02 - Social and Economic Well-Being - BREEAM Knowledge Base

Compliant attenuated noise levels - KBCN00047

BS 4142 noise level requirements can be used to demonstrate compliance provided the best practice testing methodologies for noise attenuation outlined in BS 7445 are followed.

Erratum – Criterion 9 – Indoor ambient noise - KBCN1569

The wording of criterion 9 is incorrect and should read as follows: 9. The developer commits to achieve indoor ambient noise levels in buildings and, where appropriate, external noise levels 5dB (or a meaningful and reasonable dB) below the “reasonable” targets set out in BS8233 or other appropriate good practice standards or regulations. This will be corrected in the next reissue of the technical manual.

Minimum Space Standards in housing - KBCN1005

The UK Technical Housing Standards – Nationally Described Space Standards (NDSS) is the UK Government’s Space Standard and it replaces all the various space standards used by different local authorities. Conformance with the NDSS is sufficient to demonstrate compliance with minimum Space standards in all housing in the development.

Suitably Qualified Acoustician – Associate membership of the Institute of Acoustics - KBCN00064

Associate membership of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) can be considered to demonstrate that the individual is a member of an appropriate professional body. This supersedes previous guidance on this matter, which has been updated following confirmation from the IOA that ‘Associate members’ are bound by the same Members’ Code of Conduct as ‘Full members’.

06/06/2022 - BRE stance on this has been revised - Title also updated for clarity
13/01/2020 Wording clarified and confirmed applicability to Issue Pol 05

06/01/2020 Clarification that this applies to BREEAM UK NC2018

Temporary power solutions in noise impact assessments - KBCN0171

Plants such as standby generators that are only used temporarily are excluded from the noise impact assessment.

Timescales for management and maintenance responsibilities - KBCN0370

Where there are requirements for management and maintenance outputs or activities these should, as a minimum, cover a five year period following occupation of the development for the phase of development being assessed. This timeframe applies to the following management and maintenance activities:

allocating responsibilities for management and maintenance
plans or strategies
monitoring and reporting processes

Management and maintenance activities are often fundamental in ensuring that the original sustainability measure or approach is successful over the long term.

[KBCN withdrawn] ~ Flood risk – Environment Agency (EA) confirm the site is in ‘low flood risk’ area This KBCN has been withdrawn and is no longer valid. This is because its content was created on the basis of a very specific case and should not be applied generally. EA confirmation is no more robust or detailed than reference to flood maps, which are not in themselves compliant without a FRA.

KBCN withdrawn on 17/03/17:

If the EA have confirmed, in writing, that the site has a low flood risk and that a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) is not required then this is acceptable and the two credits can be awarded. The EA's written confirmation is a sufficient indication that an appropriate level of flood risk assessment has been completed. Please note that the use of the EA flood maps without this additional confirmation is not acceptable.