BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a sustainability assessment method for masterplanning projects, infrastructure and buildings that has been used in the UK and around the world since 1990.


The Cube, Birmingham, UK

Previously built for the design stage of new buildings, that takes into account nine categories like energy and CO2 emissions, water, materials, surface water run-off, waste, pollution, health and well-being, management and ecology, the BREAM certification now deals with refurbished and in-use developments and buildings.

The BREEAM assessment is carried out by independent assessors and the rating obtained can be outstanding, excellent, very good, good, pass (which represents the standard good practice) or unclassified, which means the construction has failed to meet the BREEAM minimum standards of performance for key environmental issues or the overall threshold score.


Hengrove Park Leisure Centre

The sustainability benefits gained by using galvanizing over other methods of protection were quickly realised by the members of the Hengrove Park Leisure Centre in Bristol, the first centre in the UK with a 50m swimming pool to achieve a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating. The state-of-the-art pool and leisure centre opened its doors in 2012 and the Local Authority requirements called for the main structure to have a guaranteed life of 60 years with minimal maintenance. Read more about the project here.

The American equivalent for this sustainability assessment method is the LEED certification.

Sustainability explained

Distinguishing between being good for the environment and "green wash"...

How should it be interpreted?

There is a need for a consumers’ guide to environmental...

Why is it important?

In many cases the materials that are used are fairly low down on the list of concerns..

Key Sustainability Terms

The following list of key sustainability terms used in the construction industry...