What is BREEAM?

If you follow the construction industry, you would have likely of heard of BREEAM. This construction body is the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method, which was first launched within the UK in the early 90s.Essentially, what the organisation is all about is developing accepted guidelines of best practise in the construction industry, by grading environmental performance of buildings through design, specification, construction and the operation.

Essentially, BREEAM is embraced by the construction industry, as for it’s close ties with BIM. That, and the benchmarks BREEAM sets for standard categories of development works such as offices, retail developments, educational and healthcare buildings is very well established. The fact that it also offers bespoke packages for non-standard buildings increases it’s influence, as well as the fact that BREEAM certification also applies to new developments and refurbishment projects. There are also international BREEAM projects that exist outside of the UK.

Some clients require the use of BREEAM, and generally the scheme allows clients, project teams and facility managers to be certain that a required standard of best practise is met, and in active use on their project. Furthermore, the prestige of a BREEAM certified building is gigantic for companies which pay attention to the world’s growing focus on sustainability.

Even in the smallest areas of the world, there are companies which actively embrace BREEAM. Take North Wales based Brenig Construction, for instance. This construction and civil engineer North Wales has benefitted in a large way from BREEAM, as well as CEEQUAL standards – if not through public opinion, through the workload they are qualified to do when the rest of the construction sector may drag its feet toward change in general.

For instance, Brenig Construction carry out Local authority work which is part of local plans, and for the future, embracing a commitment to sustainability and the environment seems a great thing for future work – given the presumption in favour of sustainability in the National Planning Policy Framework.