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Mat 02 Hard landscaping and boundary protection

Number of credits available	Minimum standards
1	No

Aim

To recognise and encourage the specification of materials for boundary protection and external hard surfaces that have a low environmental impact, taking into account of the full life cycle of materials used.

Assessment criteria

The following is required to demonstrate compliance for:

One credit

Where at least 80% of all external hard landscaping and 80% of all boundary protection (by area) in the construction zone achieves an A or A+ rating, as defined in the Green Guide to Specification. Green Guide ratings for the specification(s) of each element can be found at www.thegreenguide.org.uk

Checklists and tables

None.

Compliance notes

Ref	Terms	Description
Shell and core
CN1	Applicable assessment criteria	Both options: 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.
Simple buildings
CN2	Applicable assessment criteria	All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply.
General
CN3	Green Guide online	When using the Green Guide for the purpose of assessing this BREEAM issue, ratings for landscaping elements are common across all building types. The rating will therefore be the same irrespective of the building type selected via the Green Guide online.
CN3.1	Finding exact Green Guide ratings	While exact matches in specifications are not always found, it should be possible to identify a similar specification and use its rating for the purposes of assessment. Where no similar specification can be found, seek guidance from BRE for the appropriate rating.
CN3.2	Green Guide rating via Environmental Profile Certification	Where applicable, products with Environmental Profiles Certification can be used to demonstrate compliance with this BREEAM issue. Products are certified with a product specific Green Guide rating and this rating can be used in the same way as a generic Green Guide rating. See Mat 01 Life cycle impacts – Methodology for more information.
CN3.3	Minor alteration of existing elements	Where there is hard landscaping or boundary protection which is to remain as existing, then, provided no more than 20% of the total area of the existing hard landscaping and boundary protection elements are subject to minor alterations, repair or maintenance, these elements can be awarded an A+ rating for the purposes of determining compliance with this issue.
CN3.4	No hard landscaping or boundary protection	If one of the elements is not present, e.g. boundary protection, then the credit must be assessed on the basis of the specification of the single element, e.g. hard landscaping. Where the development has neither element, the credit can be awarded.
CN3.5	Building façade forming boundary	Any part of an external building façade (of either the assessed building or any other neighbouring building) that forms a part of the site boundary should be excluded from the assessment of this credit.
CN3.6	Existing natural features	Any existing or specified natural boundary protection (such as hedging or other living barrier) should be awarded with an A+ rating for the purposes of this analysis.
Building type specific
CN4	Prison buildings -secure perimeter zones/areas	The criteria for hard surfaces are applicable only to those areas outside of the secure perimeter zone, but within the overall curtilage of the site. The criteria for boundary protection apply to all specifications within the secure perimeter zone and external zone, including its borders and curtilage, i.e. the whole site. The criteria DO NOT apply to the secure perimeter fence, wall or any other fencing subject to security standards.

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.
All	The Green Guide rating and element number for the assessed specifications.	As per interim design stage

Additional information

Relevant definitions

Construction zone: For the purpose of this BREEAM issue the construction zone is defined as the site and its boundary which is being developed for the BREEAM-assessed building and the external site areas that fall within the scope of the new works.
Green Guide: Refer to Mat 01 Life cycle impacts
Green Guide Element Number: Refer to Mat 01 Life cycle impacts
Scope of hard landscaping: For the purpose of assessment, hard landscaping includes (but is not limited to) parking areas (including manoeuvring areas, lanes, roads within the parking area), pedestrian walkways, paths, patios. The definition excludes basement parking, access or approach roads and designated vehicle manoeuvring areas, balconies, roof terraces, specialist sports areas (running tracks, netball areas etc.) and retaining walls.

Other information

None.