BREEAM

Since its launch, more than 2.94 million buildings have been registered and over 1.025 million certified. BREEAM is currently present in over 100 countries. BRE Global Limited is the BREEAM scheme provider for buildings in the UK and internationally and is primarily responsible for the development of the BREEAM scheme variants. There are also country representatives, the so-called "National Scheme Operators" (NSOs). The NSOs have an exclusive licence from BRE Global to develop BREEAM system variants adapted for the respective country. This involves adapting the content of existing BREEAM system variants to local standards, considering standardisation, legislation and building culture and ensuring comparability with the international BREEAM standard. There are currently five European NSOs. Since October 2016, TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH in Frankfurt am Main has been the exclusive licence partner of BRE Global and therefore the sole standard setter for BREEAM systems in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. There are further country representatives in the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Spain.

Depending on the desired certification level, there are various minimum requirements that must be met for certification. In general, new build and refurbishment projects, existing buildings, urban neighbourhoods and infrastructure projects can be certified. There is a separate "Home Quality Mark" system for residential buildings.

BREEAM Certification Levels

The assessment is based on achievable levels of fulfilment, which are awarded stars. Depending on the degree of fulfilment achieved, properties are awarded from 1 star to 5 stars for new builds and modernisation and from 1 star to 6 stars for existing buildings.

BREEAM Sustainability Categories

The BREEAM rating system for new buildings contains nine main categories and the additional category "Innovations". In accordance with the "Code for a Sustainable Built Environment", BREEAM considers all life cycle phases of properties.

• Management

  The aim of this category is to integrate sustainable management practices into planning, construction, commissioning, handover and aftercare. An important component is the optimisation of projects based on their predicted life cycle costs.

• Health and wellbeing

  This category assesses the comfort, health and safety of building users.

• Energy

  The energy criteria are intended to promote energy-efficient building solutions, systems and appliances, as well as a reduction in CO2 emissions, particularly by using renewable energies.

• Transport 

  The criteria in this category assess the location and infrastructure of the site, e.g. based on proximity to public transport and local amenities. The implementation of environmentally friendly transport solutions is also promoted.

• Water

  The aim of this category is to reduce the consumption of drinking water by ensuring that indoor and outdoor facilities are as water-efficient as possible and by using rainwater or grey water.

• Materials

  The criteria in the Materials category promote the reduction of negative environmental impacts of the building materials and other materials used. A life cycle assessment is used to measure the environmental impacts over the life cycle of the respective building, from planning and construction to maintenance during building operation.

• Waste 

  This category assesses sustainable waste management during the construction and operational phases.

• Land-use and Ecology 

  The objectives of this category are the promotion of sustainable land use, the protection of habitats and the improvement of biodiversity at the site.

• Pollution

  This category is concerned with the prevention and reduction of emissions to air, water and soil.

• Innovation 

  In this category, special commitment and innovative measures are rewarded.

Percentage weighting of the individual categories for BREEAM New Buildings (non-residential buildings)

For the assessment of existing buildings, the current system version v6 introduced the additional categories of resources and resilience to promote the circular economy and adaptation to climate change.

The further development of the BREEAM system variants addresses issues such as a binding climate protection roadmap, the further promotion of the circular economy and resilience as well as greater compatibility with standards recognised throughout Europe, including the EU taxonomy.

BREEAM is a registered trade mark of BRE (Building Research Establishment Ltd. European Trade Mark No. 5778551). The BREEAM trade marks, logos and seals are copyright of BRE and are distributed only with permission. The BREEAM Trade Marks are used under licence.