| Number of credits available | Minimum standards |
|---|---|
| Building type dependent | Yes (criterion 1 ) |
To recognise and encourage a healthy internal environment through the specification and installation of appropriate ventilation, equipment and finishes.
This issue is split into three parts:
The following is required to demonstrate compliance:
| 1 | Materials containing asbestos are prohibited from being specified and used within the building. |
| 2.a | Removal of contaminant sources |
| 2.b | Dilution and control of contaminant sources |
| 2.c | Procedures for pre-occupancy flush out |
| 2.d | Third party testing and analysis |
| 2.e | Maintaining indoor air quality in-use |
The building has been designed to minimise the concentration and recirculation of pollutants in the building as follows:
| 3 | Criterion 2 has been achieved. |
| 4 | Provide fresh air into the building in accordance with the criteria of the national best practice standard for ventilation. |
| 5 | The location of fresh air intakes are designed to minimise the entry of air pollutants into the building, as follows: |
| 5.a | In air-conditioned and mixed-mode buildings or spaces: |
| 5.a.i | The location of the building's air intakes and exhausts, in relation to each other and external sources of pollution, is designed in accordance with EN 13779:20071EN 13779:2007 Ventilation for non-residential buildings - Performance requirements for ventilation and room-conditioning systems Annex A2 (see CN3 for alternative methods of compliance). |
OR
| 5.a.ii | Where EN 13779:20072EN 13779:2007 Ventilation for non-residential buildings - Performance requirements for ventilation and room-conditioning systems Annex A2 is not followed, the building’s air intakes and exhausts are over 10m of horizontal distance apart and intakes are over 10m of horizontal distance from sources of external pollution. |
| 5.b | In naturally ventilated buildings or spaces: openable windows or ventilators are at least 10m of horizontal distance from sources of external pollution (including the location of any building related air exhausts). |
| 6 | Where present, HVAC systems must incorporate suitable filtration to minimise external air pollution, as defined in EN 13779:2007 Annex A3. |
| 7 | Areas of the building subject to large and unpredictable or variable occupancy patterns have carbon dioxide (CO₂) or air quality sensors specified and: |
| 7.a | In mechanically ventilated buildings or spaces: sensors are linked to the mechanical ventilation system and provide demand-controlled ventilation to the space |
| 7.b | In naturally ventilated buildings or spaces: sensors either have the ability to alert the building owner or manager when CO₂ levels exceed the recommended set point, or are linked to controls with the ability to adjust the quantity of fresh air, i.e. automatic opening windows or roof vents. |
| 8 | In countries where smoking within buildings is not prohibited by law, one of the following is specified: |
| 8.a | A smoking ban covering all public and staff areas of the building is implemented, and 'No Smoking' signs are located in appropriate areas clearly visible to all occupants (i.e. common areas, offices and building entrances) OR |
| 8.b | Where smoking is permitted in dedicated smoking rooms only and smoking is banned in all other areas with 'No Smoking' signs located in appropriate areas clearly visible to all occupants and where: |
| 8.b.i | Ventilation rates in the dedicated smoking room are in accordance with national best practice standards for ventilation |
| 8.b.ii | A separate ventilation system prevents recirculation within the room and the smoking room is separated from all other occupied areas by a lobby |
| 8.b.iii | Air intakes or exhausts or openable windows or ventilators are positioned to minimise recirculation of smoke (see criterion 5 ). |
| 9 | Criterion 2 has been achieved. |
| 10 | At least four of the five product types listed in Table 17 meet the emission limits, testing requirements and any additional requirements listed in Table 17 or refer to CN3.5. |
| 11 | Criterion 2 has been achieved. |
| 12 | The formaldehyde concentration in indoor air is measured post-construction (but pre-occupancy) and does not exceed 100µg/m³, averaged over 30 minutes3World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe. Selected pollutants: WHO guideline for indoor air quality Internet. 2010 cited 2015 Oct 26. Available from: www.who.int/indoorair/publications/9789289002134/en/. |
| 13 | The formaldehyde sampling and analysis is performed in accordance with ISO 16000-24ISO 16000-2:2006 Indoor air. Part 2: Sampling strategy for formaldehyde (2006). International Organization for Standardisation (ISO). and ISO 16000-35ISO 16000-3:2011 Indoor air. Part 3: Determination of formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds in indoor air and test chamber air - Active sampling method (2011). International Organization for Standardisation (ISO). . |
| 14 | The total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentration in indoor air is measured post-construction (but pre-occupancy) and does not exceed 300µg/m³, averaged over 8 hours with 6European Concerted Action on Indoor Air Quality and its Impact on Man – Report No. 11: Guidelines for Ventilation Requirements in Buildings (1992). Commission of the European Communities.. |
| 16 | Where levels are found to exceed these limits, the project team confirms the measures that have, or will be undertaken in accordance with the IAQ plan, to reduce the TVOC and formaldehyde levels to within the above limits. |
| 17 | The measured concentration levels of formaldehyde (µg/m³) and TVOC (µg/m³) are reported, via the BREEAM scoring and reporting tool, for the purpose of confirming criteria 12 to 15 . |
| 18 | The building ventilation strategy is designed to be flexible and adaptable to potential building occupant needs and climatic scenarios. This can be demonstrated as follows: |
| 18.a.i | The openable window area in each occupied space is equivalent to 5% of the gross internal floor area of that room or floor plate. For room or floor plates between 7m-15m depth, the openable window area must be on opposite sides and evenly distributed across the area to promote adequate cross-ventilation; OR |
| 18.a.ii | The design demonstrates that the natural ventilation strategy provides an adequate cross flow of air to maintain the required thermal comfort conditions and ventilation rates. |
For a strategy which does not rely on openable windows, or which has occupied spaces with a plan depth greater than 15m, the design must demonstrate that the ventilation strategy can provide adequate cross flow of air to maintain the required thermal comfort conditions and ventilation rates.
| 19 | The natural ventilation strategy is capable of providing at least two levels of user control on the supply of fresh air to the occupied space (see CN3.12 for further details). |
| 20 | Criterion 2 has been achieved. |
| 21 | At least four of the five product types listed in Table 18 meet the emission limits, testing requirements and any additional requirements listed in Table 18 |
| 22 | Criterion 2 has been achieved. |
| 23 | All product types meet the emission limits, testing requirements and any additional requirements listed in Table 18. |
Table 17: Emission criteria by product type
Table 18: Exemplary level emission criteria by product type
Product type (see CN7.2) | Emission limit | Additional requirement | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Formaldehyde | Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) | Total semi-volatile organic compounds (TSVOC) | Category 1A and 1B carcinogens | Testing requirement (see CN7.3 and CN7.4) | ||
Interior paints and coatings | ≤ 0.01 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.3 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.1 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.001 mg/m³ | or ISO 16000-9 or CEN/TS 16516 or CDPH Standard Method v1.1 | Meet VOC content limits (Table 19). Paints used in wet areas (e.g. bathrooms, kitchens, utility rooms) should protect against mould growth (see CN3.4). |
Wood-based products including wood flooring | ≤ 0.01 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.3 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.1 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.001 mg/m³ | ISO 16000-9 or CEN/TS 16516 or CDPH Standard Method v1.1 or EN 717-1 (formaldehyde emissions only)23EN 717-1:2004 Wood-based panels - Determination of formaldehyde release - Part 1: Formaldehyde emission by the chamber method (2004). European Committee for Standardization (CEN). | N/A |
Flooring materials (including floor levelling compounds and resin flooring) | ≤ 0.01 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.3 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.1 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.001 mg/m³ | ISO 10580 or ISO 16000-9 or CEN/TS 16516 or CDPH Standard Method v1.1 | N/A |
Ceiling, wall, and acoustic and thermal insulation materials | ≤ 0.01 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.3 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.1 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.001 mg/m³ | ISO 10580 or ISO 16000-9 or CEN/TS 16516 or CDPH Standard Method v1.1 | N/A |
Interior adhesives and sealants (including flooring adhesives) | ≤ 0.01 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.3 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.1 mg/m³ | ≤ 0.001 mg/m³ | EN 13999 (Parts 1-4)24ISO 10580:2010 Resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings - Test method for volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions (2010). International Organization for Standardization (ISO). , 25EN 13999-1:2013 Adhesives - Short term method for measuring the emission properties of low-solvent or solvent-free adhesives after application - Part 1: General procedure (2013). European Committee for Standardization (CEN).,26EN 13999-2:2013 Adhesives - Short term method for measuring the emission properties of low-solvent or solvent-free adhesives after application - Part 2: Determination of volatile organic compounds (2013). European Committee for Standardization (CEN).,27EN 13999-3:2007+A1:2009 Adhesives - Short term method for measuring the emission properties of low-solvent or solvent-free adhesives after application - Part 3: Determination of volatile aldehydes (2009). European Committee for Standardization (CEN). or ISO 16000-9 or CEN/TS 16516 or CDPH Standard Method v1.1 | N/A |
* Compliance with emission limits shall be demonstrated after 28 days in an emission test chamber or earlier as stipulated by the relevant testing requirements standard | ||||||
Table 19 Maximum TVOC content for paints and coatings
| Product category | Free TVOC content of ready-to-use product (g/l) | Testing requirements (see CN7.4) |
|---|---|---|
| Interior matt walls and ceilings (Gloss <25@60°) | 10 | ISO 11890-2 or ISO 17895 or Calculation based on the ingredients and raw materials |
| Interior glossy walls and ceilings (Gloss >25@60°) | 40 | |
| Interior trim and cladding paints for wood and metal | 90 | |
| Interior trim varnishes and wood stains, including opaque wood stains | 65 | |
| Interior minimal build wood stains | 50 | |
| Primers | 15 | |
| Binding primers | 15 | |
| One-pack performance coatings | 100 | |
| Two-pack reactive performance coatings for specific end use such as floors | 80 | |
| Multi-coloured coatings | 80 | |
| Decorative effect coatings | 80 |
| Ref | Terms | Description |
|---|---|---|
Shell and core (non-residential and residential institutions only) | ||
CN1 | Applicable assessment criteria | Prerequisite: criterion 1 Both options: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply.Indoor air quality: criterion 2 Both options: This criterion is not applicable. Shell only: These criteria are not applicable. Shell and core: Criteria 4 and 5 are applicable Emissions levels: criteria 9 to 17 and 20 to 23 Both options: These criteria are not applicable.Adaptability - Potential for natural ventilation: criteria 18 to 19 Both options: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply. Refer to Appendix D – Shell and core project assessments for a more detailed description of the shell and core assessment options. |
CN1.1 | Ventilation systems. | Shell and core: Where ventilation systems are not within the remit of the shell and core developer, compliance can be demonstrated through the building servicing strategy where this is predetermined by the built form or core services provision as appropriate to the shell and core option being followed. |
Residential - Partially fitted and fully fitted | ||
CN2 | Applicable assessment criteria - Single and multiple dwellings | Prerequisite: criterion 1 Both options: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply. Indoor air quality plan: criterion 2 Both options: This criterion is not applicable. Both options: Criteria 4 to 6 are applicable. Emissions from building products: criteria 9 to 10 Both options: Criterion 10 is applicable. Post-construction indoor air quality measurement: criteria 11 to 17 Both options: These criteria are not applicable.Adaptability - Potential for natural ventilation: criteria 18 to 19 Both options: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply.Both options: These criteria are not applicable. Refer to Appendix E – Applicability of BREEAM New Construction to single and multiple dwellings, partially and fully fitted for a more detailed description of residential assessment options. |
| General | ||
| Minimising sources of air pollution | ||
| Alternative methods for demonstrating compliance with the air intake and exhaust criteria | Compliance with the criteria can be demonstrated using alternative methods (e.g. wind tunnel studies, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling), if such methods demonstrate that the proposed location of intakes and exhausts prevents significant recirculation of exhaust air under typical wind conditions. | |
| Non-VOC emitting products | Inherently non-VOC emitting products such as brick, natural stone, concrete, ceramic tile, glass, metal surfaces, etc. do not need to be assessed and can be deemed fully compliant with the criteria, unless organic-based coatings, binders, or sealants are used in their production or finishes. | |
| Testing requirements for emission limits | The testing requirements for emission limits are based on the use of standardised emission test chamber methods. Perforator, flask, desiccator and other extraction based test methods are specifically excluded. Compliance with these requirements may be met using alternative standards, where these stipulate emission test chamber methods similar to those in the standards listed in Table 17 and Table 18. BREEAM Assessors must submit details of any alternative standards to BRE Global for approval prior to awarding any credits for this issue. | |
| Accreditation of organisations performing sampling or laboratory analysis | All organisations used for sampling and analysis of indoor air or for analysis of emissions from building products must be accredited to ISO/IEC 1702528ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories (2005). International Organization for Standardisation (ISO). with specific accreditation covering:
Sampling and chemical analysis of indoor air can be performed by separate organisations, but both must be accredited. | |
| Paints used in wet areas | Evidence must be provided to show that paints used in wet areas protect against mould growth. Evidence could include appropriate test results (e.g. fungal or algal resistance testing) or manufacturer’s product information or declaration. There are European standard tests which could be used: EN 1545729EN 15457:2014 Paints and varnishes - Laboratory method for testing the efficacy of film preservatives in a coating against fungi (2014). European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). and EN 1545830EN 15458:2014 Paints and varnishes - Laboratory method for testing the efficacy of film preservatives in a coating against algae (2014). European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).. | |
| BREEAM recognised alternative schemes for emission levels from building products | Guidance note 22, available on the BREEAM website, provides a list of approved alternative schemes recognised by BREEAM that can be used to demonstrate compliance for the emission from building products levels.If assessors, clients or scheme operators wish to seek recognition of other schemes not currently listed, please contact the BREEAM office (breeam@bre.co.uk) for details of the application process. | |
CN3.6 | Products used in small quantities for ad hoc purposes | All products specified for a project that fall within one of the product types listed in Table 17 and Table 18 must be assessed under this issue. However, it is accepted that it may be difficult to control the specification of some products (e.g. sealants) that are used in small quantities for ad hoc purposes such as ‘making good’. As such, any products used in this way do not need to be assessed for this issue. The BREEAM Assessor should use their judgment to determine whether products being used or intended to be used for ad hoc purposes will be used in significant quantities and therefore need to be assessed for this issue. |
CN3.7 | Self-declaration of emission levels from building products | Self-declaration, by manufacturers, of emission levels from building products is acceptable if testing has been performed by an accredited laboratory in accordance with CN3.3 or where the manufacturer declares that the product contains no formaldehyde or VOC emitting substances. |
CN3.8 | Number of product types required to comply | Where four or fewer product types are specified within the building, the number of product types that need to be assessed for the emissions criteria reduces proportionally as follows:
|
CN3.9 | Scope of assessment for product types installed or applied within a building | Only products that are installed or applied in parts of the building where their emissions are likely to affect indoor air quality need to be assessed. For the purposes of this issue, this means any product installed or applied inside of the inner surface of the building’s infiltration, vapour or waterproof membrane or, where not present, inside of the inner surface of the building envelope’s interior facing thermal insulation layer. |
CN3.10 | Furnishings | The scope of the VOC credits does not extend to furnishings, e.g. desks or shelving, it focuses on the key internal finishes and fittings integral to the building. |
| Adaptability - Potential for natural ventilation | ||
CN3.11 | Mechanically ventilated or cooled buildings. | Buildings that employ a mechanically ventilated or cooled strategy are still able to achieve this credit provided it can be demonstrated that the features required by the criteria can be made easily available to the building user, e.g. windows fixed shut for an air-conditioned strategy can be modified to be opening windows. The aim of the potential for natural ventilation criteria is to ensure that a building is capable of providing fresh air using a natural ventilation strategy. Where the building is predominantly naturally ventilated, but mechanical ventilation is necessary to boost ventilation during peak conditions, (i.e. either maximum occupancy, peak temperature conditions or both) due to the function or specific usage patterns of the building, the potential for the natural ventilation credit can still be awarded provided calculations or modelling demonstrate that the mechanical ventilation system will be required for ≤ 5% of the annual occupied hours in the occupied spaces for the adopted building design or layout. |
| Levels of ventilation. See criterion 19 . | The two levels of ventilation must be able to achieve the following:
| |
CN3.13 | Industrial buildings without offices | If the building does not contain any office areas, only the prerequisite within this issue applies. |
CN3.14 | Retail buildings without offices | The Adaptability - Potential for natural ventilation credit applies only to office areas. If the building does not contain any office areas, this credit is filtered out. |
None.
| Criteria | Interim design stage | Final Post-construction stage |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite | ||
| 1 | The relevant section or clauses of the building specification or contract or appropriate legislation. Design drawings. | Manufacturers' literature. BREEAM Assessor’s site inspection report and photographic evidence or ‘as-built’ drawings, specification and calculations OR A formal letter from the design team or principal contractor confirming no changes have occurred since the design stage. |
| Minimising indoor air pollution | ||
| 2–7 | A copy of the indoor air quality plan. Relevant section or clauses of the building specification or contract.Design drawings. | A copy of the indoor air quality plan. BREEAM Assessor’s site inspection report and photographic evidence or ‘as-built’ drawings. For a naturally ventilated building, a letter from the design team or principal contractor confirming the building has been built in accordance with a design compliant with the BREEAM criteria. For a mechanically ventilated building, the commissioning manager’s performance testing report confirming the required fresh air rates are achieved. |
| 9–10 | A copy of the indoor air quality plan. Relevant section or clauses of the building specification or contract. | A copy of the indoor air quality plan. Letter from or copies of the manufacturer’s literature confirming testing standards and emissions achieved. |
| 11–17 | A copy of the indoor air quality plan. Commitment to carry out necessary testing post-construction. | A copy of the indoor air quality plan. Confirmation from the project team that the recommendations are still relevant and have been implemented. Testing results for formaldehyde and TVOCs. |
| Potential for natural ventilation | ||
| 18–19 | Relevant section or clauses of the building specification or contract. A formal letter from the design team with details of the ventilation strategy and calculations or results from appropriate software modelling tools. | Manufacturers’ or suppliers’ literature. BREEAM Assessor’s site inspection report and photographic evidence* or ‘as-built’ drawings, specification and calculations OR A formal letter from the design team or principal contractor confirming no changes have occurred since design stage. * A random spot check of a selection of occupied spaces is sufficient. The assessor is not required to check each opening in all spaces or rooms. |
The measurement of formaldehyde and TVOC must be made in accordance with the relevant standards (as listed in the criteria). ISO 16000-234ISO 16000-2:2006 Indoor air. Part 2: Sampling strategy for formaldehyde (2006). International Organization for Standardization (ISO). and ISO 16000-5 provide guidance on sampling strategies for formaldehyde and VOCs, respectively. Sampling should be performed in rooms that will be occupied for long periods of time such as bedrooms, living rooms, classrooms, offices, etc. A representative number of rooms should be sampled, rather than every room in the building. For example, in an office building, sampling of one cellular or single occupancy office should suffice to assess the indoor air quality for that type of habitable space in the building (assuming the other cellular offices have the same materials specification and ventilation strategy). In larger rooms, such as open-plan office areas, additional sampling locations may be required in order to understand the homogeneity of the indoor environment.
Uncertainties in sampling and analysis are inevitable and unavoidable, therefore it is recommended that replicate samples are taken at each sampling location (ideally a minimum of three samples for each measurement parameter). Before sampling, naturally ventilated rooms should be intensively ventilated for 15 minutes and then outer doors and windows closed for at least 8 hours (e.g. overnight) before sampling begins with the room still closed off. For mechanically ventilated rooms, the ventilation system should be running under standard operating conditions for at least for 3 hours before sampling begins. Sampling locations should be at least 1m to 2m from a wall and at a height of between 1m to 1.5m.
This information is provided to assist project teams and BREEAM Assessors on the appropriate scope of post-construction indoor air quality measurement, and, as such, is intended as guidance only and not a compliance requirement. The sampling strategy should be determined based on the advice of the appropriate person appointed to conduct the testing.
BREEAM International New Construction 2016
Reference: SD233 – Issue: 2.0
Date: 03/07/2017
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