UKNC: Residential (HQM) / HQM beta / A Our Surroundings / A3 Safety and Resilience /

06 Flood Risk

Information correct as of 1stSeptember 2025. Please see kb.breeam.com for the latest compliance information.

Flood risk – Site situated across numerous flood zones - KBCN0532

Where a site is situated across more than one flood zone, the flood zone with the highest probability of flooding, i.e. the worst case scenario, must be considered for the purpose of the BREEAM assessment. An exception to this would be where the areas in the higher probability zone include only soft landscaping and it can be demonstrated that access to the building will be maintained in a flooding event. This is to ensure that the site has adequately managed the worst case scenario level of flood risk associated with the site's location. 
22/07/2022 Applicability to HQM One confirmed
07/03/2018 Updated to include circumstances where an exception may apply.

Flood Risk Assessment older than five years - KBCN1744

This sentence appears in the definition of 'Flood Risk Assessment': Where more than five years have passed since the FRA was carried out, evidence would be required to demonstrate that the basis of the FRA has not changed in that time. The requirement for evidence that the basis of the FRA has not changed where more than five years have passed is applicable only at Design Stage. It is not required at Post Construction Stage where a compliant FRA was undertaken at Design Stage and the development was carried out in accordance with that design.

FRA more than 5 years old - KBCN1580

Where more than five years have passed since the FRA was carried out, to be able to use the FRA in your assessment evidence would be required to demonstrate that the basis of the FRA has not changed in that time.
Information correct as of 1stSeptember 2025. Please see kb.breeam.com for the latest compliance information.