now Him? - BB Centrum

≥ projectGreen Buildings Go Wellat BB CentrumBuilding FILADELFIE,completed in summer2010, boasts a BREEAMcertificate and buildings G andDelta, the newest additions to BBCentrum, aspire to achieve the samegoal. What is the meaning of thiscertification programme, what sortsof buildings are certified, and whatdoes this certificate indicate? Weinterviewed Lenka Matějíčková fromEC Harris – BREEAM InternationalAssessor.Lenka Matějíčková - EC Harris -BREEAM International AssessorBREEAM stands for British ResearchEstablishment EnvironmentalAssessment Method, which ranksamong the most frequently adopted anduniversal programmes for assessing theenvironmental impact of buildings. Sinceestablished in 1990, a BREEAM certificatehas been awarded to more than 200,000buildings, not to mention over a millionregistered projects.Buildings constructed in the continentalEU countries, including the CR, areassessed according to the BREEAMEurope International 2009 standards,taking into consideration that the EUcountries have adopted legislationthat is governed by European ratherthan the UK laws. Intended for newstructures, reconstructions and customconversions, this certification method isoverwhelmingly used for office buildings.Aside from buildings that are beingnewly developed (such as BB Centrum’sbuildings G and Delta), the assessmentis also given to existing buildings, whichcan be awarded a BREEAM In Use (BIU)certificate. The BIU is another standard,which – being established in the UKin 2009 – is intended for all existingnon-residential buildings designed forcommercial, industrial, shopping oradministrative purposes.What are the areas assessed for theBREEAM certification and how manyassessment grades – categories exist?With regard to the BREEAM system,the building is assessed according toa range of criteria set in several areas.Assessment is given to the project,construction, and the use of the building,and the particular areas include energyand water efficiency, impact on theenvironment, flora and fauna, impacton the building user (e.g. interiorquality) and the overall performanceof the building. The building can earna BREEAM In Use certificate after anassessment in three parts: Part 1: Assets,Part 2: Building Management, Part 3:Users. Each category is examined on anindependent basis – without regard ofthe others.Part 1: Asset: Evaluation of theinherent performance characteristicsof the building based on its built form,construction and the technical facilitysystems of the building.Part 2: Building Management:Assessment of management policies,procedures and practices related tothe operation of the building, andenvironmental impacts such as carbonand waste generation, the consumptionof water, electricity and other resources.Part 3: User: Description of performancein the use of the building by its tenantsor owners. This part takes into accountthe understanding and implementationof management policies, procedures andpractices related to the user’s activities inthe assessed building.Based on a point score, the buildingachieves an overall score according tothe following percentage scheme:% score BREEAM score Stars 85 % Outstanding ✴✴✴✴✴How long is the certificate in effect – isit issued “forever”, or can the set scorechange over the years?What counts is the type of certificate.The BREEAM certificate is issued“forever”, but you can have a buildingcertified according to the BREEAM InUse criteria over the years. The lattercertificate is in effect for only a year,which can be extended up to three yearsunder certain conditions (except forPart 3, which should be renewed everyyear).Who is the author of this certificationprogramme?Both programmes, BREEAM and BIU,have been developed by BRE Global,a company operating in the UK in thefield of certification of fire resistance,safety and sustainability, which – asidefrom issuing relevant certificates –works as an independent advisor inthese areas.BRE Global is a daughter company ofBRE Trust, a non-profit organisationfocusing on education and research,18