Summary of changes – BREEAM UK NC V6

BREEAM UK New Construction Version 6 (UK NC V6) was released on 24 August 2022 following the updates to building regulations in England that came into force on 15 June 2022.

The update enables new buildings in England using the latest version of Part L (2021 edition) to register and complete BREEAM UK New Construction assessments.

Buildings in England using the previous version of Part L (2013 edition) must continue to register and complete assessments using BREEAM UK New Construction 2018.

Buildings in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland may register and complete assessments using either BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 or BREEAM UK New Construction Version 6.

The changes from BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 (UK NC 2018) are listed in the table below.

The updates are limited in scope and only effect the assessment of:

  • Ene 01 Reduction of energy use and carbon emissions
  • Hea 02 Indoor air quality

All other assessment issues remain unchanged from UK NC 2018.

Further updates will be released when building regulations are updated in other UK nations.

Location Description of change
Ene 01 Energy performance (Ene 01 calculator): Updated translator curves for buildings in England using the latest version of building regulations (Part L2, 2021 edition). The Ene 01 calculation methodology is described in an updated version of GN39.
Ene 01 Prediction of operational energy consumption credits: Updated criteria for ‘Four credits – Prediction of operational energy consumption’. Includes new methodology section that replaces previous guidance in GN32.
Ene 01 Post-occupancy evaluation of operational energy consumption exemplary credits: Updated criteria for the two exemplary credits for ‘Post-occupancy evaluation of operational energy consumption’. Replaces requirement for a specific post-occupancy stage assessment.
Hea 02 Indoor air quality (IAQ) plan prerequisite: Update to criteria for ‘Prerequisite – Indoor air quality (IAQ) plan’. The criteria now specifically mention consideration of purge ventilation and local authority plans and policies. The changes have also been applied to an updated version of GN06.
Hea 02 Ventilation credit: Updated criteria for ‘One credit – Ventilation’. Updated requirements for specifying or installing carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors in occupied spaces, plus a new requirement to report the number and coverage of installed sensors. Specific reference to CIBSE AM13 for buildings with mixed-mode ventilation.
Hea 02 Post-construction indoor air quality measurement credit: Update to criteria for ‘One credit – Post-construction indoor air quality measurement’. The total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentration level measured post-construction has been reverted to 300μg/m³ (was 500μg/m³ in UK NC 2018).
Scope, Ene 02, Wat 01, Wat 02 Updated references to post-occupancy stage assessment, following amendments to exemplary credits in Ene 01.