property
investments.
What does BREEAM do?
Who uses BREEAM?
What does BREEAM provides?
How BREEAM works?
How BREEAM works?
How BREEAM works?
How BREEAM works?
BREEAM CATEGORIES
BREEAM Categories
BREEAM Categories
BREEAM Categories
BREEAM Categories
BREEAM Categories
How BREEAM works?
How BREEAM works?
BREEAM Certification process
 Process of certification
• Independence is a key feature of BREEAM as it provides confidence to the consumer.
• Assessors are trained and licensed by BRE to undertake the BREEAM assessment and determine a
rating.
• The BREEAM Assessor will evaluate the design, specification and construction of a new development
using the criteria and methodologies defined in this technical manual and it’s supporting assessment
tools.
• Once an assessment is complete and has achieved a positive outcome in the BRE Global quality
assurance procedure, a certificate will be issued.
• The certificate provides formal verification that the BREEAM Assessor has completed their
assessment in accordance with the requirements of the scheme and its quality standards.
• In turn providing confidence to any interested party or stakeholder in the BREEAM rating and
performance of the new development.
Building life cycle stages covered by the BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 scheme
version

This BREEAM UK New Construction Scheme can be used to assess and rate the environmental
impacts arising from a newly constructed building development (including external site areas), at the
following life cycle stages:
1. New Build Design Stage (DS) (optional) – leading to an Interim BREEAM rating and certificate of
assessment
2. New Build post-construction Stage (PCS) – leading to a Final BREEAM rating and certificate of
assessment
3. New Build Post-occupancy stage (POS) (optional)- leading to a certification relating to robust best
practice, to meet design aspirations, in the following areas:
a. post occupancy handover and commissioning processes
b. performance monitoring
c. actions undertaken post occupancy to understand and manage the actual performance of the
building.
Design Stage (DS)
Process of certification
Post-construction Stage (PCS)
Process of certification
Post-occupancy Stage (POS)
Calculating a building's BREEAM rating
Example BREEAM score and rating calculation
 References
• https://www.breeam.com/discover/how-breeam-certification-works/
• https://www.breeam.com/case-studies/residential/vox-vertical-village-romania/
• https://www.breeam.com/discover/technical-standards/refurbishment-and-fit-out/
• https://www.breeam.com/discover/technical-standards/breeam-in-use/
• https://www.breeam.com/discover/technical-standards/newconstruction/
• https://www.breeam.com/discover/technical-standards/infrastructure/
• https://
www.breeam.com/NC2018/content/resources/output/10_pdf/a4_pdf/print/nc_uk_a4_print_mono/
nc_uk_a4_print_mono.pdf
• https://tools.breeam.com/filelibrary/BREEAM_Brochure.pdf
THANK YOU