The Launch of BREEAM V7

BREEAM New Construction Version 7 has just been pre-released for consultation. It has been updated to mirror the latest science in order to remain closely aligned with industry objectives and further reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. The latest version of the world-renowned sustainability assessment for the built environment will be launched officially towards the end of the year.

We have highlighted changes to the minimum requirements of notable credits below:

> In Pol 01 the consideration of refrigerants will be mandatory, ‘Outstanding’ buildings will have to use either no refrigerants or have assessed their impact and emissions.

> For Mat 01, to maximise credits an LCA should be completed at every stage for ‘Outstanding’ and any stage for ‘Excellent’.

> For Ene 02, TM54 analysis (a method to better evaluate operational energy use) is similarly required to reach the ‘Excellent’ and ‘Outstanding’ ratings; this is to help close the performance gap between how buildings are estimated to perform and how they perform in practice.

Other changes include:

> The ‘Outstanding’ rating will no longer be applicable to Shell Only projects, this is because it is impossible to make meaningful predictions about their operational energy performance.

> Removal of the simple building assessment type.

> For Hea 01 a new requirement has been introduced for natural light and achieving good daylight factors to reach ‘Outstanding’.

> Buildings will have to have a smoking ban in place, where it is not already prohibited. Occupant health and wellbeing is an important consideration in V7.

> To help close the performance gap the rating boundaries are being closer aligned, the threshold for ‘pass’ and ‘good’ ratings have been lowered by 5%.

> Modifications have been made to several issues in order to align closer with the EU Taxonomy.

> A refocus of weightings for energy and carbon on grid emissions factors, to accelerate the electrification of buildings.

> The incorporation of Intelligent energy use in buildings is increasingly recognised and rewarded in V7.

Overall, the update and release of V7 ensures that BREEAM continues to pave the way for decarbonisation of the built environment and keep property stakeholders on track with all important net zero targets.