06. Material efficiency – Above Green

(1 credit)

Aim

To recognise and encourage measures to optimise material efficiency in order to minimise the environmental impact of material use and waste without compromising on structural stability, durability or service life of the building.

Assessment criteria

The following is required to demonstrate compliance:

One credit

Opportunities have been identified, and appropriate measures investigated and implemented within the scope of refurbishment or fit-out works, to optimise the use of materials through building design, procurement, refurbishment, maintenance and end of life (see examples in Table 58 and Table 59).

The above is carried out by the design or construction team in consultation with the relevant parties (see CN2) at each of the following project work stages:

2.a

Preparation and Brief

2.b

Concept Design

2.c

Developed Design

2.d

Technical Design

2.e

Construction.

Checklists and tables

None.

Compliance notes

Ref	Terms	Description
Applicable assessment criteria
CN1	Parts: 1, 2, 3 and 4	All assessment criteria in this issue are applicable.
General
CN2	Relevant parties	All parties (as relevant to the project stage) involved in the design, specification or construction of the building should be consulted. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: Client or developer Cost consultant Architect Structural or civil engineers Building services engineers - mechanical, electrical Principal contractor Demolition or strip-out contractor Environmental consultant Project management consultant Materials or component manufacturers or suppliers.
CN2.1	Evidence requirements	BRE has avoided being overly prescriptive with the evidence requirements for this issue, recognising that this is a complex environmental and design issue, where solutions and approaches are largely influenced by building specific factors. The evidence required to demonstrate compliance will vary according to the project work stage. A few examples have been provided below: Reports (at Preparation and Brief stage) outlining the activity relating to material efficiency ( ideas discussed, analysis and decisions taken) Drawings or BIM, calculations showing reduction of material use through design (Concept Design or Developed Design stages) Meeting notes, construction program, responsibilities schedule (indicating parties consulted). For further guidance, examples of material efficiency measures have been provided in Table 58, along with an example of how material efficiency could be considered through the project work stages in Table 59 The BREEAM Assessor should use their judgment in determining whether the aim and intent of the credit has been met using appropriate project information to back their judgment. BRE Global will endorse the BREEAM Assessor's judgment through the quality assurance audit where a reasonable justification to award the credit on the basis of project team actions and proposed design solutions is evident.

Methodology

None.

Evidence

Criteria	Interim design stage	Final post-construction stage
All	See compliance note CN2.1, one or more appropriate evidence types can be used to demonstrate compliance with the criteria requirements.

Additional information

Relevant definitions

Material efficiency: The process of undertaking a building project to enable the most efficient use of materials over the life cycle of the building and its components. This includes using fewer materials, reusing existing demolition and strip-out materials and, where appropriate, procuring materials with higher levels of recycled content. It may also include the adoption of alternative means of design or construction that result in lower materials usage and lower wastage levels including off-site manufacture and use of pre-assembled service pods.

Other information

Table 58examples of material efficiency actions are as follows

BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-out assessment parts	Example material efficiency considerations
All assessment parts	Can existing elements be reused, preferably on site? Can materials with a high recycled content be used? Consider the waste hierarchy for waste materials removed as part of the refurbishment.
Part 1: Fabric and structure	Windows: can existing windows be repaired? If not, consider the materials for the replacement windows (see Mat 01 Environmental impact of materials) Insulation: can existing insulation be 'topped up' without removal of material? If not consider use of materials that comply with Mat 04 Insulation) Cladding: consider whether cladding can be repaired or reused.
Parts 2 and 3: Core and local services	Pipework: use of materials with a high recycled content Ventilation systems and ductwork: consider changes to design to minimise the need for ventilation systems, position of air handling units closer to ventilated spaces to minimise length in ductwork, consider use of fabric ductwork to replace galvanised steel.
Part 4: Interior design	Floor coverings: can existing floor coverings be reused on or off site? Partitions and ceilings: can existing ceilings and partitions be reused? If not, consider adjusting sizes of partitions to minimise offcuts of material or removable partitions that can be reused.

Table 59 provides examples of useful information to help the optimisation of materials use at different project work stages. In refurbishment and fit-out projects the following project work stages may not work in this sequence. For example, many fit-out projects are undertaken using a design and build project. Therefore some actions may occur at a different stage of the project, e.g. consultation with contractors as suggested for Stage 4 would need to occur at stage 1. The examples should be used for traditional construction programmes and for where this sequence is not being followed, these examples should be adapted to identify at what point in the project plan actions or outputs are most appropriate in order to optimise material use most effectively.

Table 59: Examples of useful information to help in the optimisation of materials use at different project work stages

Work stages	Information and actions	Output
0. Strategic Definition		Strategic brief to include section on material efficiency which identifies client aspirations and objectives
1. Preparation and Brief	Include information from: Pre-refurbishment audit to identify potential reuse opportunities on and off-site (Wst 01 Project waste management) Waste forecasts Assessment of site constraints that may influence material efficiency Other project specific feasibility studies.	Project brief including: Initial resource management plan Project targets (waste arisings, percentage reuse, percentage recycled content) Roles and responsibilities.
2. Concept Design	Designing out waste workshop or discussions output (follow WRAP 5 principles of designing out waste) Development of improved forecasts of types and amounts of waste Engagement with contractors to investigate waste reduction activities Prioritisation of ideas.	Expanded project brief summarising activities relating to material efficiency.
3. Developed Design	Incorporation of selected ideas into drawings and outline specifications Assessment of savings in material quantities.	Resource management plan updated to include accurate waste forecasts, opportunities to design out waste and increase reclaimed content.
4. Technical Design	Engagement with contractors, subcontractors and suppliers Consultations with planning or building regulation authorities.	Report with final options from previous statements and reasons for inclusion or exclusions Updated resource management plan including waste forecasts, design decisions.
5. Construction		Updated resource management plan to include actual waste arisings and performance against targets (linked to Wst 01 Project waste management).

Optimising material use

Optimising material use is one the key resource efficiency goals for any sustainability strategy. This involves various components to ensure efficient use of materials, waste prevention and reduction, minimal damage to the environment and depletion of natural resources. This new BREEAM issue aims to encourage and support efforts to reduce the amount of materials used in building design without compromising on the structural stability and other performance factors. BRE intends to further develop the assessment criteria for this issue in future updates of BREEAM, and as such BRE would welcome any feedback on the application of this assessment issue to assist with the evolution of the criteria and inclusion of additional guidance on compliance in future BREEAM versions.

Tools to guide material efficiency strategies

The following provide frameworks for the consideration and review of resource efficiency in design and construction.

BS 8895 Designing for material efficiency in building projects

This standard outlines specific material efficiency processes, key tasks, team members and their responsibilities and outputs specific to each work stage, along with supporting guidance and tools. This serves as a useful tool to assist the design team in developing and implementing material efficiency strategies for their developments.

The standard is comprised of the following four parts:

Part 1: Code of practice for Strategic Definition and Preparation and Brief1 (published)
Part 2: Code of practice for concept and developed design2 (published)
Part 3: Code of practice for technical design (planned for development)
Part 4: Code of practice for operation, refurbishment (planned for development).

WRAP

Designing out Waste: A design team guide for Buildings3 This document outlines five principles of designing out waste and can be applied during design development, and serve as prompts for investigating opportunities for material efficiency in design.