01 - Health and wellbeing - BREEAM Knowledge Base

Applicability – no occupied spaces - KBCN1551

Principle Where:

The scope of assessment covers no occupied spaces and,
There is no valid way to filter credits from that issue,

Credits specifically related to occupied space are not awarded. Outcome The tables below show how this principle applies to affected issues.

Y means all credits are available (unless the comments state otherwise). Standard filtering rules still apply, so some credits can be filtered out where allowed in the criteria.
N means all credits in the issue cannot be awarded. These credits are not filtered out.

Issue	Credits available		Scope
Part 1
Hea 01 Daylighting	Y		Only answer C is available.
Hea 02 Control of glare from sunlight		N
Hea 03 Internal and external lighting levels		N
Hea 04 Lighting control		N
Hea 05 Minimising flicker from lighting systems	Y
Hea 06 View out		N
Hea 07 User comfort control		N
Hea 08-13	Y
Part 2
Hea 14 Thermal comfort		N
Hea 15 Smoking policy	Y
Hea 16 Indoor air quality management	Y
Hea 17 Acoustic conditions		N
Hea 18 Legionella risk management	Y
Hea 19 Drinking water management	Y

16-Dec-2022 - KBCN title and scope updated for better visibility. Error in Hea 03 amended. Applicability of KBCN applied only to affected issues (N, or modified answer options) with to minimise header space in the UI. Original content on Resources moved to new KBCN.
27-Nov-2025 - KBCN applicability updated to include all Hea credit issues.

Carbon dioxide sensors – Erratum - KBCN1636

The question table for this issue should read as follows:

Credits	Answer	Select a single answer option
0	A	Question not answered
0	B	No
2	C	Yes, in occupied spaces subject to large and unpredictable or variable occupancy patterns
4	D	Yes, in all occupied spaces

This will be updated in the next reissue of the technical manual

Carbon monoxide detection – Combustion appliances located outside - KBCN1586

Where all combustion appliances are located outside in the open air, no flues pass through an occupied space and there are no enclosed parking areas, the associated credits can be filtered out as per Criterion 1.

Control of glare from sunlight – hotel rooms - KBCN1087

The primary function attributed to hotel rooms is that of a bedroom and as such, lighting and resultant glare are not considered to be problematic for these spaces. The only exception to this is where designated additional office space is provided. In these circumstances it is the role of the assessor to determine if individual spaces should be determined as ‘relevant building areas’ in accordance with guidance provided. Glare control criteria apply to building areas where lighting and resultant glare could be problematic for users.

01 Nov 2023 - Applicability to BIU V6 Commercial confirmed
This KBCN aligns with KBCN0666 from UKNC 2014

Control of glare from sunlight – Use of EN 14501 to demonstrate compliance for blinds - KBCN1737

The criteria set the following requirements for blinds:

an openness factor of 1% or less and
a light transmission value less than 10%

Alternatively, Class 3 and Class 4 solar protection devices in Table 7 of EN 14501:2021 can be considered as meeting the BREEAM criteria. The following meets Class 3 within EN 14501 and can, therefore, be considered compliant:

an openness factor of 1% or less and
a light transmission value of 10% or less

02 Sept 2025 - KBCN reworded to clarify the intent.

Emergency lighting - KBCN0185

Maintained systems featuring emergency light fittings which are also used for normal operation, are assessed for this issue. Non-maintained lighting which is only activated in an emergency can be excluded from the assessment. NC / RFO / BIU V6 Ene 17: The aim of these credit(s) is to encourage and recognise energy-efficient fittings. Non-maintained emergency lighting will very rarely be activated and in such extremes the emergency requirements must not be compromised. BIU V6 Hea 05: Flicker is eliminated from maintained systems only.

24-Jan-2024 - Scheme applicability updated to include BIU V6.

Glare control – Modelling - KBCN1800

The ‘Glare control’ criteria do not require a specific methodology to be used to identify areas at risk of glare, and in most situations, a simple solar path analysis would be suitable. Alternatively, detailed hourly modelling methods, such as DGP and ASE, may be more appropriate. However, in either case, compliance cannot be assumed. Regardless of the methodology used, the modelling must be supported by robust reporting to demonstrate that each aspect of the criteria has been met.

Inclusive design – Access4you - KBCN1826

BREEAM recognises the use of Access4you certification as an approved alternative to the credits available in Hea12 Inclusive design as set out below:

Hea 12 Inclusive design	Access4you
2 credits	Bronze level
4 credits	Silver level or higher

Evidence of Access4you certification must be provided at the final BREEAM certification stage.

AboutAccess4you

Access4you International is an organization that evaluates, certifies, and qualifies the accessibility of the built environment. Their self-developed criteria system consists of 1000 aspects, which are based on the usability aspects of 8+1 stakeholder groups, including people with special mobility, visual, hearing, and cognitive needs. The rating system consists of Certified location, Bronze, Silver, or Gold qualifications.

Access4you has two schemes, the Design & Building certification scheme which is aligned with a new construction or major refurbishment project and the Building certification scheme which is aligned with an assessment of an existing building. The most appropriate scheme, advised by Access4you should be used for certification.

Internal lighting levels where computer screens are used - KBCN0283

For areas where computer screens are regularly used projects can specify 300 lux, as referenced in CIBSE Lighting Guide 7, rather than the levels prescribed in the standard EN 12464:2011.

07/12/2021 Applicability to BIU V6 Commercial confirmed.

Minimising flicker – scope of issue - KBCN1639

Principle Flicker from all lighting systems is eliminated. This means eliminating flicker in:

All lighting within management control, common areas, and tenanted areas.
Occupied, un-occupied and external spaces.

Only emergency lighting is excluded. See KBCN0185. Lighting flicker is undesirable regardless of location or length of exposure. Commercial scope Eliminate flicker in all lighting. Residential scope Eliminate flicker in:

All communal areas (internal and external, occupied and unoccupied).
Management offices, and all areas under management control.

Occupant control – spaces requiring user controls - KBCN0170

This guidance is intended to clarify the types of area for which user controls are required or would be considered beneficial. Zoning is required in all areas of the asset where specified in the assessment criteria. Please refer to the specific requirements of the applicable BREEAM standard to interpret this guidance appropriately. User controls required Spaces where users are expected to have independent control over their environment.

Owned spaces: small rooms for a few people. For instance, cellular offices, owned spaces in residential assets.
Temporarily owned spaces: where occupants expect to operate the environmental controls while they are there. For instance, meeting rooms and hotel bedrooms.
Shared spaces. For instance, multi-occupied areas such as open-plan offices or workshops.

User controls not required Spaces where users are not expected to have independent control over their environment.

Managed spaces: where environmental control is expected to be centrally managed. For instance, atria, circulation areas, concourses, entrance halls, function halls, restaurants, libraries, and shops.
Occasionally visited spaces. For instance, storerooms, bookstacks in libraries, aisles of warehouses, toilets.

14-Dec-2022 - KBCN applicability updated to include BIU. Wording clarified, and amended for compatibility with BIU criteria.

Outdoor space – Parks and other public open spaces - KBCN1588

Public parks may meet the requirements for ‘Outdoor space’ even if smoking and vaping are unrestricted, as the impact on other visitors would be minimal. However, to ensure the above and that the overall aim is met, a compliant park must be over 2,500 m² in size and be a ‘green space’ - an area of grass, trees, or other vegetation set apart for recreational or aesthetic purposes that is publicly owned and allows free access during the hours of daylight. Other similar areas that meet the above requirements, such as woodland or nature reserves, could also be considered as meeting the aim.

Pods or privacy booths used as workstations – Impact on view out - KBCN1697

Provided the space or room itself is compliant based on a more traditional furniture arrangement, the enclosure of workstations in booths or pods can be disregarded when considering compliance with the ‘View out’ criteria.

Provision of fresh drinking water – Atmospheric water generators - KBCN1674

Atmospheric water generators can be used as an alternative to point-of-use water coolers connected to the mains water supply and drainage where it can be demonstrated that the water provision:

Is potable (safe to drink) and can provide chilled and ambient temperature water.
Would be able to meet the water consumption needs of the occupants.
Be reliable in the local climatic conditions.

In this situation the water supply does not need to be connected to the mains water supply and drainage. Suitable access provision in areas must still be demonstrated.

Provision of rest areas – Accessibility - KBCN1700

For an area to be considered compliant:

Regular asset users with disabilities, (including employees and visitors), must be able to access the facility. (Answers C, D and E)
Canteen serveries and food and drink preparation facilities do not need to be adapted for disabled users, however the rest area itself must be accessible and suitable for all regular asset users. (Answers C and D)
Where a building has a large number of visitors, (see Specific Note 1), indoor and outdoor rest areas must be accessible to people with disabilities. (Answers C and E)

User controls – Thermal comfort - KBCN1813

The requirement for user controls does not mandate a specific type of control; e.g. local manual adjustment. Where control is provided indirectly, e.g. via BMS or central management, the assessor must demonstrate that this approach meets the intent of the user comfort and accessibility criteria and is informed by end-user discussions or relevant design guidance. Please refer to KBCN0170 for clarification of the types of space requiring user controls.

View out – alternative method of compliance for fixed workstations - KBCN1484

In relevant spaces that include fixed workstations* (such as a built-in cash registers or reception desks) an alternative method can be used. This is based on the number of compliant workstations. For instance, where the requirement is for 95% of the relevant area to comply, 95% of the fixed workstations must have a compliant view out, rounded up to the nearest workstation. Example A retail assessment has 35 built-in cash registers, 95% of which must comply with the view out criteria. 35 x 0.95 = 33.25, rounded up to 34. The requirement is met for this area if 34 registers comply with the criteria. Where an asset includes a mix of relevant areas; both fixed workstations and flexible areas, compliance for the whole assessment must be demonstrated for all areas, as appropriate, based on either area or number. *freestanding desks and other items of moveable furniture cannot be considered as fixed workstations, regardless of whether their locations are pre-determined.

View out – Bedrooms in Residential and Residential institutions - KBCN1798

The 'View out' criteria are generally not applicable to bedrooms in assessments of Residential and Residential institutions (long-term stay and short-term stay), where the occupants are likely to be elsewhere during the daylight hours. Although a multi-purpose desk or work surface may often be provided in bedrooms for short-term working, study and other uses, this would not normally be considered as a dedicated workspace. An exception to this would be where a separate dedicated office or study space is provided, for example within a bedroom suite. Please also refer to any building-type-specific guidance, as bedrooms in sheltered housing, for example, may be considered differently. It is the role of the assessor to determine whether individual spaces should be determined as ‘relevant building areas’ in accordance with guidance provided.

View out – Calculating the glazing to wall ratio - KBCN1506

This should be calculated based on the glazed area of window, expressed as a percentage of the area of the external wall in which the window sits. Where the ceiling height of the room is unusually high, relative to the window height, the wall area can be calculated based on a standard ceiling height for the building type.

View out – relevant areas - KBCN0268

The aim of the View Out criteria is to allow occupants to refocus their eyes from close work. Relevant areas are spaces where close work in a fixed position is carried out for sustained periods of time. The view out criteria are therefore not applicable to occupied areas such as meeting rooms, or other spaces where such close work is not being carried out. Where rooms contain areas of different functions, only relevant areas should be assessed. In this case a notional line can be drawn on the plans and calculations made based on these relevant areas only. However, spaces such circulation routes or other transient spaces within a relevant area can only be excluded if the route or area is clearly defined by the building layout. If this is arbitrary or based solely on a proposed furniture layout, it cannot be excluded. Features of the building layout which may be considered as dictating a function area would include, for example, the position of doors or fixed furniture such as a reception desk or canteen servery.

07-Oct-2022 Additional paragraph added to clarify how function areas must be defined. 
21-Sep-2022 General principle of 'relevant area' added, and applicability of KBCN extended to BIU V6 Commercial.

View out – rooms used for security or other critical functions - KBCN1040

The View out criteria are not applicable to rooms containing security or critical systems or sensitive material, such as CCTV monitoring rooms. Where it can be demonstrated that the presence of compliant windows would compromise a critical function of the space, the criteria can be considered not applicable.

19-Feb-2025 - Scheme applicability updated.
06-Mar-2018 - Published.

Zoning and occupant control – access to lighting controls - KBCN00032

The relevant areas for the criteria apply only to areas where users are expected to have control. For instance, this means that areas intended for the general public, or a shop floor would not be expected to have lighting controls. The general principle which applies to user access to general environmental controls (heating, cooling, ventilation) may also apply to access to lighting controls. See KBCN0170. However, the the exact approach may differ between the two types of systems and assessor judgement must be used to determine compliance. In all cases zoning is required in all areas of the asset where specified in the assessment criteria. Please refer to the specific requirements of the applicable BREEAM standard to interpret this guidance appropriately.

14-Dec-2022 - KBCN applicability updated to include BIU. Wording updated. Link to KBCN0170 created.

Zoning and occupant control – PIR detection systems - KBCN0335

The aim of the Health & Wellbeing category is to recognise ways to benefit occupants through giving them control of their lighting environment. Without manual overrides, presence or absence detection lighting controls (such as PIR detection systems) are not compliant with the criteria. BREEAM recognises the energy efficiency benefits of detection systems in buildings through the Energy category. In some cases, the design team may have to prioritise one particular lighting strategy to the detriment of achieving a credit elsewhere.

17 09 2024 Updated to apply to BIU Part 1 - Lighting Controls
28 04 2021 Wording amended to include absence detection systems.
18 09 2017 Wording amended to clarify the meaning.

Zoning and occupant control – whiteboards and display screens - KBCN1433

Whiteboards and display screens in dedicated teaching or presentation spaces require separate zoning and control for lighting, as specified in the criteria. Lighting around whiteboards and display screens which are typically found in general office areas, meeting rooms, or in other generic spaces do not require separate zoning and control to meet the criteria. In such cases, the assessor should provide justification. Whiteboards and display screens in dedicated teaching / presentation spaces are likely to be used frequently, and require appropriate zoning and control. An increasing number of offices and meeting rooms now include display screens - however separate zoning and control may not be appropriate.

In-Use / BIU International Commercial V6 / Part 1 /

01 - Health and wellbeing