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BREEAM 2011 - summary of changes

June 2011

The launch of BREEAM 2011 on 1st July will signify the latest iteration of what has become the UK's standard environmental assessment method. This is the first major change since 2008, when the mandatory post construction review was introduced.

The full name is BREEAM New Construction 2011, which indicates that there has been a shift to the scheme only assessing new buildings. A dedicated refurbishment scheme is due out in 2012. The largest benefit to assessors and designers alike is the combination of all the schemes into one manual. No longer will you have to hold a shelf full of manuals for different building types. This has also allowed BRE to increase the number of building types that can be assessed without the need for bespoke criteria being generated. Now common building types such as hotels, museums and leisure centres can be assessed as "other buildings" rather than Bespoke, making the system easier.

As far as the technical content is concerned, many of the old favourites remain, albeit under different titles. Some credits such as Life Cycle Impacts have been expanded to cover all buildings, not just Education and Healthcare as in BREEAM 2008.

One large change is in the Management credits, which now looks at sustainable procurement. This includes reference to the Soft Landings Framework to help realise the performance potential of the building. To help understand the links BSRIA has produced an interpretation note, BREEAM 2011 & Soft Landings (pdf).

BSRIA provides licensed BREEAM Assessments, Soft Landings support and Life Cycle Costing consultancy. For more information contact us on:

E: bsria@bsria.co.uk
T: +44 (0) 1344 465600
 

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