Published 15 Aug 2023
What is a BREEAM Checklist?
A BREEAM checklist outlines the criteria for assessing structures against the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) standard. It covers vital sustainability categories to evaluate the environmental performance of newly built, refurbished, and in-use buildings based on the requirements of this international standard. Businesses can refer to this checklist during internal audits to check for compliant and non-compliant aspects in their structure.
In this article
- Why Use One?
- What to Include in a BREEAM Checklist
- Common Mistakes to Avoid During BREEAM Assessments
- FAQs about BREEAM Checklists
- Prepare for BREEAM Assessments with a Checklist
- Related BREEAM Checklists
Why Use One?
Preparing for green building assessments such as BREEAM needs time and careful planning. After all, these standards have an array of requirements that must be satisfied in order to get certified. And aside from the site requirements, documentation is also a must for compliance.
Having a checklist at hand is incredibly helpful for simplifying this process. This tool takes the guesswork out of inspections by mapping out the benchmarks against which the building will be evaluated. During self-audits, assessors can refer to their checklist when looking for compliant and non-compliant areas in their structure.
Not only does it save time and resources, but it also minimizes the likelihood of mistakes and overlooked items during internal assessments. This way, companies can identify opportunities for enhanced compliance and proactively respond to issues within the process.
What to Include in a BREEAM Checklist
A checklist is an essential tool when performing internal BREEAM assessments in preparation for the actual one. Its structure and content will depend on the type of building and certification you’re going for. In the case of newly constructed buildings, here are the items your BREEAM checklist should have:
- Responsible Construction Practices – This section focuses on the management aspect of the construction site, specifically the environmental and social impacts of construction processes from noise hazards to site waste management.
- Visual Comfort – This section revolves around the visual aspect of the building design and covers metrics such as lighting (both natural and artificial) and occupant controls.
- Indoor Air Quality – As one of the key indicators of a healthy indoor environment, this section looks closely into the ventilation systems for maintaining good indoor air quality.
- Water Quality – This section checks the quality of water sources in the structure to reduce the risk of contamination.
- Reduction of Energy Use and Carbon Emissions – This section outlines the required components to be integrated into the building design for less energy consumption and carbon footprint.
- Water Consumption – This section examines the water systems for sanitary use in the locality of the new building.
- Water Monitoring – This section specifies guidelines for monitoring water consumption patterns to determine opportunities for water-saving solutions.
- Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products – Lastly, this section provides a framework for procuring construction materials in a sustainable manner.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During BREEAM Assessments
Once you have a BREEAM checklist, the next step is to implement it in your internal checks. But even with this tool on hand, it’s still possible to commit errors along the way. Here are some of the most common mistakes to watch out for during assessments:
- Failing to provide sufficient evidence – BREEAM assessments require a significant amount of supporting documents as proof of compliance with the standard. Thus, it’s important to prepare all necessary evidence materials, such as photographs, technical reports, and calculations, before the process begins.
- Focusing too much on one category – When implementing BREEAM standards in practice, it’s easy to get fixated on meeting the requirements of one category at the expense of others. For this reason, it’s essential to strike a balance between targeting specific areas, especially non-compliant ones, and continuously monitoring the rest.
- Failing to consider long-term benefits and costs – Setting goals and establishing BREEAM-compliant measures should account for both short-term and long-term impacts. For example, aside from the initial expenses of sustainability initiatives, such as renewable energy and commissioning, it’s also important to factor in their potential costs and benefits in the long run.
FAQs about BREEAM Checklists
BREEAM standards have four categories of buildings and spaces, as follows:
- New construction – assesses the design and construction of newly built structures
- Refurbishment and fit-out – measures the environmental impacts of renovation works
- In-use – evaluates the performance of existing buildings and operational assets
- Communities – integrates sustainable design into community planning and restoration projects
While both establish sustainability benchmarks for building performance, BREEAM and LEED differ in their scope and assessment methods.
For one, BREEAM is a widely-used green building standard across Europe (including Spain, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) that employs third-party assessors to assess and certify structures. On the other hand, the US-based Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard evaluates buildings worldwide based on the data submitted to the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
The duration of BREEAM assessments can vary depending on the size and complexity of the building, as well as the type of certification you’ve applied for. On average, the time it takes to complete these assessments can range from a few weeks to several months, especially for structures that require frequent site inspections.
Prepare for BREEAM Assessments with a Checklist
BREEAM certification requires careful thought and preparation given its rigorous set of criteria for benchmarking environmental performance. With several sustainability metrics to account for during the preparation stage, meeting its requirements can be challenging. Fortunately, getting ready for this green building assessment becomes easier with the right tools at your disposal.
SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor) leverages digital solutions to simplify compliance processes for your organization. Select from the thousands of industry-standard templates to customize for your internal checks, have your paper forms converted into digital formats, or build checklists from scratch. Moreover, you can use this mobile-first platform to:
- Perform site inspections and internal assessments using your handheld device.
- Take photos, record videos, and attach supporting documents to site inspection reports.
- Automatically save internal assessment reports in a secure cloud-based location.
- Generate digital reports (in PDF, Web, and other formats) as proof of compliance to certifying bodies during the formal assessment period.
- Report non-compliant areas as soon as you spot them and assign corrective actions to rectify the problem.
- Unlock insights into your structure’s environmental performance and proactively address gaps in compliance with the standard.
- Train internal assessors and inspectors on how to conduct BREEAM self-assessments.
Related BREEAM Checklists
BREEAM Inspection Checklist
This inspection checklist can be used in Dutch-speaking countries to assess construction sites according to the BREEAM standard. It covers 3 key areas for site inspections: (1) construction site and surroundings; (2) environmental impacts of the site; and (3) site waste management.
General Site Inspection Checklist
This general site inspection checklist runs through the essential items for construction site visits. Use this checklist to assess regulatory compliance, job site conditions, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) safety for workers. The results from this digitized checklist can be exported as PDF, Web, and Excel reports to be submitted as part of BREEAM compliance requirements.
Building Inspection Checklist
This digitized building inspection checklist helps inspectors evaluate the condition of residential and commercial structures before BREEAM assessments. It can be used to check all areas in the building to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with building code requirements.
Project Execution Plan Template
Use this project execution plan template to draft strategies for implementing BREEAM-compliant projects. Supply project details, delve into the specifics of the execution phase, and note your observations and recommendations within the project duration. This template can be tailored to the needs of the project and organization.
