Wat 03 Water leak detection

Number of credits available Minimum standards Applicability
2 No

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4
No Yes Yes Yes

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

  1. 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

  1. 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 fitting networks). See CN11.

Checklists and tables

None.

Compliance notes

Ref

Terms

Description
Applicable assessment criteria

CN1 

 Part 1: Fabric and structure This issue is not applicable.

CN2 

 Parts 2: Core services All assessment criteria are applicable. For criterion 2, it is assumed in most cases, that the water supply to areas is provided for a Part 2 assessment, so a flow control device can be fitted to regulate the supply of water to each area, regardless of which fittings a tenant may specify and connect later.

CN3 

 Part 3: Local services Criterion 2 applicable only

CN4 

 Part 4: Interior Design Criterion 2 applicable only
Simple buildings

CN5 

Applicable assessment criteria

Leak detection systems (1 credit)

  1. Criterion 1 is applicable.

OR

  1. Install automatic excess flow valves at relevant locations to protect property from damage caused by leaking pipes or tanks.

Flow control devices (1 credit)

  1. Criterion 2 is applicable.

CN6 

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

CN7 

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.

CN8 

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.

CN9 

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.

CN10 

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.

CN11

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.

CN12 

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).

CN13 

 No water supply to the building or unit

In freehold properties where the refurbishment or fit-out is being undertaken by the building owner, this credit (Flow Control Devices) is still assessed if there are no installed fittings within the refurbishment or fit-out zone. In these instances the facilities likely to be used by the future occupants of the building must meet the criteria e.g. washrooms and changing rooms to be used by the occupants in the nearest accessible part of the building.

In the case of leasehold properties where the refurbishment or fit-out is being undertaken by the tenant and there are no installed fittings within the refurbishment or fit-out zone, this issue is not assessed. Where there are installed fittings within the tenanted areas, this issue is assessed, regardless of whether these are included in the scope of works.

CN14 

Existing fittings and metering

Where there is an existing leak detection device and flow control devices, the credits can be achieved where evidence demonstrates that they meet criteria 1 and 2 (as applicable).

CN15 

 Building management systems (BMS) Leak detection systems integrated or added to BMSs can allow the Leak detection credit to be awarded, provided they can demonstrate they meet the criteria.
Building type specific

CN16 

 Clinical areas in healthcare buildings The criteria for this issue do not apply to toilet facilities in clinical areas.

CN17 

 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 en suite 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. The credit and criteria are however applicable to buildings with guest bedrooms with en suite 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.