Sustainability requirements for construction products in BREEAM certification
All questions about BREEAM compliance answered at a glance.
The proca BREEAM declaration provides all those involved in construction with a statement on how a product contributes to achieving a BREEAM building certification.A simple, structured and BIM-compatible representation of the required product data creates clear orientation and planning security.
With proca you can ensure that your products meet all relevant requirements. This saves time, creates credibility and enables a transparent presentation of product properties. This is all possible thanks to our 100% intelligent and automated service.
Versions of the BREEAM certification
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is used worldwide as a certification system for green buildings. Like other available certification systems, it is a tool used to specify and measure the sustainability performance of buildings. It covers aspects such as health and social impacts, circularity and resilience, biodiversity and nature, and whole life performances of buildings. The entire framework includes six technical standards which apply to different stages of a building or project’s life cycle. Thus, depending on the current phase of the building to be assessed, a particular technical standard should be chosen. The six standards are BREEAM In-Use (residential), BREEAM In-Use (non-residential), BREEAM Refurbishment and fit-out, BREEAM Communities, BREEAM New Construction, Home Quality Mark, and BREEAM Infrastructure.
To ensure that fundamental environmental aspects are not omitted when pursuing an assessment, minimum standards are set in key areas such as energy, water, waste, etc. These must be fulfilled, along with other more specific requirements to obtain points for the certification. If more than 85% of all points across the various categories are fulfilled, then a certification level “outstanding” can be obtained. Further levels are “excellent” (>70%), “very good” (>55%), “good” (>45%), “satisfactory" (30%), and finally “not classified” (< 30%).
BREEAM New Construction is included in the proca Service. The first edition of the system document was published in March of 2018 and has since then been updated. Version 1.1 (Mai 2022) is the basis for the BREEAM assessment available on proca (named BREEAM 2018).
Requirements of BREEAM concerning construction products
BREEAM has nine categories of diverse requirements to determine the health of a building throughout its lifetime. Some categories are specific for the actual building materials, while others are more relevant on the overall building scale. On proca, the categories which are directly influenced by the products used in the construction are available.
MAN 03 Basic Requirement for Wood Products
In the category Management (MAN), sustainable management practices related to the planning, construction, commissioning, handover and aftercare of a building are promoted. This includes procurement measures, such as the procurement of wood products. Within the proca declaration, the basic requirement for wood products is assessed. This includes the determination of whether the product has been proven to have been legally felled and traded in accordance with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) No. 995/2010.
HEA 02: General Requirements
In the category Health and Wellbeing (HEA), factors of increased comfort, health and safety of building occupants and visitors are promoted. Nine criteria are included within HEA, whereby only the general requirements of HEA02 (Indoor Air Quality) and the emission requirements for certain product groups are assessed as part of proca. The general requirement states that all products must be free of asbestos. For the specific emissions from product groups, it must be determined if and how emissions were measured (with specific standards listed), including formaldehyde and TVOC emissions.
MAT 01: Ecological Impacts
The Materials (MAT) category promotes planning decisions, construction principles, maintenance, and repair measures that reduce the environmental and social impacts of building materials. MAT 01 specifically promotes the use of appropriate tools for carrying out life cycle assessments and the associated determination of the environmental impact of building materials. From the possible 5 points which are available within MAT 01, 1 point can be awarded if at least 5 products have either a product-specific EPD or an industry-average EPD.
MAT 03: Responsible Material Procurement
Within MAT 03, materials procured responsibly are promoted. Through different requirements, buildings can be awarded up to 4 points within this criterion. In proca, the responsible procurement of wooden, concrete/cement, steel, and aluminum products is assessed. This is determined based upon whether and which certifications are available for the products (for example, FSC certification for wood products).
WST 02: Recycled Aggregates
The Waste (WST) category promotes the sustainable management (including possible reuse) of construction and operational waste, as well as waste generated by future maintenance and repair of the building. Within this criterion, six categories are assessed, whereby only one category is assessed as part of proca – recycled aggregates. If at least 25% of the used aggregates in the building are covered by recycled or secondary aggregates, then 1 point can be awarded.
Further categories of BREEAM certification
As indicated, within each category, multiple criteria are available for the calculation of points within the BREEAM certification. These are relevant for the overall assessment but the building productsinstalled do not play a direct role in this determination. Furthermore, from the 9 categories, 5 are not assessed to proca. A brief description of these categories can be found below.
Energy
Consisting of 9 individual criteria, this category promotes the planning and specification of energy efficient solutions, systems and devices that support sustainable energy consumption in the building and its operation. The criteria in this category evaluate measures to improve the building's system-related energy efficiency, promote the reduction of CO2 emissions and support efficient management throughout the entire operational phase of the building.
Transport
Consisting of 6 criteria, this category promotes better access to sustainable transport for building users. The criteria focus not only on accessibility to public transport, but also on other solutions that encourage the use of alternative transport.
Water
This category promotes sustainable water use in the operation of the building and its outdoor facilities. The criteria in this section focus on identifying means to reduce drinking water consumption (inside and outside the building) over the entire life of the building. Within this category, 4 criteria are assessed for an overall BREEAM certification.
Land Use and Ecology
This category includes 5 criteria and promotes sustainable land use, habitat protection, and the creation or long-term enhancement of biodiversity on the property and in its surroundings. The criteria in this section reward the use of already used land or land with low ecological value, as well as the improvement of ecology through long-term biodiversity management.
Pollution
This category deals with the prevention and control of pollution and the runoff of surface water that are related to the property and its use. The 5 criteria in this section aim to reduce the impact of the building on the immediate surroundings and the environment in a broader sense. In this context, light pollution, noise emissions, flooding, as well as emissions into the air, soil and water are considered.
