01 - Management - BREEAM Knowledge Base

Changes to CCS – May 2026 – For BREEAM V7 - KBCN1873

In response to the 2026 update to the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS), the equivalent CCS score requirements for achieving credits are set out in the orange columns of the table below. Credits will be awarded based on the site’s average performance across all visits, as reported on the final certificate. Where a project has received site inspections under both the previous and updated versions of the CCS scheme, the higher score may be used to determine credit achievement. For example, where a project achieved an Excellent rating under the 2022 CCS scheme but a Very Good rating under the 2026 CCS scheme, the higher (Excellent) rating can be used. This approach ensures that projects are not disadvantaged during the transition between CCS versions. Whilst the platform is being updated to include the new CCS percentage scores within the question drop-downs, please select the equivalent CCS 2022 Scheme score to award credits.

ERRATUM – Minimum standards Table 2.3 – Man04 - KBCN1832

The minimum standard for a very good rating within BREEAM issue Man04 Commissioning and handover, should refer to Criterion 11 and not criterion 12. The updated text can be found below:

Technical and non-technical building user guide written. Criterion 11 (Handover)

01-Apr-2026 Technical manual will be updated accordingly in the next reissue

GN54 Responsible construction management – BREEAM V7 - KBCN1752

Latest version: v0.0, July 2025 Guidance Note 54 (GN54) provides information on achieving the responsible construction management requirements in Man 03 in BREEAM V7. It has two parts:

Part 1 lists the requirements that must be met to achieve credits for responsible construction management in BREEAM V7.
Part 2 provides a list of the schemes or tools that have been evaluated by BREEAM and can contribute to the achievement of one or more credits for responsible construction management.

This guidance note only applies to BREEAM V7. There is a separate guidance note for earlier versions of BREEAM UK NC and UKNCR (see Guidance Note 33). Download Guidance Note 54 View all Guidance Notes on BREEAM Projects (licensed assessors only)

LCC – Competent person or Suitably Qualified Cost Consultant (SQCC) - KBCN1803

The definition of a competent person, or SQCC as named within HQM or BREEAM New Construction Residential, has been updated to provide further clarification and is now defined as set out below: An individual achieving all the following items can be considered to be ‘suitably qualified’ for the purpose of completing the LCC credits:

Holds a recognised qualification for undertaking life cycle costing studies and/or a degree/postgraduate diploma or equivalent qualification in quantity surveying, construction economics or other construction-related subject.
Has acquired substantial expertise through a minimum of three years relevant experience (within the last five years). The experience must clearly demonstrate a practical understanding of life cycle costing in construction and the built environment and show an ability to identify and demonstrate cost and performance enhancement measures.
Is not professionally connected to a single manufacturer

A CV should be provided demonstrating their experience and knowledge against the above requirements. Note for Non-Domestic New Construction V7: The intention of the above is to provide clearer guidelines for assessors on who would be considered a suitable professional to carry out LCC option appraisals. For New Construction V7.0, flexibility may be applied, and the definition can be considered to be met where point 3 and either point 1 or 2 of the above is demonstrated. In addition, where it can be demonstrated that the LCC consultant was appointed prior to the release of KBCN1803 (18.10.2025), and that appointment was made based on the assessor’s professional judgement of what constitutes ‘recognised qualification’ and/or ‘substantial expertise’ at that time, similar flexibility may be applied. In such cases, sufficient justification and supporting evidence (e.g. CV and rationale for appointment) must be provided to demonstrate that the consultant was reasonably considered competent in line with the intent of the criteria at the time of appointment. The definition will be updated in the next release of the technical manual (V7.1); therefore, any assessments under New Construction V7.1 and subsequent versions will need to meet all three requirements, and no such flexibility will apply.

26 May 2026: Note added regarding application against NC V7.

Legally harvested and traded timber – Examples - KBCN0956

The following examples are considered compliant for BREEAM: Legally harvested:

Evidence of compliance with the UK government Timber Procurement Policy (see here, timber bought inside the UK only)
FSC, PEFC, SFI or GiB certification
Evidence of compliance with the EUTR (timber bought inside the EU only)
Risk assessment/due diligence documentation demonstrating a low risk of non-compliance with the ‘legally harvested’ requirements given in the manual.

Legally traded:

Evidence of compliance with the UK government Timber Procurement Policy (see here, timber bought inside the UK only)
FSC, PEFC, SFI or GiB certification
Risk assessment/due diligence documentation demonstrating a low risk of non-compliance with the ‘legally traded’ requirements given in the manual.

04-Dec-2025 - Examples updated to include Grown in Britain (GiB) certification. Previous reference to 'CPET' clarified as 'UK government Timber Procurement Policy'.
KBCN applied more widely to all relevant scheme issues in BREEAM and HQM

Meeting the minimum standard requirement – compliance when chain of custody is broken - KBCN1816

Where there is a broken chain in the last link between the purchase and delivery of certified timber from the supplier and the forwarding distribution of the timber to the site under assessment, such as where the timber has been delivered to a subcontractor or fabricator’s premises instead of direct to site (e.g. as part of a bulk order or where limited storage is available on site), compliance can still be achieved if a documented risk assessment confirms that there is low risk of mixing or substitution of certified and non-certified timber. Ways to demonstrate compliance: A. Verification that the subcontractor or fabricator only purchases and uses certified timber. There must be robust mechanisms in place to verify that all timber materials purchased and delivered originate from sustainably managed sources. This includes maintaining documented timber procurement policies and procedures that mandate certified timber orders and delivery checks. Comprehensive supplier details should be readily accessible for review upon request to demonstrate that all timber is certified. B. Where non-certified timber is handled/stored or sourced, that there are robust control measures in place to prevent any substitution or mixing of certified and non-certified timber at every stage of the process. Documentation demonstrating compliance should be maintained and made available upon request. Examples of appropriate control measures are listed below:

Control	Evidence required
Purchasing records	All purchase orders, requisition notes, and contracts must explicitly specify the product details and confirm that materials are to originate from legal and sustainable sources.
Segregated storage of timber	Site layout map, stock control processes and records to confirm that certified timber is stored away from non-certified timber.
Segregated delivery of timber to site	- All timber must be thoroughly inspected and verified before shipment to confirm that it is correctly marked/labelled as FSC/PEFC-certified. - Delivery notes must be accurately maintained. - A second-party verification process to check tickets and stock, must be carried out upon site delivery to confirm certified status of timber.
Documentation	Comprehensive documentation must enable independent assessors to trace any timber back to its sustainable source. This includes maintaining purchase records, goods-inward notices, stock records, and sales documentation such as orders and invoices.

The above is guidance and should not replace any local or national requirements for the sourcing of legally traded and harvested timber.

1 June 2026 - Updated to apply to UK New Construction and RFO Schemes

New Construction / UK / V7 /

01 - Management