UKNC: Residential (HQM) / HQM ONE / A Our Surroundings / 3 Safety and Resilience /
3.1 Flood Risk
Information correct as of 26thFebruary 2026. Please see kb.breeam.com for the latest compliance information.
Flood risk – Site situated across numerous flood zones - KBCN0532
Where a site is situated across more than one flood zone, the flood zone with the highest probability of flooding, i.e. the worst case scenario, must be considered for the purpose of the BREEAM assessment. An exception to this would be where the areas in the higher probability zone include only soft landscaping and it can be demonstrated that access to the building will be maintained in a flooding event.
This is to ensure that the site has adequately managed the worst case scenario level of flood risk associated with the site's location.
22/07/2022 Applicability to HQM One confirmed
07/03/2018 Updated to include circumstances where an exception may apply.
Flood Risk Assessment older than five years - KBCN1744
This sentence appears in the definition of 'Flood Risk Assessment': Where more than five years have passed since the FRA was carried out, evidence would be required to demonstrate that the basis of the FRA has not changed in that time.
The requirement for evidence that the basis of the FRA has not changed where more than five years have passed is applicable only at Design Stage. It is not required at Post Construction Stage where a compliant FRA was undertaken at Design Stage and the development was carried out in accordance with that design.
FRA more than 5 years old - KBCN1580
Where more than five years have passed since the FRA was carried out, to be able to use the FRA in your assessment evidence would be required to demonstrate that the basis of the FRA has not changed in that time.
Use of BS8533:2015 instead of BS85500:2015 - KBCN1685
BS 8533:2015 can be used in place of BS 85500:2015.
Information correct as of 26thFebruary 2026. Please see kb.breeam.com for the latest compliance information.