BREEAM Assessments

BREEAM is the world’s leading assessment method for sustainable buildings. It enables designers, developers and building managers to demonstrate the environmental credentials of their buildings, against a universally-recognised, benchmarked set of standards.

A specified BREEAM rating is increasingly a funding requirement for both public and private sector schemes. For example, BREEAM ‘Excellent’ is required for most new build healthcare and education projects and for any new Government buildings. Many Local Authorities have incorporated into their planning policy requirements that new commercial developments are to achieve certain minimum BREEAM standards (commonly at least a ‘Very Good’ rating).

Stroma Technology can assess both commercial and public buildings using BREEAM, with the process made more efficient by our co-located team of SBEM assessors.

The BREEAM Assessment Process

BREEAM assessments must be carried out by an accredited BREEAM Assessor, who awards credits related to a wide range of categories including: Management, Health and Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use and Ecology, Pollution and Innovation.

Each of these categories contains a number of credit issues that the design team agrees to target and demonstrate compliance with. These credits are then accumulated and converted to a percentage score, based on the number of credits achieved out of the total available credits. This percentage score is then converted to a BREEAM rating:

• Unclassified: <30%
• Pass: ≥30%
• Good: ≥45%
• Very Good: ≥55%
• Excellent: ≥60%
• Outstanding: ≥85%

BREEAM Assessment criteria are tailored to the type of building that is being assessed. There are several different BREEAM schemes available to assess different building types, including:

• BREEAM Education - covers nurseries, schools, colleges, and university buildings
• BREEAM Offices • BREEAM Industrial - covers warehouses, light industrial units
• BREEAM Multi-Residential • BREEAM Healthcare - covers GP surgeries, clinics and hospitals
• BREEAM Retail
• BREEAM Other Buildings
• BREEAM In-Use
• BREEAM EcoHomes
• Stroma’s Assessors are qualified to carry out assessments under all of the BREEAM schemes.

There are three stages to the BREEAM assessment procedure:

• Pre-assessment: The first stage in the BREEAM assessment provides advice that allows for an early, informal view of the sustainability of a development, and provides advice on the elements that need to be incorporated into the detailed design and cost plan. An action list detailing the supporting evidence required from each member of the design team is issued to ensure all parties are aware of their obligations to achieve the desired BREEAM rating.

• Design Stage Assessment: The interim BREEAM assessment is usually carried out at RIBA stages C to D once the detailed drawings, calculations and specifications are available. The building is assessed against the credit criteria given in the scheme manual, and credits are assigned based on compliant evidence supplied by the design team.

• Post Construction Stage Assessment: The final certified BREEAM assessment is carried out just prior to handover and is based on evidence contained in the as built drawings, calculations, and at least one site inspection by the BREEAM assessor. The post construction assessment is a confirmation that the commitments made at design stage have been carried through during the construction phase.

Project Management for BREEAM Assessments

To facilitate efficient communication with the design team Stroma Technology utilizes Tracker Plus, one of the leading online project management software packages for BREEAM Assessments.

This software allows members of the design team to view the credit requirements online and understand what evidence they need to submit to allow the development to achieve the required BREEAM rating. The design consultants then upload documentary evidence via the online system, which Stroma’s BREEAM Assessor checks and awards credits accordingly.

The system allows the Project Manager or client to see a real-time BREEAM score, based on the evidence received and checked to date. The use of this software ensures the BREEAM process moves smoothly from start to finish and streamlines the amount of work required from all members of the design team.

Stroma Technology’s experienced Sustainability Consultants, who are all qualified BREEAM Assessors, can guide you through every stage of the process to help you achieve your target rating. To learn more or to request a quotation, please call 0845 621 22 22 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .