00 - General

Asset classification – co-living developments - KBCN1568

This guidance is intended as a general reference only. Each co-living development will include a different combination of residential accommodation and managed communal spaces. Assessors must apply professional judgement to determine the most appropriate asset classification. Typical characteristics of co-living developments Developments within these sectors typically include the following characteristics:

• Institutional ownership and professional management Purpose built for rental as the primary function, rather than individual sale, and owned by a single entity with professional property management in place.
• Self-contained, functional units Residential apartments with private kitchens and bathrooms.
• Managed communal facilities Extensive shared amenities, such as fitness suites, co-working areas, communal terraces, and secure bicycle storage.
• Flexible, long-term tenancy Tenancy agreements are generally designed for longer term occupation, typically six to twelve months.

Classification guidance International assets: The following classifications are recommended:

Assessment Type	Recommended Classification
International New Construction, International Refurbishment and Fit-Out (will become Refurbishment and Fit-out from V7 onwards)	Residential institutions- long term Stay*
BREEAM In Use (BIU)	Residential

*Assessors should also consider how the asset is classified under relevant local building regulations to support the interpretation of Residential Institution. UK NC assets (KBCN1225, provides additional clarification): Using Building Regulations classifications as a guide

• Part L, Volume 1 (Dwellings): Classified as Residential, covered under UKNCR (formerly known as HQM).
• Part L, Volume 2 (Buildings other than dwellings): Classified as a Residential Institution, covered under UK New Construction.

17-Jun-2026 - Guidance revised and updated for clarity

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BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V 7 – FAQs - KBCN1891

The FAQ webpage provides clarification and guidance on aspects of BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out Commercial Version 7 (RFO V7). It is intended to address questions and highlight key changes from previous versions. Further guidance is provided within the published technical manual, and this will be supplemented by Knowledge Base Compliance Notes (KBCNs). To view the list of FAQs, please refer to the RFO Version 7 FAQs webpage

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Erratum – Part new-build, part refurbishment projects - KBCN1903

This supersedes the guidance in:

• BREEAM Refurbishment Commercial V7.0
• BREEAM International New Construction V 7.0
• BREEAM UK New Construction V 7.0

Where the new-build area is < 50% of the project gross internal area:

• BREEAM Refurbishment can be used.
• The scope of the assessment for the new-build element must align with the Parts selected for assessment, which must include Part 1.

Where the new-build area is ≥ 50% of the project gross internal area:

• A single BREEAM Refurbishment assessment is not appropriate.
• RFO-NC Bespoke assessments are no longer available.

The options are:

1. Separate BREEAM Refurbishment and BREEAM New Construction assessments Two separate certificates will be issued to indicate the performance of the new-build and refurbishment areas respectively.
2. BREEAM New Construction A single New Construction assessment can be used for the whole development, regardless of the percentage of new-build area. Both the new-build and refurbished areas must be assessed against the more challenging New Construction criteria.

Definition Project gross internal area – The combined gross internal area of the refurbishment and the new build

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GN20 Assessing mixed-use and multiple buildings – BREEAM V7 - KBCN0717

Latest version: v1.1, July 2026 Guidance Note 20 (GN20) provides information to help BREEAM Assessors formulate an assessment strategy for mixed-use developments, assets that include different levels of fit out, and for multiple buildings or units on the same site using BREEAM V7. This guidance note only applies to BREEAM V7. There is a separate guidance note for earlier versions of BREEAM NC and RFO (see Guidance Note 10). Download Guidance Note 20 View all Guidance Notes on BREEAM Projects (licensed assessors only)

15-Jul-2026 - Updated version released (v1.1)

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Version of ASL to submit to QA - KBCN1892

The version of the ASL that was current at the time of registration, or a more recent version, must be submitted. An older version must not be used. For a post-construction assessment, the registration date for the design stage of the assessment must be considered.

• Version 2 - July 2026

Please indicate the version of the ASL that has been submitted to QA, either in the name of the document or in the assessment report. Please be aware that the upload dates (stated beneath each ASL file on BREEAM Projects) may differ from those above. Please ensure you refer to the above version date.

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