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Hea 07 Hazards

(all buildings)

Number of credits available	Minimum standards
1	No

Aim

To reduce or negate the impact of a natural hazard on the building.

Assessment criteria

The following is required to demonstrate compliance:

One credit

A risk assessment is carried out at the outline proposal or Concept Design stage by an appropriate person, or persons, to identify any potential natural hazards in the region of the development.

Where a potential hazard is identified, mitigation measures appropriate to the level of risk should be identified by an appropriate person and implemented.

Checklists and tables

None.

Compliance notes

Ref	Terms	Description
Shell and core (non-residential and residential institutions only)
CN1	Applicable assessment criteria	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.
Residential - Partially fitted and fully fitted
CN2	Applicable assessment criteria - Single and multiple dwellings	Both options: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply. 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
CN3	Where no risk is identified or where flooding is identified as the only risk	Where no risks are identified, this issue will not be included in the assessment. Where flooding is the only risk identified, this issue will not be included in the assessment as flooding is addressed in BREEAM issue Pol 03 Surface water run-off .

Methodology

None.

Evidence

Ref	Design stage	Post-construction stage
1 –2	A copy of the natural hazards risk assessment. A letter from the appropriate person confirming their compliance with the definition of an appropriate person. Confirmation of the timing of the natural hazard assessment within the plan of works.	As design stage.
2	Where applicable, a copy of the natural hazard risk assessment detailing the mitigation measures appropriate to the level of risk for the site AND EITHER A copy of the relevant section of the specification requiring the principal contractor to implement the mitigation measures identified OR A letter from the client or design team member confirming that the specification will require the principal contractor to implement the appropriate person's recommendations.	Assessor's building inspection or site inspection (or as-built drawings) and photographic evidence confirming that the mitigation measures have been implemented in line with the appropriate person's recommendations and specification.

Ref

Design stage

Post-construction stage

1 –2

A copy of the natural hazards risk assessment.

A letter from the appropriate person confirming their compliance with the definition of an appropriate person.

Confirmation of the timing of the natural hazard assessment within the plan of works.

As design stage.

Where applicable, a copy of the natural hazard risk assessment detailing the mitigation measures appropriate to the level of risk for the site

AND EITHER

A copy of the relevant section of the specification requiring the principal contractor to implement the mitigation measures identified

A letter from the client or design team member confirming that the specification will require the principal contractor to implement the appropriate person's recommendations.

Assessor's building inspection or site inspection (or as-built drawings) and photographic evidence confirming that the mitigation measures have been implemented in line with the appropriate person's recommendations and specification.

Additional information

Relevant definitions

Appropriate persons

An individual (or individuals) with relevant technical and professional experience suitable to:

Determine the potential for natural hazards in the region of the development
Determine the likely impacts on the site, building and locality, and subsequently identify appropriate mitigation measures.

This may be a member (or members) of the design team or a specialist, independent to the design and construction process. This (or these) individuals should practice to, and abide by, a professional code of conduct or similar.

Natural hazard

Natural processes or phenomena occurring in the biosphere or crust that may constitute a damaging event. The list below is not intended to be exhaustive, but provides an indication of the type of hazards that should be considered to meet the definition. Other natural hazards may be relevant under this issue. Relevance will be dependent on local geography, geology, hydrology and climate factors and the assessor should be satisfied that appropriate local expertise has been sought by the client or design team to identify these fully:

Floods (addressed in Pol 03 Surface water run-off )
Natural disasters of geological origin such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and landslides
Natural disasters of climatic or meteorological origin such as droughts, avalanches, wave surges including tsunamis and tidal waves, and wind storms including cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, and typhoons
Wildfires.

Natural disaster

A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society, causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.

Other information

Please note that this issue is not attempting to define all possible risks and hazards that may be present, but instead encouraging the process of risk identification, assessment and mitigation.

Natural hazard, natural disaster, and risk assessment: The definitions used within this issue are sourced from www.unisdr.org/.