BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a sustainability assessment and certification method for buildings and infrastructure. It was first published in 1990 by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in the UK, after development began in 1988, making it one of the oldest green building rating systems. It is used in more than 100 countries, with national scheme operators in countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden. Around 600,000 buildings have been certified and some 2.3 million registered.
How it works
Assessments are carried out by licensed assessors. Credits are awarded across categories such as management, energy, health and wellbeing, water, materials, waste, pollution, transport, land use and ecology, and resilience, and are weighted to give an overall score. Ratings are:
- Pass
- Good
- Very Good
- Excellent
- Outstanding
Schemes exist for new construction, in-use buildings, refurbishment and fit-out, communities and infrastructure.
Relevance to roofing
Roofs affect several BREEAM categories:
- Energy – roof insulation and airtightness contribute to operational energy performance, and roofs host photovoltaic and solar thermal systems.
- Materials – roofing products can earn credits through life-cycle assessment data, such as Environmental Product Declarations, and responsible sourcing certification.
- Land use and ecology – green and biodiverse roofs can contribute to ecological value.
- Pollution and water – green and blue roofs can reduce surface water run-off.
- Resilience – durability and protection of the building fabric.
Influence
BREEAM influenced later rating systems, and several European countries operate adapted national versions through national scheme operators. In the UK, some planning authorities set BREEAM targets for non-domestic buildings. Comparable systems elsewhere include LEED in North America.