02 - Health and Wellbeing - BREEAM Knowledge Base

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 – 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.

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.

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