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Wat 03 Water leak detection

Number of credits available	Minimum standards
2	No

Aim

To reduce the impact of water leaks that may otherwise go undetected.

Assessment criteria

The following is required to demonstrate compliance:

One credit - Leak detection system

A leak detection system which is capable of detecting a major water leak on the mains water supply within the building and between the building and the utilities water meter is installed. The leak detection system must be:
1. A permanent automated water leak detection system that alerts the building occupants to the leak OR an inbuilt automated diagnostic procedure for detecting leaks is installed.
2. Activated when the flow of water passing through the water meter/data logger is at a flow rate above a pre-set maximum for a pre-set period of time.
3. Able to identify different flow and therefore leakage rates, e.g. continuous, high and/or low level, over set time periods.
4. Programmable to suit the owner/occupiers’ water consumption criteria.
5. Where applicable, designed to avoid false alarms caused by normal operation of large water-consuming plant such as chillers.

One credit - Flow control devices

Flow control devices that regulate the supply of water to each WC area/facility according to demand are installed (and therefore minimise water leaks and wastage from sanitary fittings).

Checklists and tables

None.

Compliance notes

Ref	Terms	Description
Shell and core
CN1	Applicable assessment criteria	Leak detection system, criterion 1 Both options: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply. Flow control devices, criterion 2 Option 1 - Shell only: This criterion is not applicable to this shell and core assessment option. Option 2 - Shell and core: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply. Refer to Appendix D – BREEAM UK New Construction and Shell and Core Project Assessments for a more detailed description of the above shell and core assessment options.
CN1.1	WC Areas or facilities	Option 2 - Shell and core: The water supplies to WC areas or facilities must be assessed as per criterion 2 regardless of whether or not the WC areas or facilities are fitted out.
Simple buildings
CN2	Applicable assessment criteria	Leak detection systems (1 credit) Criterion 1 is applicable. OR Install automatic excess flow valves at relevant locations to protect property from damage caused by leaking pipes or tanks. Flow control devices (1 credit) Criterion 2 is applicable.
CN2.1	Automatic excess flow valve See point 2.	An automatic excess flow valve acts as a flow switch (‘fuse’) to automatically stop the flow of water and prevent uncontrolled release when the flow of water exceeds a predetermined rate (such as may occur in the event of failure of water supply pipes and tanks).
General
CN3	Leakage rates See criterion 1.	This issue does not specify what the high and low level leakage rates should be, however the leak detection equipment installed must have the flexibility to distinguish between different flow rates to enable it to be programmed to suit the building type and owner/occupier’s usage patterns.
CN3.1	System criteria See criterion 1.	It is anticipated that the leak detection credit will usually be achieved by installing a system which detects higher than normal flow rates at meters and/or sub-meters. It does not necessarily require a system that directly detects water leakage along part or the whole length of the water supply system.
CN3.2	Water utilities meters See criterion 1.	Where there is a water utilities meter at the site/building boundary, it may be necessary to install a separate flow meter (or alternative measurement system) just after the utility meter to detect leaks; however, if the water utility company agrees to some form of leak detection being installed on their meter, this would also be acceptable.
CN3.3	Flow control devices See criterion 2.	The following could be considered as types of flow control devices: A time controller, i.e. an automatic time switch device to switch off the water supply after a predetermined interval A programmed time controller, i.e. an automatic time switch device to switch water on and/or off at predetermined times. A volume controller, i.e. an automatic control device to turn off the water supply once the maximum pre-set volume is reached A presence detector and controller, i.e. an automatic device detecting occupancy or movement in an area to switch water on and turn it off when the presence is removed A central control unit, i.e. a dedicated computer-based control unit for an overall managed water control system, utilising some or all of the types of control elements listed above.
CN3.4	Flow control systems See criterion 2.	Flow control systems may control combined WC areas, such as male and female toilets within a core; they are not required for each individual sanitary appliance. The criteria are set to encourage the isolation of the water supply to each WC block when it is not being used.
CN3.5	Single WCs See criterion 2.	The flow control criteria for this issue do apply to facilities which have only a single WC (potentially within smaller or low occupancy buildings). In these instances shut-off could be provided via the same switch that controls the lighting (whether proximity detection or a manual switch).
CN3.6	No water supply to the building or/unit See criteria 1 and 2.	These credits are still assessed where there are no installed fittings and therefore no water supply to the building. In these instances the facilities likely to be used by the future occupants of the assessed building must meet the criteria, e.g. those facilities within the nearest accessible building.
CN3.7	Extensions to existing buildings See criteria 1 and 2.	If the water supply to the new extension is via the existing building then the water supply to the existing building must be assessed against the criteria of this issue.
Building type specific
CN4	Clinical areas in healthcare buildings	The criteria for this issue do not apply to toilet facilities in clinical areas.
CN4.1	Multi-residential buildings and guest accommodation: flow control specification. See criterion 2.	The credit for the specification of flow control devices in WC areas/facilities does not apply to ensuite facilities in residential areas e.g. ensuite in individual private bedrooms and a single bathroom for a collection of individual private bedrooms in halls of residence, key worker accommodation or sheltered accommodation. Where only ensuite facilities are provided, the credit can be awarded by default. The credit and criteria are however applicable to buildings with guest bedrooms with ensuite facilities, e.g. hotel rooms, and communal WC areas/facilities, e.g. communal WC facilities in hotels/hostels and care homes.

Methodology

None.

Evidence

Criteria	Interim design stage	Final post construction stage
All	One or more of the appropriate evidence types listed in the ‘BREEAM Evidential Requirements’ section can be used to demonstrate compliance with these criteria

Additional information

Relevant definitions

Clinical areas: Refer to Hea 01 Visual comfort.

Other information

None.