A new standard focused on carbon issues

BRE (Building Research Establishment) had announced it: by May 4, 2021, assets will no longer be able to be certified to the 2015 version of the Breeam in-Use International Standard.

The Breeam in-Use International V6 standard, launched in May 2020, will now be the rule for all.

In addition to the technical changes made to the assessment, this new version offers a more marked link with the BREEAM Standards dedicated to buildings under construction or renovation (respectively Breeam International New Construction 2016 and Breeam Refurbishment and Fit Out), as the methodology and completeness of the evidence are closer to them.

Reducing the carbon footprint is one of the challenges of this new version of the standard. On the one hand, the calculation of the carbon footprint largely determines the "Energy" rating. On the other hand, the use of refrigerants with a high carbon impact will be a penalizing factor for the "Pollution" category.

A new "Resources" category has also been added to encourage on-site reuse and recycling.

Finally, the notion of resilience is also emerging, to protect, anticipate and manage the risk of climate change over the long term.

The Breeam in-Use International V6 standard incorporates today's and tomorrow's challenges, but is also more demanding and restrictive.

What the new standards mean for owners and lessees

Structural changes have taken place compared to V2015.

Starting with the weighting of each of the 9 themes, which has been revised to give greater prominence to Energy, Comfort and Well-being, Water Management, Resources and Resilience.

Certain targets have also evolved, notably in the areas of Comfort and Well-being and Ecology, with some major changes. In the Transport category, for example, the presence of recharging stations for electric vehicles can now be taken into account, which was not possible under V2015. In the Health and Well-Being category, access to outdoor views and natural light are now to be calculated.

These changes call for more robust evidence, closer to the requirements of the New Construction and Refurbishment Standards, used for buildings under construction and renovation.

All types of assets can be certified (offices, warehouses, housing, schools, hospitals, airports, shopping centers, etc.) via two standards: Breeam in Use International Commercial and Breeam in Use International Residential.

On the other hand, Part III - Occupier Management, is unfortunately no longer part of this new version of the standard. As of May 4, 2021, it will no longer be possible to highlight the good practices implemented on the site by the occupier. If you are a tenant company, it will still be possible to certify the quality of the use of your premises through the HQE Exploitation Certification (Axe 3) in order to enhance the value of all your environmental actions(sustainable purchasing, practices to reduce energy and/or water consumption, promotion of teleworking, management of low-nuisance private worksites, use of eco-labeled products, optimization of technical equipment operating schedules, waste recovery/recycling).

Promoting exemplary initiatives

BRE gives you the opportunity to highlight your exemplary initiatives (setting up a dedicated recycling room for your occupants is one example). Exemplary credits are awarded for certain targets when the developer implements remarkable practices that go beyond the requirements of the BREEAM standard.

This new feature makes it possible to add up to 10% to a Share's overall rating.

Validation of 3-year certificates

Finally, a fundamental new feature in the management of this certification: no more administrative procedures to maintain certificates each year, certificates are now valid for 3 years!

For good performers, however, it would be possible to re-evaluate the building during the cycle, thanks to a so-called "mid-cycle" audit. However, this reassessment would only be possible if the rating changed by more than 10%, or to add a Part during the cycle.

More stringent prerequisites

As we announced earlier, this new version will be more demanding, with a robust and exhaustive dossier of evidence. Document collection, in-depth site visits and interviews with the various stakeholders will be necessary to enable the AMO to draw up an accurate assessment and a dossier of evidence in line with the requirements of this new standard.

Breeam in-Use V6 also introduces minimum standards, or rather prerequisites, necessary to achieve specific levels, thus creating equity and a certain level of confidence in the environmental profiles obtained.

For the Asset Performance I share, for example, you will need :

Monitor water consumption on a site-wide scale, at the very least by means of remote-reading meters that can be connected to a BMS, in order to achieve a GOOD level and beyond;
Carry out a flood risk study on the certified perimeter in order to achieve a VERY GOOD level and beyond;
To provide a room for all waste flows produced on site, of sufficient size, meeting all regulatory hygiene requirements, and allowing the storage of at least 3 types of recyclable waste to achieve an OUTSTANDING level.

For Part II - Management Performance, you will also need to :

Have a Responsible Purchasing Policy requiring that the wood used on the site has been legally felled and marketed (policy applied by the organization managing the asset as well as its subcontractors), to be able to certify on this Part II ;
Also, assess fire risks when required by regulations, to achieve an ACCEPTABLE level and beyond;
Steering an environmental policy via a CSR report, for example, to achieve a VERY GOOD level and beyond;
Carry out an occupant satisfaction survey every 3 years to enable certification at EXCELLENT level and beyond.

Breeam in-Use V6 as seen by our customers

"BIU V6? modernization and high standards.
The new version of BREEAM IN USE obviously concerns SOCIETE DE LA TOUR EIFFEL, 80% of whose GP assets and 70% of its national assets are certified, most of them BIU, with the support of SINTEO.
As part of the renewal of our BIU certification for our VELIZY-TOPAZ site, I found this new version refreshing, modernizing the BREEAM IN USE with the appearance of "resilience" and "resources" topics that highlight circular economy solutions and the challenges of climate change. SOCIETE DE LA TOUR EIFFEL has also commissioned a mapping of the climate risks to which its assets are exposed. This summer, we also joined the Booster du Réemploi (Reuse Booster) alongside GROUPAMA immobilier, IFPEB and 4mt, to make a firm commitment to reuse.
In addition, this new version raises the overall level of certification requirements, either through its major themes or through the introduction of prerequisites. Here again, we're not worried: the implementation of a responsible purchasing and supplier relations charter, for example, or our ISO 14001 certification, or our tenant satisfaction surveys, will enable us to approach this new version calmly, as any committed player should be able to do. "

Odile BATSÈRE, Director of Property Management and CSR

Breeam In-Use, the star of operational certifications

To date, almost 1,100 buildings in France have been certified Breeam in-Use. A guarantee of international visibility, this certification has become a quality standard over the years. Thanks to its simplicity and speed of implementation, Breeam in-Use has become the star of operating certifications (66% of certified operating assets are Breeam in-Use).

Since 2008, Sinteo, France's leading BIU certifier with over 250 certified buildings, has been proud to help you enhance the value of your portfolio.

More than ever, this new version of the standard will enable us to increase and protect the value of our assets, by encouraging thoughtful and appropriate investment through a process of continuous improvement, and not just by obtaining a certificate.

Ready to join us and continue this wonderful adventure?