BREEAM Technical Authoring Explained

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is operated by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) from which it takes its name. The method is a tool for assessing, rating and certifying the sustainability of a building. Study categories evaluate a range of environmental issues affected by the building structure including its energy and water use, health and wellbeing factors, pollution and transport impacts, the materials involved in construction, the waste generated, and the development’s ecology and management processes. Buildings are rated and certified as a range of 'Pass', 'Good', 'Very Good', 'Excellent' and 'Outstanding'.

BREEAM is often a stipulation of planning conditions for the development to proceed. For many project schemes, the development is mandated to achieve a particular BREEAM rating in order to gain planning approval. To do so, developers and their project teams use the scheme throughout the design and procurement process to measure, evaluate, improve and detail the performance of the building.

As part of the BREEAM accreditation process, a Building User Guide is prepared for the building user and provided to them following construction. COGNICA are experts in providing these guides, tailored to the specific needs of the building and its users. Whether written to the 2014 or 2018 BREEAM design standards, the guide provides information on the environmental strategy, use of heating, lighting and other building services, access and security procedures, safety and emergency information, plus local transport facilities and local amenity details.

The Building User Guide helps to reduce a building’s energy use and provides cost savings through enabling the effective use of the building and its systems. Written as an easy to understand point of reference, COGNICA produce the manuals in a format that is tailored to suit both technical and non-technical readers, giving information on the building that is easily accessible and promotes the use of the building in an efficient way.

Several hundred guides have been produced by our experienced team of technical authors over the years, throughout the length and breadth of the UK. Contact Us now for a free no obligation quote to find out how we can meet and exceed your requirements.