05 - Resources - BREEAM Knowledge Base

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.

Applicability – tenanted assets with common areas - KBCN1593

Principle

Waste generated in common areas is the responsibility of building management.
Waste generated in tenanted areas is the responsibility of the tenant.
The asset as a whole meets the aim and criteria of the issue.

Common areas Common areas must include:

Bins for general waste AND
Bins for recycable waste. Segregated or commingled.

Mixing recyclable and non-recyclable waste in one bin is not acceptable, even if recyclable content is extracted later from the mixed waste. If the recyclable waste is commingled, the waste collector demonstrates that they separate commingled waste in the minimum number of waste streams defined in the methodology.

Tenant or building management controlled areas The issue criteria can be met through multiple storage areas, or a central store. Where there are multiple storage areas, the space requirements for Answer C or D can be calculated based on the combined area of all storage areas. The waste storage area requirements for tenants and building management must be calculated separately as stated in the manual.

Condition survey – refurbishment in the last 5 years - KBCN1522

Where an asset has been refurbished, refurbished elements listed in criterion 2 can be excluded from the condition survey if:

The refurbishment was carried out less than 5 years ago.
The refurbishment addressed any and all major defects with the element.
The records of the refurbishment allow asset management to effectively maintain that element.

The intent of Rsc 01 is to give asset management a complete understanding of the condition of the asset. The requirement for 5 years is to make sure that this information is relatively up-to-date, and allows effective maintenance of the asset and management of any minor defects. All example scenarios below assume that the refurbishment was carried out less than 5 years ago. Any refurbishment works carried out more than 5 years ago must follow the full criteria of this issue. [accordion] [accordion_block title="Scenario 1"] A major refurbishment to a Commercial asset covered and effectively documented refurbishment to: a. Structure. b. Mechanical components. c. Electrical components. d. Plumbing. e. Fire protection. It did not cover: f. Communications and life safety systems. g. Health and safety conditions. All major defects were resolved. Credits for the condition survey, and for rectifying defects are awarded based on elements f. and g. only. [/accordion_block][accordion_block title="Scenario 2"] A major refurbishment has covered and documented all items in criterion 2. All major defects were resolved, but there are some outstanding minor defects that are being monitored and maintained by asset management. BIU V6: This issue is filtered out as per criterion 1. BIU 2015: The relevant credits are awarded. Minor defects are common after major building or refurbishment works, and typical building contracts provide a period for the resolution of minor defects. As long as major defects are resolved by the refurbishment, and asset management are aware of and managing minor defects, these items can be excluded from the condition survey. [/accordion_block][accordion_block title="Scenario 3"] A major refurbishment covered all elements, but there is no record of the refurbishment of mechanical and electrical components. A condition survey covering these items is required. Relevant credits are awarded for surveying and addressing any defects for these elements. [/accordion_block] [/accordion]

Erratum – V6.0.0 – Functional adaptation strategy study – Timing - KBCN1706

The functional adaptation strategy study can be carried out during the operational life of the asset. There is no requirement for this study to have been done when the asset was designed. It is unreasonable to expect asset operators (some of whom have assumed management after the asset was built) to retrospectively provide an adaptation strategy during the design process. The following evidence requirement is incorrect and will be amended in future revisions.

Off-site waste sorting / no dedicated on-site waste storage - KBCN0696

BREEAM assesses the dedicated space for recyclable waste storage. This must be a permanent structure on-site, or space in the asset. Where this space does not exist: For NC or RFO The aim of the issue is met by provide evidence covering all points 1-4:

A waste management plan which provides on-site storage between collections, adequately sized based on the frequency of collection.
An on-going waste recycling contract.
The typical recycling rates from the waste management company.
A permanent structure (or internal space) within the asset site boundary that can be converted to comply with all criteria requirements. Layout drawings must be provided showing how this space could be converted in future, including meeting all relevant criteria for: • User and vehicle access, • Area requirements for waste storage, • Appropriate size and number of containers for the expected waste streams, and • Space allowance for any additional waste processing requirements e.g. compactors, composting containers, water outlets etc.

This ensures that there is:

A robust off-site waste management strategy,
Proof of future convertibility for on-site waste storage.

For BIU The above approach for NC / RFO only applies to waste storage for construction fit-outs, which are temporary in nature. It does not apply to any other credits, and compliance cannot be met based on future commitments. This means that the above approach:

Does not apply to recyclable waste storage. Answers C + D | Rsc 02 | BIU Commercial V6.
Does apply to off-site sorting for construction waste arising from fit-out activities. Answer E. Only points 1-3 apply - a future commitment for permanent storage facility is not required.
Do not apply to the storage of reusable construction products Answer F.

For BIU, new storage areas will be recognised once they are completed and assessed in future certification cycles.

18-Nov-2024 - Requirements for BIU projects clarified relating to all answers in Rsc 02. Title clarified.
09-Feb-2024 - Requirements clarified. Applicability updated to include construction waste storage for BIU V6 Rsc 02.
17-Jan-2024 - Scheme applicability updated.
16-Apr-2018 - Wording clarified.

Operational waste – No managing organisation or no tenants on-site - KBCN1584

Principle If the asset as a whole meets the operational waste criteria, all relevant credits can be awarded. No tenants

Where there are no tenants and
Within the assessment boundary, the managing organisation meets the operational waste criteria.

Answers C and D can be awarded. No managing organisation

Where there is no on-site managing organisation and
Within the assessment boundary, all tenants meet the operational waste criteria.

Answers C and D can be awarded.

06-Apr-2023 - Updated to cover both situations described above.

Resources inventory – Scope - KBCN1667

The inventory only needs to include resources that belong to the asset owner (or those which the asset owner or manger is responsible for maintaining or replacing). It does not need to included tenant-owned fittings and furnishings

Waste streams – clarification - KBCN1526

Scope The focus of the criteria is on recyclable materials only. Any facilities / spaces for managing recyclable materials must be in addition to spaces / facilities for managing general waste. Definition “Waste streams are flows of specific waste, from its source through to recovery, recycling or disposal. Waste streams can be divided into two broad types:

Streams made of materials (such as metals or plastics).
Streams made of certain products (such as electronic waste or end-of-life vehicles).”

Source For BREEAM, a waste stream is a material / product with its own recycling process. This means each stream needs to be separated from other materials before it can be effectively processed into new materials / products. This separation can happen in the asset, or (in the case of co-mingled waste) after collection from the asset. Residential waste streams In most cases, this is defined by how it will be how be sorted and collected by municipal waste authorities. Where no local guidance exists, the list below may be used as a guide. Recyclable waste streams (answer option C in BREEAM USA In-Use Residential V6):

Paper and cardboard.
Glass.
Plastics.
Metals.
Wood and wood-based products.
Oils.
Batteries.
Electrical and electronic equipment.

Compostable / recyclable waste streams (answer option D in BREEAM USA In-Use Residential V6):

Food waste.
Garden waste.

Commercial waste streams Commercial assets will generate specialised waste streams specific to the asset's function. These are typically:

Generated consistently, and in large volumes.
Are specifically separated for recycling.

In these cases, waste streams such as metals, plastics and paper / cardboard may be sub-divided into specialised waste streams where they meet the above. Example scenarios [accordion] [accordion_block title="Scope"] A vehicle repair workshop generates the following waste streams:

Metals.
Paper / cardboard.
Plastics.
Engine oils.
General waste.

The engine oils and general waste cannot be re-processed into other usable materials. Only 3 recyclable waste streams can be considered for BREEAM assessment. [/accordion_block] [accordion_block title="Residential"] The local authority collects co-mingled waste for the asset. This waste mixes together:

Metals.
Paper and cardboard.
Plastics.

This co-mingled waste can be counted as 3 waste streams. [/accordion_block] [accordion_block title="Commercial"] A supermarket consistently generates large quantities of cardboard packaging. This cardboard forms a significant portion of recycable waste generation. It is baled up and collected separately by a specialised waste contractor. In this case, cardboard waste can be considered a separate waste stream from paper. [/accordion_block] [/accordion]

18-Jan-2024 - Clarified list of residential waste streams (separated compostable waste streams and added relevant answer options).

In-Use / USA Commercial V6 / Part 1 /

05 - Resources