Summary
This article provides a comprehensive guide to preparing your building for a BREEAM assessment. It outlines key steps, from understanding the criteria to engaging stakeholders and implementing sustainable practices. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of achieving a high BREEAM rating and create a more sustainable building.
Discover how Focus360 Energy can help with BREEAM certification.
** Main Story**
Okay, so you’re aiming for a high BREEAM rating? That’s fantastic! It’s a real badge of honor in sustainable construction, showing you’re serious about the environment, resource efficiency, and the well-being of the people using the building. But getting there? It takes some planning.
Let’s break down how you can prep your building for a BREEAM assessment and really boost your chances of success. It’s not just about ticking boxes; it’s about embedding sustainability into the core of the project.
Getting to Grips with BREEAM
First things first, you need to really understand BREEAM. It’s not just a name. Spend some time getting familiar with the whole certification scheme. You’ve got your rating levels – Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent, and Outstanding – each with its own set of requirements.
BREEAM looks at all sorts of things: energy efficiency, how you manage water, the materials you use, waste, health and well-being… even innovation. Do your homework! Really research those categories. Because a clear understanding of the criteria is going to be key.
Setting Your Sights
Decide what BREEAM rating you’re shooting for, and do it early. I mean, really early in the project. This target rating is like your North Star, guiding all your decisions during design and construction. And make sure those goals are SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. I know, sounds like corporate jargon, but it works! If everyone on the project understands the sustainability goals, you’re already halfway there.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Get yourself a licensed BREEAM assessor, ASAP. They’re the experts. They’ll guide you through the whole assessment process and help you spot opportunities to really maximize your score. Trust me, it’s worth it. Also, get your architects, engineers, contractors, everyone, on board. Sustainability has to be built into every single aspect of the project, or it just won’t work.
Taking Stock: The Pre-Assessment
Think of a pre-assessment as a practice run for the real deal. It’s a really important step in getting ready for that formal BREEAM assessment. What it does is show you where you could do better and it lets you fine-tune your sustainability strategy before the final assessment. I’ve seen projects that skipped this step and regretted it later; don’t make the same mistake. The assessor will look at your plans, specs, all that stuff, and give you feedback and recommendations.
Putting Sustainability into Action
Right, time to get your hands dirty and get that sustainability plan moving! Here’s the areas that need the most focus:
- Energy Efficiency: Think smart building design. Renewable energy? Yes, please! And for HVAC and lighting? Go energy-efficient, or go home!
- Water Management: Water-saving fixtures are a must. You should also think about rainwater harvesting. Greywater recycling is also a really good idea.
- Materials Selection: Here’s a big one. Use materials that are sustainable, responsibly sourced, and have a low environmental impact. Prioritize recycled content. Think about the whole lifecycle of the material. What happens to it after it’s used?
- Waste Management: Construction sites are notorious for creating waste. So, have a really comprehensive plan for managing it. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Minimize waste and have systems for sorting and getting rid of waste efficiently.
- Health and Well-being: Natural light. Good acoustics. Clean air. All crucial for keeping the people using the building healthy and happy.
- Innovation: Think outside the box! Look for innovative solutions that go above and beyond what BREEAM asks for. Maybe you can use advanced tech, or include sustainable design features.
Show Your Work!
Keep detailed records throughout the whole project to prove you’re meeting the BREEAM criteria. I’m talking design drawings, product specs, commissioning reports, everything. Your BREEAM assessor will review it all and visit the site to check how things are going. Make sure you work closely with them and answer any questions fast. Remember, being organized can make all the difference.
The Final Hurdle: Assessment and Certification
And then, once construction is finished and you’ve submitted everything, your project gets the final BREEAM assessment. The assessor evaluates your building, assigns a score, and if you’ve hit the mark, you get your BREEAM certification. Congratulations!
Getting a high BREEAM rating? It’s not a walk in the park. It takes a real team effort and a commitment to doing things sustainably. But, by following these steps and working with your assessor, you can seriously improve your chances of success, and help create a more sustainable world. Oh, and remember that specific requirements will change depending on the scheme and type of building. Don’t forget to double check this!
“Think outside the box!” Excellent advice. I once tried to build a house entirely out of recycled cardboard boxes. BREEAM gave me points for “innovation,” but fewer for “structural integrity.” Lesson learned: sustainable ambition is great, just maybe consult an engineer first!
That’s a fantastic anecdote! It really highlights the importance of balancing innovation with practicality when pursuing sustainability goals. Perhaps using the cardboard for insulation, rather than the entire structure, might have yielded better structural results and still gained those innovation points? Always great to hear about real-world applications (and lessons learned!).
Editor: FocusNews.Uk
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Comprehensive indeed! Sounds like less “thinking outside the box” and more strategically dismantling it for innovative, BREEAM-friendly components. Perhaps next time, we can aim for a cardboard-box-inspired art installation *inside* a structurally sound, certified building?