BREEAM Non Domestic Assessment

BREEAM is the UK’s most widely recognised method for assessing and certifying the sustainability of non-domestic buildings, covering categories including energy, water, health and wellbeing, transport, materials and waste. Non-domestic assessments apply to new commercial, retail, education, healthcare and public sector buildings, as well as major refurbishments and fit-outs. An assessment involves a BRE-accredited assessor reviewing the design and specification against BREEAM criteria, generating an evidence report, and submitting to BRE for certification – with BRE registering the rating for the life of the building.

In practice, BREEAM non-domestic assessments cover a wide range of building types, with separate schemes covering new construction (BREEAM New Construction), in-use buildings (BREEAM In-Use) and refurbishment and fit-out projects. A licensed BREEAM assessor evaluates performance across ten categories – including energy, health and wellbeing, water, materials, waste and ecology – and submits an evidence report to BRE for third-party verification and certification. BRE awards the final rating as Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent or Outstanding, with Excellent the most common planning requirement in England and Wales.

Additionally, our BREEAM assessors hold the AP qualification, which allows additional credits to be achieved under Man 1 and Man 3 sections.

A BREEAM AP (Design & Site) can assist you from the very beginning of your project to ensure you meet your BREEAM targets as easily and cost effectively as possible. We also offer the BREEAM AP role as a standalone service.

Timing

BREEAM assessments require careful planning, especially those with higher target ratings. Some credits have strict time limits and if not actioned at RIBA stage 2, the team loses them.

Other credits become more difficult and expensive to achieve the later a team considers them. For these reasons it is critical to bring an assessor onboard as early as possible.

Additional Services

We can provide additional services to assess and evidence your BREEAM credits. We can package a solution tailored to your project requirements, including:

• BRUKL & EPC – Ene 1
• Thermal Comfort Assessment – Hea 4
• Airtightness – Man 4
• Thermographic Survey – Man 4
• Building User Guide – Man 4
• Passive Design Analysis – Ene 4
• Low Zero Carbon Feasibility Study– Ene 4
• Indoor Air Quality Plan and Testing – Hea 2
• Life Cycle Assessment – Mat 1

What is a BREEAM non-domestic assessment?

A BREEAM non-domestic assessment is a formal evaluation of a building’s sustainability performance against the BRE Environmental Assessment Method standard. It covers categories including energy, water, materials, waste, ecology, transport, health and wellbeing, and management. BRE weights credits across these categories and combines them to produce a final rating: Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent, or Outstanding. An accredited BREEAM assessor carries out the assessment and submits it to BRE for certification.

Which BREEAM schemes cover non-domestic buildings?

The main BREEAM schemes for non-domestic buildings are BREEAM New Construction (NC) – for new build commercial and public buildings – and BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out (RFO), which applies to existing non-domestic buildings undergoing major works. BREEAM In-Use applies to occupied buildings seeking ongoing certification. Build Energy has experience across all three schemes and can advise which applies to your project.

When is a BREEAM non-domestic assessment required?

Most planning conditions require a BREEAM assessment, where the local planning authority specifies a minimum BREEAM rating (typically Very Good or Excellent) as part of the planning consent. They may also be required under employer’s requirements on public sector contracts, funding conditions, or client sustainability policies. Some clients pursue BREEAM voluntarily to demonstrate sustainability credentials or support lettability and asset value.

How long does a BREEAM non-domestic assessment take?

A BREEAM New Construction assessment runs across two stages: the Design Stage (interim) assessment, typically completed once the design is sufficiently developed, and the Post-Construction Stage (final) assessment, completed after practical completion. The overall timeline mirrors the project programme. In straightforward cases, the Design Stage submission can typically be completed within 4–6 weeks of appointment; more complex schemes take longer. We provide a clear programme at the outset so your team knows what to expect and when.