06 - Resilience - BREEAM Knowledge Base

Alarm systems – Intent of Criterion 2 - KBCN1707

The intent of Criterion 2 is as follows: A documented plan is in place to ensure that when the alarm is triggered, whether due to a fire or security incident, a system fault or a false alarm, building staff and occupants understand what actions to take. This must include any necessary communication with ARC staff, emergency services and other building users. This clarification will be incorporated in the next update of the technical standard.

Evidence of no risk – Use of Approved Standards and Weightings List - KBCN0959

The current BREEAM International Non-Domestic New Construction Approved Standards and Weightings List (ASWL) can be used as evidence to demonstrate that a country has ‘no risk’ to all natural hazards apart from flooding (which is considered within POL 02 of BREEAM USA In-Use 2016 and Rsl 01 of BREEAM In-Use Version 6). Any country which has a weighting of 0% for Hazards within the current ASWL can provide this to BRE Global as evidence. As flooding is not included within the Hazard section of the ASWL, it must be evidenced separately. Therefore, in order to achieve maximum credits within MAT 05 or Rsl 03, the assessment must also provide evidence that the asset is in a ‘low or zero flood risk area’ under the requirements of POL 02 (BREEAM USA In-Use 2016) or Rsl 01 (BREEAM In-Use Version 6). Note: BREEAM In-Use International Assessors who are not BREEAM International Non-Domestic New Construction Assessors, will be unable to access the ASWL. In this instance please send a technical query to BRE Global outlining the country which the asset is located, and BRE Global can confirm the current weighting for that country.

16-Aug-2016 Amended to clarify situations where there is no access to the ASWL
01-Oct-2022 Updated to apply to BREEAM In-Use Version 6

Flood risk – use of flood maps only in FRA - KBCN1524

Answer option B (Commercial) or C (Residential) Where an assessment is considering flooding from rivers and seas only and:

There are local or national flood maps available covering these sources of flooding.
The maps are accurate, up to date, and have sufficient detail to clearly identify flood risk for the asset.
The maps are approved by local or national government, and based on robust data.

It is acceptable for the flood risk assessment to be carried out by a relevant member of the team. It does not require a competent individual (see manual definition) to do this. Most sources of flooding are site-specific and require specialist input and calculation to quantify. However, flood maps meeting the criteria above can provide an acceptable level of assurance of overall flood risk from rivers or seas without the need to engage a specialist. Answer option E (Commercial) or F (Residential) Where the risk of flooding is medium or high, flood mitigation measures are required (criterion 3). These mitigation measures must be defined by either:

A local authority (the measures must be relevant to the asset).
Or a competent individual.

The FRA can still be produced by a relevant member of the team. Exemplary credit This option is only available if a site-specific FRA was carried out by a competent individual, and cannot be based only on flood maps that give an allowance for climate change. Example scenarios [accordion] [accordion_block title="Low / zero flood risk"] National flood maps cover flooding from rivers and seas. The flood risk from these sources is zero / low. The compliant FRA can be produced by a relevant member of the team. [/accordion_block] [accordion_block title="Medium / high flood risk"] National flood maps cover flooding from rivers and seas. The flood risk from these sources is medium / high. Flood mitigation measures are required. The local authority provides some general flood mitigation measures for the area, but these are not relevant to the assessed asset. Instead, a competent individual is consulted on relevant flood mitigation measures for the asset - their recommendations are recorded in the FRA. The compliant FRA can be produced by a relevant member of the team. [/accordion_block] [/accordion]

Intruder alarm systems – apartment buildings or similar - KBCN1572

Scope The scope of this KBCN applies to any residential asset that:

Is comprised of multiple self-contained dwellings within a single building envelope, and
Share common entrance(s) and circulation.

A typical example is an apartment building. Principle The asset as a whole is protected by systems that are fit for purpose to ensure the safety and security of the asset, its users and their property Implementation Security requirements for apartment buildings will vary greatly depending on factors such as:

Scale and configuration.
Access strategy.
Local context.
Which areas are under building management control.

Because of this, BREEAM cannot provide specific guidance on how intruder alarms and access control are configured to meet the principle. It is the role of the assessor and a competent third party (for instance, this can be a 'competent person' as defined in Rsl 10) to evidence how this principle is achieved for the asset as a whole. Evidence from a compliant security risk assessment carried out in line with Rsl 10 can be used to support this issue. Management-based solutions As a Part 1 issue, this intent must be achieved by systems which are intrinsic to the asset. Management-based solutions (such as a concierge service, or security guards) cannot be used to achieve answer E (intruder alarm systems). Answer F (alarm receiving centre) can only be achieved with a system that complies with Answer E.

Intruder alarms – Requirement for these to be audible when activated - KBCN1597

Where it is justified by the security consultant, project team or building management that a 'silent' intruder alarm system is more suited to the asset’s overall security strategy, this can be considered as meeting the Definition in our guidance.

Risk assessment – flooding is the only natural hazard - KBCN1552

Where:

Flooding is the only natural hazard identified and,
The flood risk assessment (FRA) from Rsl 01 is used as evidence for this issue,

then Answer D ('the asset is in an area where no risks exist') is only available where the FRA shows zero or low flood risk from all sources of flooding. Assessing flood risk from rivers and seas only does not cover all risks.