The complexities of applying BREEAM to building services design

Applying BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) to building services design can involve several complexities due to its comprehensive and multidisciplinary nature. BREEAM is a performance-based assessment method for buildings that considers a wide range of environmental impacts, from energy and water use to materials, indoor environmental quality, and more. When integrating BREEAM into building services design, here are the key complexities:

1. Comprehensive Knowledge Requirement

• Interdisciplinary Understanding: Building services design requires collaboration between various engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and environmental engineers. BREEAM requires an understanding of how these systems interact and impact the overall building's environmental performance.

• Technical and Regulatory Knowledge: BREEAM standards and credits are continuously evolving to reflect advancements in sustainable design, and staying updated with these changes can be complex. Professionals need to be well-versed in both BREEAM’s criteria and the relevant local building regulations.

  
  

2. Energy Efficiency and Performance

• Energy Modeling: BREEAM gives significant weight to energy efficiency and performance in buildings. Achieving optimal energy performance requires advanced energy modeling and simulation tools, which can be time-consuming and complex, especially when balancing the competing requirements of energy use and indoor comfort.

• HVAC Systems: Designing efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that reduce energy consumption while meeting thermal comfort standards can be difficult. Systems must be optimized for low energy use, but the complexity of integrating renewable energy solutions or ensuring airtightness may affect design flexibility.

• Lighting and Electrical Systems: Low-energy lighting and electrical systems must be designed to meet BREEAM’s energy performance standards. This can be challenging, particularly when considering lifecycle costs and ensuring occupant comfort with efficient lighting systems.

  
  

3. Sustainable Materials and Resource Use

• Material Selection: BREEAM requires the selection of environmentally responsible materials with low embodied carbon and impact on natural resources. This means designers must source sustainable materials that meet specific environmental criteria, which can be challenging when considering the performance of building services like piping, wiring, and insulation.

• Water Efficiency: Water conservation is another crucial area for BREEAM credits. Design must ensure the efficiency of water use through systems such as low-flow fixtures, water-saving technologies, and rainwater harvesting. Balancing these requirements with functionality, particularly in complex systems like plumbing or irrigation, is intricate.

  
  

4. Indoor Environmental Quality

• Air Quality and Ventilation: To achieve a high BREEAM rating, ensuring good indoor air quality is essential. Building services like HVAC systems need to be designed to provide adequate ventilation without compromising energy efficiency. This requires balancing the need for fresh air with the need to limit energy consumption, which is often challenging.

• Daylighting and Acoustic Performance: Achieving optimal levels of natural daylight and managing sound quality through effective building services design is necessary for indoor environmental quality. Ensuring these aspects meet BREEAM's standards while still considering aesthetic and functional requirements can complicate the design process.

  
  

5. Complex Documentation and Monitoring

• Data Collection and Documentation: Achieving BREEAM certification requires thorough documentation to prove compliance with environmental standards. This involves collecting data from different building systems (e.g., energy consumption, waste management, water use) and documenting the performance of these systems against BREEAM's criteria.

• Ongoing Monitoring: After construction, many of the BREEAM credits require performance monitoring to ensure that the building continues to operate efficiently. This can involve integrating Building Management Systems (BMS) for energy management and performance tracking, which adds another layer of complexity to the building services design.

  
  

6. Cost and Feasibility

• Balancing Sustainability and Budget: Sustainable building services can often come with higher upfront costs, whether through the adoption of advanced technologies or sustainable materials. BREEAM may require investment in energy-efficient systems, renewable technologies, and waste management practices that increase the initial capital expenditure, making it difficult to balance sustainability goals with budgetary constraints.

• Lifecycle Costs and Payback: Some BREEAM credits are linked to lifecycle costing, which means the long-term costs of building services need to be calculated, including maintenance, operational costs, and energy savings. Designing systems that are cost-effective in the long term while achieving BREEAM goals can be complex, especially when dealing with novel technologies or untested solutions.

  
  

7. Integration of Renewable Energy Systems

• Renewable Energy Integration: BREEAM places emphasis on reducing the carbon footprint of buildings, and as such, the integration of renewable energy systems (such as solar panels, wind turbines, or biomass systems) is often required. Designing these systems to complement the building’s services, meet energy demands, and align with BREEAM standards presents challenges, particularly in terms of technical integration and financial feasibility.

  
  

8. Commissioning and Post-Occupancy Evaluation

• Commissioning: For BREEAM certification, building services must be commissioned properly to ensure all systems operate as intended. This involves extensive testing of HVAC, lighting, plumbing, and energy management systems, ensuring everything meets performance standards.

• Post-Occupancy Evaluation: BREEAM emphasizes the importance of monitoring building performance post-occupancy. Building services design must allow for easy monitoring and adjustments, which can be challenging in complex systems. Integrating data collection and adaptive management strategies into building services design is crucial for continued compliance with BREEAM criteria.

  
  

9. Innovation and Technological Integration

• New Technologies: Incorporating innovative technologies, such as smart building systems, energy storage, or advanced water treatment systems, may be required to achieve high BREEAM ratings. However, these technologies can increase the complexity of the building services design and may require specialized knowledge to integrate them effectively.

• Adapting to Changes in Standards: BREEAM standards evolve frequently, meaning that new technologies and innovations may have to be adopted to meet the updated criteria. Staying current with these changes and incorporating them into the building services design process can be challenging.

  
  

Conclusion

Incorporating BREEAM into building services design is a multifaceted challenge that involves balancing sustainability with practicality, functionality, and cost. The complexities span across energy efficiency, water conservation, material selection, indoor air quality, and post-occupancy monitoring. However, achieving BREEAM certification can significantly enhance a building's environmental performance, reduce its carbon footprint, and create a more sustainable environment for occupants. The key to success lies in effective planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and staying updated with evolving BREEAM standards.