Creating a clear and accessible Building User Guide is a key requirement for achieving credits in the commissioning and handover stages of BREEAM assessments.
It ensures that both building users and facilities management teams understand how to operate the building effectively — maximising energy efficiency, comfort, and overall building performance. At Build Energy, we support project teams by producing professional, BREEAM-compliant.
Building User Guides that are tailored to suit your scheme and audience.
Why is a Building User Guide Important for BREEAM?
The Building User Guide (BUG) is more than a box-ticking exercise — it forms a vital link between design intent and real-world operation. When building users understand how to interact with systems such as heating, ventilation, and lighting, it helps ensure that the building performs as designed.
The guide also forms part of the evidence required to secure credits under BREEAM’s Management (Man 04) section. This addresses commissioning and handover. In many cases, producing a BUG is a mandatory requirement to meet your target rating.
BREEAM 2014 and 2018 Requirements
BREEAM 2014
Under the BREEAM 2014 scheme, a Building User Guide is mandatory for projects aiming for an Excellent rating. A single guide must be provided, containing helpful and practical information for both staff and facilities management teams.
BREEAM 2018
In the BREEAM 2018 New Construction scheme, a Building User Guide is a mandatory requirement for achieving a Very Good rating or above. The 2018 scheme introduces a key change – separate guides must now be created for different user groups:
- One for building users, written in accessible, non-technical language
- One for facilities management, covering systems operation and maintenance in more detail
What Should the Building User Guide Contain?
The content of the guide will vary depending on the project type, but typically includes:
- An overview of the building layout and key spaces
- Instructions for using building systems (heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting)
- Energy-saving advice and sustainability features
- Emergency and security procedures
- Contact information for building management and maintenance teams
- Visitor arrival instructions
- Local amenity and sustainable transport information
We ensure all guides are clearly written, well-structured, and easy to use in both print and digital formats.
How Build Energy Can Help
At Build Energy, we have extensive experience producing BREEAM-compliant Building User Guides across a wide range of sectors including commercial, education, healthcare and industrial projects. We work closely with your design and construction teams to gather the necessary information and deliver fully tailored guides that meet BREEAM criteria.
We also integrate this service with our broader BREEAM consultancy, evidence gathering, and handover support. This makes the certification process as smooth and efficient as possible.
Get in Touch
If you’re looking to meet BREEAM requirements or simply want to ensure your building users get the best from their environment, we’d love to help.
Call us on 0330 055 34 05 or email be@buildenergy.co.ukand we can talk you through the process.