BREEAM Indoor Air Quality

Is your project registered to be certified by the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) scheme? If so, Redmore Environmental and our Indoor Air Quality Consultants can help your project to achieve credits and reach a desired BREEAM rating. Take a look through our specialist BREEAM Indoor Air Quality Assessment services to find out more.

BREEAM Indoor Air Quality Assessment Services

The criteria of BREEAM require the knowledge of an Indoor Air Quality Consultant to support achievement of the credits specified under BREEAM category Health and Wellbeing 02 ‘Indoor Air Quality’ and Pol 02 ‘Local Air Quality’. Our expertise includes:

• Hea 02: Preparation of a site-specific Indoor Air Quality Plan (IAQP).
• Hea 02: Detailed review of proposed building ventilation arrangements and associated alarms.
• Hea 02: Detailed review of potential emissions associated with finishing materials utilised as part of construction and fit out works.
• Hea 02: Post-construction Indoor Air Quality Testing.
• Pol 02: Assessment of low emission combustion appliances in the building.

If your project requires an indoor air quality service not listed above, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team who can discuss your requirements in more detail or visit our Indoor Air Quality Testing services page.

Why Should a Project Seek Credits Associated with Hea 02 ‘Indoor Air Quality’?

The internal environment of new structures, or refurbished buildings, although newly developed can pose a health risk to occupants. This can occur as a result of the emission of harmful pollutants from materials utilised as part of the construction, fit out and finishing works, such as paints and furnishings. In addition, improperly designed ventilation strategies can lead to a build-up of airborne compounds. Collectively these issues can cause a deterioration in the quality of internal air and lead to adverse health effects for those exposed. Achieving the criteria set out in Hea 02 ‘Indoor Air Quality’ facilitates an active approach to reducing internal pollutant concentrations during design, construction and completion. This minimises emissions and potential exposure to harmful indoor pollutants. As a result, improving the internal environment of a development and most importantly, the health and wellbeing of its occupants.

We offer services in support of the following BREEAM guidance documents:

• BREEAM UK Refurbishment and Fit-out 2014.
• BREEAM UK New Construction 2014.
• BREEAM International New Construction 2016.
• BREEAM UK New Construction 2018.
• BREEAM UK New Construction v6.

For further information on the most recent BREEAM guidance, why not read our news story on the release.

Indoor Air Quality Plan

The pre-requisite Indoor Air Quality Plan is a site-specific plan which sets out measures  to minimise pollutant concentrations during the construction and operational phase. This is completed during RIBA Stage 2 in accordance with the requirements of Hea 02. The plan includes consideration of the following:

• Removal of contaminant sources.
• Dilution and control of contaminant sources.
• Procedures for pre-occupancy flush out.
• Procedures for identifying and implementing third party testing and analysis.
• Commitments for maintaining indoor air quality in use.

Ventilation

A review of the proposed building ventilation measures used to minimise pollutant concentrations during the operational phase is undertaken during RIBA Stage 4 in accordance with the requirements of Hea 02. This includes consideration of the following:

• The design of mechanical and natural ventilation pathways.
• The heating, ventilation and air conditions (HVAC) systems that will be used during the operational phase and whether they include appropriate filtration.
• Areas of the building which may be subject to large or changeable occupancy patterns and the measures that will be used to detect and control associated variations in internal carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels.

Emissions from Construction Products

A review of the proposed fit-out and finishing materials is undertaken during RIBA Stage 4 to address the requirements of Hea 02.  This includes consideration of the following product types:

• Interior paints and coatings.
• Wood-based products (including wood flooring).
• Flooring materials (including floor levelling compounds and resin flooring).
• Ceiling wall and thermal insulation materials.
• Interior adhesives and sealants (including flooring adhesives).

The specifications of all identified products are compared to the performance criteria outlined in BREEAM Hea 02 in order to determine compliance with the standard.

Post Construction Indoor Air Quality Monitoring

A programme of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring is undertaken following completion of the construction and fit-out works and prior to occupancy of the development. This comprises a site visit to undertake measurements of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) and formaldehyde during RIBA Stage 6. The results are subsequently use to address the requirements of Hea 02.

Why Should a Project Seek the Credit Associated with Pol 02 ‘Local Air Quality’?

Poor air quality has a detrimental effect on humans, fauna and flora. Combustion gases, including nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), can further react in the atmosphere to create substances that have a major impact on health and wellbeing. They can be carcinogenic, affect respiratory function (including asthma and other bronchial complaints), have a sensitising effect for allergy suffers and increase instances of heart disease. Legislation covering the UK sets maximum acceptable limits for measured air pollutants. Under this issue the Pol 02 credit seeks to limit emissions from developments in use that affect local air quality. This can help:

• Improved air quality for building occupants, visitors and neighbours leading to better health and wellbeing  outcomes.
• Increased staff satisfaction and productivity.
• Enhanced acceptability of a building, especially in areas with compromised air quality that have their emissions even more tightly controlled.

The credit is achieved through the selection of low emission combustion appliances for use in the building. This helps to contribute to a reduction in local air pollution.

Air Quality Experts

Redmore Environmental has substantial experience in the provision of BREEAM Indoor Air Quality Assessment services. This ensures we are able to address all elements of Hea 02 ‘Indoor Air Quality’ and Pol 02 ‘Local air quality’. We have supported a wide range of BREEAM projects within the commercial and industrial sectors. These have included health centres, hospitals, office buildings and laboratories.Some examples of our successfully delivered BREEAM projects include:

• XYZ Building, Spinningfields, Manchester – A programme of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring at the newly constructed Allied London Building in the Spinningfields, Manchester. Monitoring of TVOC and formaldehyde concentrations was undertaken in order to satisfy the requirements of BREEAM New Construction, category Hea 02 ‘Indoor Air Quality’. Seven locations were selected within the building to represent the varying internal environments and sampling undertaken following the methodology outlined in ISO 16000-6 and ISO 16000-3. The completed office building achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.
• Arax House, London – A programme of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring in support of an office refurbishment at Arax Euston House, London. Monitoring of TVOC and formaldehyde concentrations was undertaken in order to satisfy the requirements of BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out, category Hea 02 ‘Indoor Air Quality’. Four locations were selected within the building to represent the varying internal environments and the results indicated that measured concentrations were below the BREEAM criteria of 300µg/m³ and 100µg/m³ respectively at all monitoring positions.
• Dawley Road, London – A programme of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring was undertaken in support of a newly refurbished storage warehouse on Dawley Road, Hayes, London. The warehouse, located in Hayes, west London, was registered to pursue BREEAM certification in accordance with the ‘BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit out 2014’ Technical Standard.  A programme of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring was therefore was undertaken to satisfy the requirements of the Health and Wellbeing category Hea 02 ‘Indoor Air Quality – VOC emission levels (post-construction)’ credit. The results of the monitoring indicated that concentrations of TVOCs and formaldehyde were below the relevant BREEAM criteria at all positions and compliance with the requirements of the scheme was demonstrated.

Please get in touch with a member of our team today to find out more about how we can help with the indoor air quality aspect of your BREEAM development, or to request a quote or proposal.

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