Part 2

Acoustic sample testing approach – calculation procedure - KBCN1675

The methodology sets out a sample testing approach which can be applied to group rooms into those of similar room type or performance requirement category or construction type. Where rooms are grouped to the same use and construction for instance, only 1 in 4 pairs of adjacent rooms would need to be tested, and the results would be representative of all similar rooms e.g. where there are 12 pairs of similar offices and 3 are tested and are compliant, all 12 would be deemed compliant (or 100%). Therefore, it is not a requirement to test 80% of the rooms to be 80% compliant for those projects where a sampling approach can be applied.

Applicability – Management – common areas only assessment - KBCN1559

Principle In an assessment of common areas only, building management are still responsible for the common welfare all users and for policies governing the overall asset. Evidence For assessments of common and tenanted areas, the scope of the manual states: “The assessment must include evidence of a representative sample of the tenants to ensure that central management practices are in place and fully implemented in line with the assessment criteria.” For assessments of common areas only, evidence is required from building management only.

Issue	Scope of issue
Part 2
Man 01 Building user guide	No change to the criteria or evidence requirements. A building user guide is required regardless of scope.
Man 02 Management engagement and feedback	No change to the criteria or evidence requirements. Engagement with building users is required regardless of scope.
Man 03 Maintenance policies and procedures	Applies only to core systems which serve the common areas and are maintained by the building management. This includes any core systems which also serve tenanted areas (for instance, asset-wide ventilation systems) where this cannot be separated from tenanted space.
Man 04 Environmental policies and procedures	Applies to asset-wide environmental policies only. Answer D can apply to improvement targets for common areas only, where this can be separated from tenant targets.
Man 05 Green lease	Where there are tenants occupying the asset, this issue is not filtered out. Consideration of green contracts are within the control of building management regardless of scope.

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.

Applicability – Resources – common areas only assessment - KBCN1557

In an assessment of common areas only - the scope of some issues are modified in the table below. Answers which are unavailable cannot be filtered out, and cannot be awarded by default.

Issue	Scope
Part 1
Rsc 02 Reuse and recycling facilities	Answers D and E are only available if occupants store waste in a central waste storage facility within the assessed common area. All other credits are available.
Part 2
Rsc 06 Optimising resource use, reuse, and recycling	Answer D is only available if occupants store waste in a central waste storage facility within the assessed common area. All other credits are available.

Apportioning Water Consumption – common areas only assessment - KBCN1679

For assets where only the common areas are being assessed, the water consumption targets and actual figures reported should be based on the water used within the assessed areas only. Therefore, where metering is provided for the whole building consumption and no separate metering of common areas is available, a logical assessment of the sanitary (and other) water use and distribution should be carried out so that the figures are based on an accurate estimation of water usage within the common areas. Apportioning must not be based purely on the percentage of floor area. A logical assessment could be based, for example, on the percentage of water using equipment installed, such as the proportion of toilets/taps/dishwashers etc within the scope of the assessment against those outside of the scope. Justification and calculations should be provided within the evidence to support the reported figures.

Ene 24 methodology - KBCN1613

This issue is scored based on % improvement relative to the BIU V6 carbon benchmark and average annual improvement across the reporting periods. [accordion] [accordion_block title="BIU V6 carbon benchmark"] Standard CO2 emissions: the tailored benchmark of a UK asset. Climate adjusted CO2 emissions: the benchmark for International assets. It adjusts the UK benchmark to account for national and regional differences. Net CO2: the actual CO2 emissions of the asset. Annual reduction in CO2 emissions: the annual average % figure used to score credits in Ene 24. [/accordion_block] [/accordion] Example scenario An international BIU asset calculates the improvement in CO2 emissions across 2 reporting periods.

CO2 emissions benchmark = 50 kgCO2e/m2 per year.
01-Jan-2020 to 31-Dec-2020. CO2e emissions are 90 kgCO2e/m2 per year (1.8x the benchmark).
01-Jan-2023 to 31-Dec-2023. CO2e emissions are 60 kgCO2e/m2 per year (1.2x the benchmark).
Time between reporting periods: 3.0 years.

Calculation

Improvement over 3 years = 1.8 - 1.2 = 0.6x improvement vs benchmark.
0.6 = 60%
60% / 3.0 years = 20%

The asset demonstrates a 20% average annual improvement vs the benchmark. It scores 3 exemplary credits. How the calculation accounts for different reporting periods Most assessments will report on multiple fuels in each period.

Individual reporting periods for fuels may not align.
Reporting periods may not begin or end at the same time each year.

[accordion] [accordion_block title = "Calculating time between reporting periods"] Time between reporting periods is measured in days (this is converted to years in the final calculation). Time is measured from the middle of each reporting period. If more than one fuel is reported, the individual mid-dates for each fuel are combined through a weighting calculation. The mid-date is proportionally weighted towards fuels with larger associated CO2 emissions.

[/accordion_block] [accordion_block title = "Maximum time between reporting periods"] The maximum time between any reporting period is 1460 days (3 years 364 days) between:

The first recorded consumption data in the 1st period, and
The first recorded consumption data in the 2nd period.

These dates are not weighted by fuel consumption.

[/accordion_block] [/accordion] Additional notes

Erratum - Criterion 1. Assets where the 1st period was assessed under BIU 2015 must re-enter this consumption data into the BIU V6 Ene 24 calculator. This ensures a consistent calculation methodology for all BIU V6 assets.
The baseline for measuring improvement (1st period performance vs benchmark) are actual asset emissions, not the benchmark. Asset CO2e emissions can exceed the benchmark in both the 1st and 2nd periods to target credits in this issue.
The manual states that 3 years are required between periods (as this links to the BIU V6 certification cycle), however this is not a requirement for compliance. Assets can also target this issue where less than 3 years have passed (for instance after a mid-cycle certification). The calculator will adjust for the shorter gap between reporting periods.

Energy Consumption Reporting – common areas only assessment - KBCN1698

For assets where only the common areas are being assessed, the energy consumption targets and actual figures reported should be based on the energy within the assessed areas only. Please note that where the asset does not have consumption data which covers the assessment area only, the BREEAM In-Use International Energy Allocation Calculator should be used when completing the Management Performance Energy Category.

Energy consumption reporting – Link to Man 04 - KBCN1612

The link to meeting compliance with Man 04, outlined in Ene 23 Criterion 1 is incorrect and should be disregarded. Answer option D in Man 04 includes targets for Energy, Water and Waste. Whereas the intent of Ene 23 relates to targets for Energy only. This will be updated in the next reissue of the technical manual.

Erratum – [BIU V6 Rsl 06] – Incorrect evidence requirements for answers G – H - KBCN1696

Please note that the requirements for the report to include 'opportunities identified' and the 'key metrics' does not align with the criteria requirements. This can therefore be disregarded. This will be updated in the next reissue of the manual

Erratum – [BIU V6.0.0 Wat 14] – Incorrect evidence requirements - KBCN1695

The criterion 3 evidence requirement, "evidence of monitoring data" is incorrect and invalid. Assessments should not try to meet this requirement. Criterion 3 requires the water strategy to have senior management approval. This has no relation to monitoring water consumption, which is already addressed in Wat 13 Water consumption reporting. This error will be addressed in future updates.

LZC – Local regulations and private wire arrangements - KBCN1658

Where local regulations do not permit electricity generated by on-site renewables to be connected directly to the building, and where evidence of the relevant regulations is provided at QA, the requirement for a private wire arrangement can be waived.

On-site LZC – whole site shared connection - KBCN1424

To be recognised in BREEAM, the on-site Low and Zero Carbon (LZC) technology must have a direct physical connection to the assessed asset. OR Where the LZC technology is;

Located on the same site,
Is owned and managed by the same organization as the assessed building, and
Where it is impractical to physically connect the assessed building to the system,

It is acceptable to allocate the renewable energy generated proportionally as a calculation of the asset's predicted energy consumption compared to the total energy consumption of the whole site. To allocate renewable electricity by proportional consumption:

Obtain the total annual renewable electricity generated on-site.
Exclude all renewable electricity which has been exported to the grid.
Determine the respective electricity consumption of all assets on the whole site (predicted for new builds and measured for existing assets).

Where consumption data is missing, renewable electricity must not be allocated to the assessed asset. In this case, it is assumed that all electricity consumed is sourced from the grid.

17-Jan-2024 - Applicability BIU V6 Ene 13 removed, as this approach is not applicable to assessing the area of PV fitted.
21-Dec-2022 - Applicability to In-Use V6 confirmed.
24-Aug-2022 - Applicability to UKNC V6 confirmed.

Operational energy and water use during Covid-19 lockdown - KBCN1425

As we continue to adapt to and assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BREEAM team is seeking to ensure that the data underpinning BREEAM in Use certification accurately reflect typical operational performance. We appreciate that the full or partial lockdown conditions related to the pandemic may have had a significant impact on the performance of the asset particularly the operational energy and water consumption. We trust our assessors to use their professional judgement to determine the extent that operational energy and water consumption has been impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions. They must ensure that submitted consumption data is representative of consumption under normal conditions. Clients should work with their assessors if they are unsure how they should proceed. Assets are likely to have been affected by many different local lockdown scenarios so one approach to reporting consumption data is unlikely to apply to all situations. For example, normal consumption data is likely to be sufficient for assets that have only had a minor changes to their operations (e.g. two weeks), if the rest of the 12 month period has been unaffected. For assets that been more significantly affected (e.g. several months of reduced occupancy), it is likely that energy and water consumption data will need to be taken from a period of time before local lockdown restrictions came into force. In this scenario, the following approach can be used:

The consumption reported must cover the 12 months prior to the restrictions coming into force. The reported consumption would need to be validated against the year prior to the reporting period to provide assurance to the Assessor that it was in line with typical operations. Additional evidence and verification will be required for submission. The following sections should help clarify how this should work:

Normal BREEAM requirements

Consumption Reporting:

12 months prior to submission, validated against the evidence requirements

Evidence requirements:

Bills or other third-party evidence to support the consumption data reported for this period.

New requirements for this KBCN

Consumption Reporting:

12 months prior to the lockdown period validated against the 12-month period prior to the reporting period to confirm usage as “typical”

Evidence requirements:

Bills or other third-party evidence to support the consumption data reported for this period
Bills or other third-party evidence to support the consumption data in the validation period
A description of the changes that took place to the property’s operations due to COVID-19 and provide evidence of the circumstances

Example for a building submitting for certification in October 2020 subject to lockdown from March 2020:

Normal reporting period October 2019 – September 2020

Adjusted reporting period in line with this KBCN March 2019 – February 2020 Validation period: March 2018 – February 2019

This KBCN will remain in place but will be under review as we continue to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 and amend requirements as circumstances change. We will keep assessor informed of BREEAM In-Use users and assessors via further service announcements and other communication channels.

Procedures and plans for cleaning the interior of the asset – Scope of the requirements - KBCN1649

The criteria only apply to areas or systems for which the landlord is responsible for the cleaning arrangements. However, the landlord must provide written guidance to tenants on 'procedures and plans for cleaning the interior of the asset' that aligns with relevant aspects of Criterion 2. It is not a requirement that the landlord monitors or enforces this, however, in order to meet the intent of the criteria as far as possible, evidence must be provided that such guidance has been provided to all tenants. Note: This guidance is not intended to change the criteria, but rather to clarify the overall intent. The applicability of the requirements to tenanted areas is not stated in the technical manual. Therefore, if it can be demonstrated that an assessment has based compliance on landlord's/common areas only prior to the date of publication of this guidance, this will be accepted. Updated guidance on the scope of these requirements will be included in the technical manual at the next opportunity.

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.

Single tenant - KBCN1640

Where the assessment area is only occupied by a single tenant, the issue is not filtered out. All relevant credits apply. The criteria is designed to recognise efforts between the asset owner and tenants to coordinate sustainability policies and resource monitoring. This principle is not affected by having a single tenant, even if they might act in the role of a managing occupier.

Smoking policy – External areas - KBCN1680

The criteria do not require that the asset provide a designated external smoking area. The intent of Specific Note 1 is that the asset management encourage compliance with the no smoking policy by identifying areas where building users are not prohibited from smoking. However, where it is justified that no such areas can be identified within proximity of the asset, this requirement can be disregarded.

Table 29: Indoor ambient noise levels - KBCN1676

The indoor ambient noise level performance standards shown within the manual are currently incorrect and should read as below for the following listed functions:

Single occupancy office: ≤ 40 dB L_AeqT
Sound recording studios: ≤ 30 dB L_AeqT

Using water from natural underground sources to offset water consumption - KBCN00094

Water from natural underground sources (for instance aquifer water accessed via boreholes) cannot be used to offset:

NC / RFO: potable water consumption.
IU: utility supplied water consumption.

A significant amount of water used for public consumption is already drawn from aquifers. Private boreholes may be drawing water from the same sources as public utility companies.

27-Mar-2024 - Title and text updated to broaden definition. Scheme applicability updated.

Water consumption reporting – Link to Man 04 - KBCN1611

The link to meeting compliance with Man 04, outlined in Wat 13 Criterion 1 is incorrect and should be disregarded. Answer option D in Man 04 includes targets for Energy, Water and Waste. Whereas the intent of Wat 13 relates to targets for Water only. This will be updated in the next reissue of the technical manual.

Water strategy – Replacement and Schedule - KBCN1673

Replacement The intent is that there is a programme in place which identifies any planned refurbishments and confirms that, where relevant, the works will include upgrading high water-consuming fittings and appliances with low water-consuming equivalents. This does not require the systematic replacement of all fittings and appliances. However, it must also include a commitment to upgrading the efficiency of existing fittings and appliances when they reach the end of their service life. Schedule This may include specific fittings and appliances with low water consumption, or it can be based on a performance specification that these must meet, e.g. the flow rate or efficiency rating.

In-Use / BIU International Commercial V6 /