BRE and IWBI have released new guidance on the joint building standard certification for BREEAM and WELL, providing greater clarity
New guidance for a joint building standard certification has been released. BRE and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) published a briefing paper outlining how certified BREEAM credits can be used to demonstrate compliance with the WELL Building Standard post-occupation.
WELL is a performance-based system that measures, certifies and monitors features of the built environment that impact health and wellbeing. It was launched in 2014 and has more than 300 projects registered or certified across 27 countries.
BREEAM measures sustainability across all stages of an asset’s life, including new construction, in-use and refurbishment. The internationally recognised certification is used in more than 70 countries and more than 551,000 buildings have been certified. It is administered by BRE. www.breeam.com
Last year the two organisations reached an agreement to align the two schemes. This new guidance will make it easier for those wishing to obtain certification for both BREEAM and WELL.
Guidance
The document, Assessing Health and Wellbeing in Buildings, gives guidance on how the process for gaining dual certification can be streamlined. It also offers information for architects and designers to help better understand the requirements as well as how the two standards work together.
Furthermore, it also highlights where WELL requirements are addressed by UK and/or EU regulations, as well as what can be omitted from an assessment.
Evidence can be used for both schemes
BREEAM Technical Director Alan Yates said: “The document will allow clients and design teams to use the same evidence in both schemes.
“When you need or want both certification schemes, this document will guide project teams on the most efficient way of going through the process.
“They won’t need to duplicate evidence or calculate things in different ways, as approximately 35 % of credits are equivalent or aligned in some way.
“This will ultimately reduce the burden of assessing both schemes.”
IWBI Chairman and CEO Rick Fedrizzi said collaboration would make it easier to ensure good outcomes for the future.
“We’re pleased to partner with BREEAM to make it easier for project teams to link their sustainability initiatives to WELL,” he said.
“With these credit crosswalks, together we can advance further and faster the positive impacts we can have on both people and the planet.”
Visit the BREEAM website to view the guidance: www.breeam.com/resources.
