BREEAM and HQE technical studies

We carry out the technical studies that environmental certification schemes call for, in French and in English, with reports the certification team can use as they stand.

25 points of the BREEAM New Construction V7 score can be earned through the technical studies we carry out, under the French weightings

For a project aiming at Very Good, where the threshold is 55%, those 25 points are close to half the score. In all, 69.7% of the score depends on a technical study. With no study at all, a project tops out at 30.3%. Our calculation · the weight of studies in the score

BREEAM New Construction V6 and V7

We carry out the studies attached to the following seven assessment issues.

  • Mat 01

    Building life cycle assessment

    Life cycle assessment to EN 15978, at concept design, at technical design and after construction.

    7 credits

    7.75 pts
  • Ene 02

    Predicted operational energy and carbon

    Predictive modelling to CIBSE TM54, to estimate energy use in operation, beyond the regulatory calculation.

    12 credits

    4.17 pts
  • Hea 01

    Daylighting

    Daylight simulation and glare analysis to EN 17037.

    5 credits

    4.13 pts
  • Ene 01

    Energy and carbon performance of regulated energy uses

    Regulatory energy modelling. In France this assessment rests on the RE2020 calculation.

    9 credits

    3.13 pts
  • Hea 05

    Thermal comfort

    Dynamic thermal simulation of the building under the current climate and under the climate scenarios the scheme sets out.

    3 credits

    2.48 pts
  • Ene 04

    Low carbon design

    Analysis of the form and the envelope of the building, and a feasibility study of low carbon and renewable energy solutions.

    5 credits

    1.74 pts
  • Man 02

    Life cycle cost and service life planning

    Life cycle costing to ISO 15686-5, covering at least two options.

    4 credits

    1.57 pts

Credits available and weight in the score, from the BREEAM International New Construction V7 manual, under the French weightings: the credits · the weight of each issue

The certification ratings

The final score sets the rating, provided the minimum standards attached to that rating are met.

  1. Pass25%
  2. Good40%
  3. Very Good55%
  4. Excellent70%
  5. Outstanding85%

Rating benchmarks from BREEAM International New Construction V7: the manual.

BREEAM In-Use

For buildings in operation, we cover the technical studies tied to energy and to comfort. That includes the Ene 22 energy audit and Hea 14 thermal comfort under Management Performance, and Hea 01 daylighting and Hea 06 view out under Asset Performance.

We can also work on metering and on the analysis of energy consumption. The assessment issues of BREEAM In-Use International V6

HQE

For an HQE certification (Haute Qualité Environnementale, the French environmental certification scheme), we carry out the thermal, energy, comfort and life cycle assessment studies the project calls for.

Where it makes sense, the models built for the regulatory calculation or for the design are reused to answer the certification requirements, rather than building separate models alongside them. See also thermal and environmental design.

Further reading

The studies are carried out for the team running the certification. We do not act as a licensed assessor.