BREEAM

BREEAM – Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method is the most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to describe a building’s environmental performance. Every building is assessed in nine different categories evaluating the design, materials used and construction methods, giving a comprehensive record of any building’s environmental credentials. The Code for Sustainable Homes covers domestic buildings, while there are BREEAM guides for all other building categories, courts, education, industrial, healthcare, offices, retail, prisons.

Aims of BREEAM:

• To mitigate the impact of buildings on the environment;

• To enable buildings to be recognised according to their environmental benefits;

• To provide a credible environmental label for buildings;

• To stimulate demand for sustainable buildings.

Code for Sustainable Homes

Specifying Xflo as part of a sustainable drainage system can help maximise credits in the following areas:

Example

Category: Issue Id Description Available Credits How Xflo Helps

2:Water Wat 1 Indoor Water Use 5 Facilitates the collection of rainwater for use in the home. 89 to 100 2:Water Wat 2 External Water Use 1 Facilitates the collection of rainwater for use in irrigation. 65 to 100

4: Surface water run-off Sur 1 55 to 90 2 Prevents excessive run-off from the site keeping run-off into water courses at pre- development levels.

BREEAM ratings are specific to individual buildings. The above section provides an indication of areas where Xflo may help to achieve additional credits. It is up to the designer to assess the building under consideration and satisfy themselves that Xflo will help to improve the rating in that situation.

AG’s concrete paving and flagstones are rated ‘A’ under the BRE Green Guide to specification. AG’s concrete pavers at ‘A’ exceed most natural stone products and when used in conjunction with the relevant recycled granular bedding and jointing mediums can achieve an A+ rating.

To learn more on BREEAM visit: www.breeam.org www.thegreenguide.org.uk