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BREEAM Healthcare: Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method for Healthcare

  • Last modified date:
    12 September 2008

NHS Environmental Assessment Tool  (NEAT) – current situation

NEAT was issued in 2002, and was considered to be out of date with current legislation and standards and as such no longer fit for purpose.  NEAT was a self-assessment tool, which was necessary at the time of introduction but no longer considered to be a credible standard from which to demonstrate that the NHS continue to be leaders amongst public sector bodies. 

With effect from 1 July 2008 NEAT was replaced by BREEAM Healthcare (B4H).  B4H is now available on the Building Research Establishment’s website (see details below) together with the other BREEAM suite of tools.  This exciting move will ensure that standards are raised, credibility is increased, and importantly that the tool will be regularly updated in line with legislation and best practice standards.  The Department will continue to work in partnership with BRE to ensure that B4H continues to meet the needs of the healthcare sector.

What is BREEAM?

BREEAM is the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings.  BREEAM (or equivalent) is advocated at Government level as a robust means of setting standards and assessing the sustainability of the Government estate, including the estate of the public sector bodies.

BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has been widely acknowledged as the measure to describe a building’s environmental performance.  Credits are awarded in nine categories according to performance.  These credits are then added together to produce a single overall score on a scale of Pass; Good; Very Good; Excellent; and now Outstanding.  A Certificate will be awarded on successful conclusion.

The operation of BREEAM is overseen by an independent Sustainability Board, representing a wide cross-section of construction industry representatives.

Aims of BREEAM

  • To mitigate the impacts of buildings on the environment
  • To enable buildings to be recognised according to their environmental benefits
  • To provide a credible, environmental label for buildings
  • To stimulate demand for sustainable buildings

Objectives of BREEAM

  • To provide market recognition to low environmental impact buildings
  • To ensure best environmental practice is incorporated in buildings
  • To set criteria and standards surpassing those required by regulations and challenge the market to provide innovative solutions that minimise the environmental impact of buildings
  • To raise the awareness of owners, occupants, designers and operators of the benefits of buildings with a reduced impact on the environment
  • To allow organisations to demonstrate progress towards corporate environmental objectives

Scope of BREEAM Healthcare B(4)H

B4H has a credit filtering mechanism which makes it appropriate across the entire range of healthcare facilities from GP surgeries and clinics to acute teaching/specialist units.

B4H new build/refurbishment:

A B4H assessment can be carried out for the following types of building project:

  • Whole new buildings
  • Major refurbishments of existing buildings
  • New build extensions of existing buildings
  • A combination of new-build and existing building refurbishment
  • New build or refurbishment which are part of a larger mixed use building

The Department is committed to assisting and enabling the healthcare sector to lead by example in producing a sustainable healthcare estate. 

This tool will assist trusts in their dealings (contractual and otherwise) to ensure that sustainability is embraced within all capital healthcare schemes.  Because this is an accredited process, it enables the trust to ensure that the requirements of briefs and specifications are delivered, and that the trust is well placed to benefit from the efficiency savings, both carbon and cost, that should result. 

The Department requires all capital development schemes to achieve scores of:
Excellent =  New build
Very Good =  Refurbishment

B4H existing buildings:

Once a healthcare building is commissioned and operational is still has environmental impacts.  Existing Buildings tool is a voluntary commitment and use of this tool will be based on Membership.  Membership has the following benefits:

  • Access to a robust accredited tool that is updated annually
  • Guidance manuals
  • Training
  • Helpdesk and IT support
  • User networks
  • Opportunity to display a certificate of achievement by applying for accreditation as a method of demonstrating commitment and corporate social responsibility through environmental improvement for the benefit of the community and stakeholders

Where to get access to the BREEAM Healthcare tool

Related links

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