Keeping Your BREEAM Certification Current: A Guide to Renewals

Summary

This article provides a comprehensive guide to renewing your BREEAM In-Use certification. It covers the process, key considerations, and potential costs involved. Understanding the renewal requirements is crucial for maintaining the value and recognition associated with BREEAM certification.

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So, you’re looking at renewing your BREEAM In-Use certification, right? It’s not quite as straightforward as the initial certification for a new building, which, by the way, lasts for the building’s lifetime. BREEAM In-Use, on the other hand, focuses on how your existing building is performing operationally. These certs are valid for three years, and to keep those sustainability benefits, you’ll need to renew.

Let’s break down what that renewal process looks like, shall we?

First things first:

• Check for Significant Changes: Before you even think about contacting BRE Global, take a hard look at your building. Has anything significant changed about the building itself or how you manage it? We’re talking about anything that could shift your overall BREEAM rating by more than 5%. If you’ve, say, completely overhauled your energy systems or changed management practices drastically, you’ll likely need a whole new assessment. If not, you’re in good shape to move onto the next step.

• Reach out to BRE Global: Now it’s time to let BRE Global know you’re planning to renew. They’re the certification body, and they’ll walk you through the specifics of what you need and what documentation to provide for your renewal. Even if you’ve had no changes, you’ll still have to formally tell them that you’ve checked. It’s just part of the process, you see.

• Ownership Changes: If there’s been a change of ownership during the certification period, it’s crucial the new owner tells BRE Global right away. They’ll also need to confirm that, since they took over, there haven’t been any those changes to the building or management practices we were just discussing. This ensures continuity of your assessment and certification.

• Management Changes: A change in building management can be a bit trickier. For Part 1 (Asset Performance) of the certification, you can usually proceed with your renewal as usual. But, if Part 2 (Building Management Performance) has a management change, that’s a big deal, and it means a full re-assessment is on the cards, including a site visit, which isn’t fun, trust me! It’s annoying, but you’ll have to re-submit all your sections, even if only Part 2 needs it. You see, they issue a single certificate, not separate ones.

• BREEAM In-Use 2015: For those of you with certificates from the 2015 version of BREEAM In-Use, you might be able to extend your certificate for up to three years with two renewals following the initial assessment, but this version is being phased out, so check with BRE Global just to be sure. I mean better to be safe than sorry, eh?

• Mid-cycle Certification (BREEAM In-Use Version 6): Here’s a handy one for you: if something has changed for the better and you want to reflect that during your three-year validity, you can request a mid-cycle certification. This will be valid for the remainder of your original certificate’s term. For instance, I remember a client who installed solar panels mid-certification; it improved their score and was well worth the investment!

• Costs: Now, let’s talk money. Renewal costs can vary quite a bit depending on the complexity of the asset and the current version of BREEAM In-Use, so, always check the latest fee sheet from BRE Global. Factor in the potential costs of documentation, any assessments, and of course, those site visits.

And that’s not all, here’s a few key things to keep in mind:

• Keep Good Records: You know, tracking and documenting your building’s performance related to BREEAM criteria really pays off. It doesn’t just make renewal easier, it also helps you spot areas to improve. Don’t be caught out!

• Plan Ahead: Seriously, start the renewal process early, that means months before your certification expires. You don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute to gather information, especially if any action is needed to maintain compliance.

• Seek Professional Advice: Consider engaging a BREEAM Accredited Professional. It’s money well spent, you get expert guidance, and they can often help you avoid costly mistakes. Its about working smarter, not harder, after all!

In short, maintaining your BREEAM In-Use certification isn’t something you just set and forget; it requires ongoing attention and diligence. But if you are organized and proactive, it shouldn’t be a problem and will allow you to demonstrate your commitment to sustainability and enjoy the benefits. And one last thing: remember, BREEAM standards are always evolving, so always check with BRE Global for the latest guidance.