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Mat 03 Responsible sourcing of materials

Number of credits available Minimum standards

3

 Yes (criterion 3 only)

Aim

To recognise and encourage the specification of responsibly sourced materials for key building elements.

Assessment Criteria

The following is required to demonstrate compliance:

  1. Each of the applicable specified materials comprising the main building elements are assigned a responsible sourcing tier level and points awarded as follows:
Tier level Points
2 3.5
3 3.0
4 2.5
5 2.0
6 1.5
7 1.0
8 0

Note:

  1. Table 23 in the Additional Information section for the list of applicable materials and main building elements.
  2. The tier rank is determined based on the rigour of responsible sourcing demonstrated by the supplier(s)/manufacturer(s) of that material/element (through responsible sourcing certification schemes).
  3. Refer to Table 24 in the Additional Information section for a list of responsible sourcing certification schemes, their scope and corresponding tier level.
  1. The number of BREEAM credits achieved is determined as follows:
BREEAM credits % of available points achieved
3 ≥ 54%
2 ≥ 36%
1 ≥ 18%

Note:

  1. The BREEAM Mat 03 calculator must be used to determine the points and credits achieved for this issue.
  2. To achieve points for any given building element, at least 80% of the materials that make-up that element must be responsibly sourced i.e. classified in tier 1-7.
  3. The number of building elements present and therefore applicable determines the maximum number of points available e.g. if nine elements are present and assessed the maximum number of available points will be 36.
  4. Potential variance in tier levels achieved for materials within any one element will require a pro-rata calculation of the points total for any given element.
  5. Refer to the Calculation procedures in the Additional Information section for a description of how the number of points and credits are determined.
  1. Confirmation that all timber used on the project is sourced in accordance with the UK Government’s Timber Procurement Policy.

Note:

  1. It is a minimum requirement of BREEAM certification (for any rating level) that compliance with criterion 3 is confirmed (see Compliance note for further information).
  2. In meeting this requirement, there is no minimum number of BREEAM credits that need to be achieved for this assessment issue (the BREEAM credit benchmarks for responsible sourcing are calibrated on the basis of assessing all major building materials and not for any single material).

Exemplary level criteria

The following outlines the exemplary level criteria to achieve an innovation credit for this BREEAM issue:

  1. Where 70% of the available responsible sourcing points have been achieved.

Compliance Notes

Ref

Terms

Description

CN1 

 Government’s Policy for UK Timber Procurement. See criterion 3

The UK Government’s timber procurement policy requires that all timber and wood-derived products must be from only:

  1. Independently verifiable legal and sustainable sources OR
  2. FLEGT-licensed timber or equivalent sources

Some of the responsible sourcing schemes listed in the Additional Information section of this BREEAM issue will meet this definition. Further information on the UK Timber Procurement Policy and compliant responsible sourcing certification schemes is available from the CPET (Central Point of expertise for timber procurement) website: www.cpet.org.uk

CN2 

 Checking responsible sourcing claims See criterion 1c Confirmation of claims should be sought from the relevant scheme provider. Many of the organisations who administer certification schemes will, via their website, list companies and products that have been certified against their standards, including the scope of any such certification. Some schemes, including BES 6001 via www.greenbooklive.com, will provide downloadable copies of the relevant certificate, which can in turn be used as evidence of compliance with this BREEAM issue.

CN3 

 Building element not present.
See criterion 2c		 Where an element is not present, e.g. the building has no upper floors because it is a single storey building, it will not require assessment. In such instances, the element can be defined ‘not applicable’ in the BREEAM Mat 03 calculator and only those elements present contribute towards achieving responsible sourcing points and BREEAM credits.

CN4 

 Existing elements re-used in the new construction. See criteria 1 & 2 If the building is re-using any existing in-situ elements, those elements do not need to be accounted for in the assessment of this issue. This may be the case where the new development is re-using an existing façade e.g. it is a new-build extension or is a part new-build part refurbishment project. The same applies to site derived masonry where it is used as a base for hard landscaping. The aim of this issue is to focus on the responsible sourcing of new specified materials only.

CN5 

 Hard landscaping element. See criteria 1 & 2 Hard landscaping is listed as one of the main building elements to be assessed where present. However, where the footprint area of hard landscaping element is smaller in proportion to that of the gross floor area of the building, it must be excluded from the list of applicable elements and materials assessed.

CN6 

 Fittings element See criteria 1 & 2

The definition of this element includes a number of separate fittings/finishing elements (refer to Table 23 below). As with the other elements covered by this issue, only the materials that make-up a significant majority (at least 80%) of the finishing elements need to be considered when determining the points contribution (though the option to consider them all is available).

This element must be excluded for assessments of shell only projects and industrial buildings/units (as these projects use no or very few materials for fittings/finishes).

CN7 

 Specified reused materials.
See criterion 1c		 Reused materials specified for the development are considered equivalent to materials covered by certification schemes that fall within tier 3 of the Responsible Sourcing Tier Levels and Criteria, Table 24. See also note below on pre or post consumer waste.

CN8 

 Pre or post consumer waste. See criterion 1c & 3 Where materials being assessed (including timber) are part of a pre or post consumer waste stream, the EMS sections of the credit can be applied for; however, using an EMS scheme (ISO, EMAS etc.) for new timber does not demonstrate timber certification and therefore does not qualify for any of these BREEAM credits.

CN9 

 Insulating materials.
See criterion 1a		 The responsible souring of materials used for insulating the building fabric and services is assessed as part of BREEAM issue Mat 04 Insulation. Therefore insulating materials are not assessed as part of this issue, but they are still subject to the BREEAM responsible sourcing requirements.

CN10 

 A Government licence.
See criterion 3		 A Government licence e.g. UK Forestry Commission felling licence certificate, does not comply as a third party timber certification scheme for this issue, but can be used as evidence of legally sourced timber.

CN11 

 Multi-residential developments with CSH assessed dwellings.
See criterion 1,2 & 3

For multi-residential developments that also have self-contained dwellings being assessed under the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), the following applies:

The CSH and BREEAM have a different number of credits available for this issue. The credits achieved in the CSH cannot therefore be applied directly to a BREEAM assessment of a multi-residential building. However, the assessment criteria for this BREEAM issue is similar to the CSH, so where the building is compliant with issue Mat 2 of the CSH, the building assessment is inherently compliant with this issue (albeit the number of credits that can be awarded may differ). Where this is the case, the construction details of each element and the tiers that each material complies with should be entered into the BREEAM Mat 03 calculator to determine the number of credits achieved for this BREEAM issue.

Schedule of Evidence

Ref Design stage
 Post-construction stage
All

Design plan and/or specification confirming:

  1. The building elements.
  2. Details of the materials specification for each element.

A copy of the output from the BREEAM Mat 03 calculator

AND EITHER

  1. A letter of intent from the design team or other detailed documentary evidence confirming the product shall be sourced from suppliers capable of providing certification to the level required for the particular tier claimed OR
  2. A copy of the relevant responsible sourcing scheme certificate(s) for the relevant specifications/products.

Written confirmation that the documentary evidence provided at Design Stage, detailing elements/materials specification have been used as specified.

Where different from Design Stage, provide ‘as built’ drawings/specification.

Where certified materials were used, copies of all relevant certificates/chain of custody evidence OR

Where Post Construction Stage assessment only, provide copy of the BREEAM Mat 03 Calculator and detailed documentary evidence (as listed for Design Stage).
Recycled materials
 

Documentation stating specific recycled materials

A letter of intent to use suppliers who can provide an EMS certificate (or equivalent) for the recycling process.

 As above.
Timber procurement
 

Written confirmation from the supplier/s that all timber is sourced in compliance with the UK Government Timber Procurement Policy for legal and sustainable sourcing OR

Copies of the actual chain of custody evidence in accordance with CPET requirements OR

A specification or letter of intent from the design team confirming that all timber will be procured in accordance with the policy.

 As above.
Green Dragon Environmental Standard ® 2006 (Safon Amgylcheddol Y Ddraig Werdd ®):
 

Written confirmation from supplier(s) that the Green Dragon Environmental Standard has been completed up to and including Level 4. Confirmation is taken from a Green Dragon Standard certificate stating the company's achievement of Level 4.

As company’s achieving Level 4 will normally be required to undertake annual audits, this certification should be dated within 1 year at the point of the last purchase made from the company.

For smaller companies with low environmental impacts, a renewal date of within 2 years is acceptable.

 As above.
Small company EMS, (see relevant definitions)
 

Written confirmation from the supplier/s confirming that:

  1. The company EMS is structured in compliance with BS 8555 2003 (or equivalent).
  2. The EMS has completed phase audits one to four as outlined in BS 8555. This can be found in company documentation demonstrating the process and typical outputs from phase four audits such as an EMS manual/ paperwork and guidance to staff.
  3. Where independent certification exists to demonstrate these phases, it can be used as evidence
 As above.

Additional Information

Relevant definitions

BREEAM Mat 03 Calculator
A calculator tool used by the BREEAM Assessor to determine the number of BREEAM credits achieved for BREEAM issue Mat 03.
Chain of custody (CoC)
This is a process used to maintain and document the chronological history of the evidence/path for products from forests to consumers. Timber must be tracked from the certified forest to the finished product. All the steps, from the transportation of timber from the forest to a sawmill until it reaches the customer, must maintain adequate inventory control systems that allow for separation and identification of the certified product. Chain of custody certification ensures that a facility has procedures in place to track timber from certified forests and avoid confusion with non-certified timber. Chain of custody is established and audited according to the rules of relevant forest certification systems. See also definition of CITES below.
CITES
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (extract taken from the CITES website)1 www.cites.org/. CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. Each Party to the Convention must designate one or more Management Authorities in charge of administering that licensing system and one or more Scientific Authorities to advise them on the effects of trade on the status of the species.
The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.
  1. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
  2. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
  3. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.
Appendices I and II of the CITES list illustrate species of timber that are protected outright. Appendix III of the CITES list illustrates species that are protected in at least one country. If a timber species used in the development is on Appendix III it can be included as part of the assessment as long as the timber is not obtained from the country/countries seeking to protect this species.
Composite material
Composite material can be defined as an engineered material made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties and which remain separate and distinct on a macroscopic level within the finished structure. Resin based composites such as glass reinforced plastic and polymeric render and timber composites such as Chipboard/Particleboard, MDF, OSB, plywood, hardboard, laminated veneered lumber, glulam and cement bonded particleboard are all required to be assessed for responsible sourcing.
Frame
The frame is any of the main structural elements that are not included in the roof, external walls and floors. For example, timber or metal studwork within a plasterboard partition would be included within the internal walls, and timber joists would be included within the floor construction. Where a concrete or steel frame is used, this would be treated as the Frame as it would not be integral to the internal walls for example.
Green Dragon Environmental Standard ® (Safon Amgylcheddol Y Ddraig Werdd ®)
A stepped standard used to accredit compliance with the Green Dragon Environmental Management Scheme. Dependant on the content of the EMS being assessed, a Level of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 may be achieved. At level 4 and above, the Green Dragon Environmental Standard ® can be used as evidence of a compliant EMS for small companies being considered under the assessment of this BREEAM issue. www.greendragonems.com
Green Guide Element Number
Refer to Mat 01 Life cycle impacts.
Hard Landscaping
This includes materials for the surfacing (including sub-bases) of external pedestrian areas and lightly and heavily trafficked areas within the construction zone.
Key processes
The final major aspects of processing that are carried out for the product/material in question. There may be a single process or multiple processes requiring assessment, depending on the end product. The criteria for each of the assessed materials are detailed in Table 25 EMS scope by material type.
Legally Sourced Timber
BREEAM follows the UK Government's definition of legally sourced timber, as outlined in the CPET 2nd Edition report on UK Government Timber Procurement Policy2UK Government Timber Procurement Policy, Definition of ‘legal’ and ‘sustainable’ for timber procurement, Second Edition, CPET, 2006., which states that legal timber and wood derived products are those which originate from a forest where the following criteria are met:
    The forest owner/manager holds legal use rights to the forest.
    There is compliance by both the forest management organisation and any contractors with local and national legal criteria including those relevant to:
    1. Forest management
    2. Environment
    3. Labour and welfare
    4. Health & safety
    5. Other parties’ tenure and use rights
    All relevant royalties and taxes are paid.
    There is compliance with the criteria of CITES.
Relevant documentation demonstrating the above must be provided or made available on request subject to the availability of such materials in the country concerned.
Online Responsible Sourcing Calculator
A web-based calculator for determining the percentage breakdown of materials that comprise a specific building elemental specification e.g. an external wall. Data is available for all elemental specifications that have a generic Green Guide rating. The calculator is available to licensed BREEAM Assessors via the online BREEAM Assessor Extranet (see the Additional Information section for more detail).
Pre-consumer waste stream
Waste material generated during manufacturing processes, this excludes reutilisation of materials such as rework, regrind or scrap generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it.
Post-consumer waste stream
Waste material generated by households or by commercial, industrial and institutional facilities in their role as end-users of the product, which can no longer be used for its intended purpose. This includes returns of material from the distribution chain.
Responsible sourcing
This is demonstrated through auditable third party certification schemes.
Reused materials
Materials that can be extracted from the waste stream and used again without further processing, or with only minor processing, that does not alter the nature of the material (e.g. cleaning, cutting, fixing to other materials).
Recycled material
Materials diverted from the pre-consumer and/or post-consumer waste streams that require significant processing before they can be used again. For further information please see Calculating and declaring recycled content in construction products, “Rules of Thumb” Guide (WRAP, 2008) http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/Rules_of_Thumb1.pdf'.
Supply chain EMS
Supply chain EMS covers all of the major aspects of processing and extraction involved in the supply chain for the end product. Note that recycled materials are not required to demonstrate a Supply Chain EMS. If EMS certification is provided for the Key Processes for recycled materials, this is assumed by default.
Small company
A company is defined as ‘small’ if it satisfies at least two of the following criteria:
    A turnover of not more than £6.5 million ;
    A balance sheet total of not more than £3.26 million
    50 employees or fewer.
This is based on the definition stated in the Companies Act of 2006.
Tier levels
A graded scale to reflect the rigour of the certification scheme used to demonstrate responsible sourcing, forming the basis for awarding points and credits in the BREEAM issue Mat 03 (all as detailed in Table 24 Responsible sourcing certification scheme and their tier levels).

Checklists and Tables

Table 23 Applicable building elements and materials

Building elements
  1. Structural Frame
  2. Ground floor
  3. Upper floors (including separating floors)
  4. Roof
  5. External walls
  6. Internal walls
  7. Foundation/substructure
  8. Fittings: includes stair case, windows (frame and glazing units), doors (internal and external), floor finishes and any other significant fitting or finish present (see also Compliance note).
  9. Hard landscaping (see also Compliance note)
Applicable materials
  1. Brick (including clay tiles and other ceramics)
  2. Pavers (concrete, clay)
  3. Resin-based composites and materials, including GRP and polymeric render
  4. Concrete (including in-situ and pre-cast concrete, blocks, tiles, mortars, cementitious renders etc.)
  5. Glass
  6. Plastics and rubbers (including EPDM, TPO, PVC and VET roofing and other membranes and polymeric renders)
  7. Metals (steel, aluminium etc.)
  8. Dressed or building stone including slate
  9. Stone and gravel
  10. Timber, timber composite and wood panels (including glulam, plywood, OSB, MDF, chipboard and cement bonded particleboard)
  11. Plasterboard and plaster
  12. Bituminous materials, such as roofing membranes and asphalt
  13. Other mineral-based materials, including fibre cement and calcium silicate
  14. Products with recycled content
Excluded materials
  1. Insulation (refer to BREEAM issue Mat 04 Insulation)
  2. Fixings
  3. Adhesives
  4. Additives

For any other materials that form a part of an applicable building element, but do not fit into the applicable materials list or the exclusions list, please refer to BRE Global who will identify the relevant Key Process and Supply Chain Process or Processes.

Table 24 Responsible Sourcing Certification Schemes and their tier levels

Scheme Certification level/scope Tier level
BRE Global, BES6001 Product certification1 Excellent 2
Very Good 3
Good 4
Pass 5
BRE Global, BES6001 Standard certification2 Excellent 2
Very Good 3
Good 4
Pass 5
Canadian Standards Association's (CSA) Chain of Custody Scheme Chain of custody certification 3

UK CARES Sustainable Reinforcing Scheme (SRS)

 -

4

Environmental Management System (EMS)(certified)3 Key process and supply chain extraction process4 6
Environmental Management System (EMS) (certified) Key process 7
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of custody certification 3
Green Dragon Environmental Standard Level 4 and above 7
Recycled materials Certified EMS for key process 6
Re-used materials - 3
Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) Chain of custody certification 6
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Chain of custody certification 3
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Chain of custody certification 3
Société Générale de Surveillance's (SGS) 'Timber Legality and Traceability' scheme Timber Legality & Traceability Verification (TLTV) 6
Rainforest Alliance's 'Verification of Legal Origin and Compliance' scheme (supersedes SmartWood Verified) Verification of Legal Origin and Compliance (VLO/VLC) 6
  1. In BES6001:2008 to achieve a ‘Pass’, level ‘a’ must, as a minimum, be achieved for clauses 3.3.1, 3.3.2 and 3.3.3. Under clause 3.3.2 level ‘a’ requires a documented EMS system following the principles of ISO14001, but not formal certification. To achieve higher ratings such as ‘Good’, ‘Very Good’ and Excellent a minimum number of points from a combination of clauses 3.3.1, 3.3.2 and 3.3.3 must be achieved. It is possible therefore to get a ‘Good’ or ‘Very good’ rating by only complying with level ‘a’ for clause 3.3.2 and levels ‘c’ and ‘d’ for the other two clauses without necessarily having in place a formal independently certified EMS (as required above). If the BES 6001 assessor, in conducting the BES6001 assessment, confirms full compliance with clause 3.3.2 level ‘a’ then the requirement for an independently certified EMS is deemed to have been met.
  2. Performance ratings for schemes compliant with BES6001:2008 (or similar) can only be used to demonstrate compliance with the assessment criteria for this issue where certification covers the key process and supply chain processes for the material being assessed.
  3. Where an EMS is used to assess products made from recycled timber, 100% of the timber content must be recycled or sourced from one of the recognised timber certification schemes in Table 24. A timber product with 50% recycled timber and 50% legally sourced timber will not comply with the criteria and will not be awarded any points. Using an EMS for new timber does not demonstrate timber certification and therefore does not qualify for points.
  4. For a list of the key process and supply chain (extraction) processes (by material type) that the scope of the EMS must cover see Table 25.

Table 25 EMS scope by material type

Material Key process Key supply chain processes
Brick (including clay tiles and other ceramics) Product manufacture Clay extraction
Resin-based composites and materials (including GRP and polymeric render but excluding timber based composites) Composite product manufacture

Glass fibre production (or other principle matrix material)

Polymer production
In situ concrete (including ready mix and cementitious mortars and renders)1 Ready mixed concrete plant

Cement production

Aggregate extraction and production
Precast concrete and other concrete products (including blocks, cladding, precast flooring, concrete or cementitious roof tiles) Concrete product manufacture

Cement production

Aggregate extraction and production
Glass Glass production

Sand extraction

Soda ash production or extraction
Plastics and rubbers (including polymeric renders, EPDM, TPO, PVC and VET roofing membranes) Plastic/rubber product manufacture Main polymer production
Metals (steel, aluminium etc.) Metal product manufacture - e.g. cladding production, steel section production

Metal production:

Steel: Electric arc furnace or basic oxygen furnace process,

Aluminium, ingot production,

Copper: ingot or cathode production.
Dressed or building stone (including slate) Stone product manufacture Stone extraction
Plasterboard and plaster Plasterboard or plaster manufacture

Gypsum extraction

Synthetic gypsum (from flue gas desulphurisation) by default (recycled content)
Virgin timber Timber from certified sources Timber from certified sources
Cement bonded particle board

Due to the significant cement content, in addition to requiring timber certification, the key supply chain process must also be considered to obtain the relevant tier.

Timber from certified sources

Cement production

Timber from certified sources
Wood panel and wood based composite products such as Oriented Strand Board, plywood, HPL, chipboard/particle, glulam, LVL, etc.) Wood products, including those with recycled content, can only use the timber certification route
Bituminous materials, such as roofing membranes and asphalt Product manufacture

Bitumen production

Aggregate extraction and production
Other mineral-based materials, including fibre cement and calcium silicate Product manufacture

Cement production

Lime production

Other mineral extraction and production
Products with 100% recycled content Product manufacture Recycled input by default
Products with lower % of recycled content Product manufacture

Supply chain process/processes for any virgin material in the relevant product type above.

Recycled input by default
Any other product Key processes is likely to be product manufacture 1 or 2 main inputs with significant production or extraction impacts should be identified
Excluded products: insulation materials, fixings, adhesives, additives N/A N/A
  1. Where cement and aggregate, or dry mix concrete are mixed on site, (i.e. not concrete previously certified as pre–cast concrete products or wet ready mix concrete), certification must cover the manufacture of the cement as the primary process, and the extraction of the aggregate and limestone used to make the cement as the supply chain process.

Calculation procedures

The following outlines the calculation procedure that determines the number of credits achieved for responsible sourcing:

  1. A maximum of 4.0 points are available for each of the building elements assessed. If all nine building elements are present the maximum number of responsible sourcing points available is 36, therefore to achieve at least one credit where all elements apply, at least 6.5 points must be achieved (18% of the available points).
  2. To achieve any points for a given building element, at least 80% of the materials that make-up that element must be ‘responsibly sourced’ i.e. fall within tier levels 1-7. If, for example, one element consists of a single material such as timber and 80% of the timber is certified to a tier 3 scheme, that element will achieve 3.0 points towards its overall target. In reality however, each element will consist of a number of different materials, each of which may be certified by a responsible sourcing scheme within different tier levels.
  3. Where an element consists of several different materials, each material will need to be considered and, based on the level of responsible sourcing achieved i.e. tier level, a relative proportion of the points available awarded. An example of this calculation is provided below for an external wall (brick, blockwork cavity wall). As above, to achieve any points for a given element 80% of the materials within the element must meet the definition of ‘responsibly sourced’.

Example: External wall element

Material % of element Tier level achieved Points achieved (material) % of element 'responsibly sourced' % contribution to responsible sourcing' Points achieved (element)
Bricks 54% 4 2.50 54% 66% 1.65
Aircrete concrete block 22% 3 3.00 22% 27% 0.80
External cement mortar and screed 13% 8 0.00 0% 0% 0.00
Plaster 6% 5 2.00 6% 7% 0.15
Internal cement mortar and screed 5% 8 0.00 0% 0% 0.00
Element total 100% - - 82% 100% 2.60

Note:

Materials that contribute the largest percentage to an element should be prioritised and, once the 80% threshold has been reached, it is not necessary to consider the remaining 20% of materials (particularly if they make-up only a small fraction of the element). However, the assessor and design team should bear in mind that it may be beneficial to include small percentages of materials that are in tiers higher than those materials assessed as part of meeting the 80% threshold. This could make the difference where a project is close to or on the threshold between credit levels.

  1. In addition to an element consisting of several different materials, it may also consist of several different specifications, each itself consisting of several different materials with varying tier levels. The responsible sourcing contribution of each material to the building element’s overall level of performance must be determined (as above for a single specification). An example of this is provided below for an external wall consisting of two different specifications. As before, to achieve any points for a given element 80% of the materials within the element must meet the definition of ‘responsibly sourced’.

Example: External wall element (two specifications)

Material % of specification % of element Tier level achieved Points achieved (materials) % of element 'responsibly sourced' % contribution to 'responsible sourcing' Points achieved (element)
Specification 1 33% - - - - -
Bricks 54% 18% 4 2.50 18% 22% 0.56
Aircrete concrete block 22% 7% 3 3.00 7% 9% 0.26
External cement mortar and screed 13% 4% 8 0.00 0% 0% 0.00
Plaster 6% 2% 5 2.00 2% 2% 0.05
Internal cement mortar and screed 5% 2% 8 0.00 0% 0% 0.00
Total (specification) 100% 33% - - 27% - 0.86
Specification 2 67% - - - - -
Medium density concrete block 72% 50% 3 3.00 50% 62% 1.81
Flat glass (coated) 15% 10% 8 0.00 0% 0% 0.00
Internal cement mortar 6% 3% 8 0.00 0% 0% 0.00
Plasterboard 5% 3% 6 1.50 3% 4% 0.06
Aluminium extrusion 2% 1% 3 3.00 1% 1% 0.05
Total (specification) 100% 67% - - 54% - 1.94
Element total - 100% - - 81% 100% 2.81
  1. Once all applicable elements and materials have been defined, the point’s totals are summed and this total, as a proportion of the maximum number of points available, is determined. This benchmark is then compared with the criteria and the corresponding number of BREEAM credits awarded, as illustrated below.

Example: Total responsible sourcing points and BREEAM credits

Element Points available Points achieved
Structural frame 4.0 1.20
Ground floor 4.0 0.00
Upper floors 4.0 2.15
Roof 4.0 0.75
External walls 4.0 2.80
Internal walls 4.0 3.00
Foundation/substructure 4.0 0.50
Fittings 4.0 0.00
Hard landscaping 4.0 3.00
Element total 36.0 13.40
Percentage of available points achieved   37.22%
BREEAM credits achieved   2 credits

Other information

Determining the percentage material breakdown for a building element specification

There are two ways of determining this for materials and elements where responsible sourcing is assured:

  1. Where the specification for any given element matches that of a Green Guide rated elemental specification, its constituent material breakdown can be determined (by percentage) using the BRE Global online Responsible Sourcing Calculator (further detail below).

Or, where the specification does not match a Green Guide rated specification and/or a material breakdown cannot be sourced via the online Responsible Sourcing calculator;

  1. An ‘applicable materials’ breakdown must be provided by the design team (or manufacturer of a proprietary elemental system/product, where specified), by volume or percentage for each appropriate element.

The online Responsible Sourcing Calculator for determining the percentage material breakdown of elemental specifications

BRE Global can, via its online Responsible Sourcing Calculator, provide licensed BREEAM assessors with a percentage breakdown of materials for any elemental specification with a Green Guide rating. Assessors can use the online tool to determine the percentage breakdown in two ways; either by entering an individual Green Guide element number for the required specification (if known) or through a search function, by element and specification type. The online Responsible Sourcing Calculator can be accessed by licensed BREEAM assessors via the BREEAM Assessor Extranet.

Note:

In their certification report the BREEAM assessor must reference the Green Guide element number for any data sourced from the online Responsible Sourcing Calculator.

Calculating timber volumes

When sourcing information from component manufacturers or project estimators, information on areas, lengths and volumes of timber is likely to be available and provided. In order to calculate the volume of wood in timber frame windows, the total length of frame must be obtained. This can then be converted to a volume by multiplying the length of frame on fixed windows by 0.00653 and the length of frame on opening windows by 0.01089.

In order to calculate the volume of timber in composite timber doors such as a flush door, calculate the total area of all doors summed over the whole building and multiply this by 0.02187 (this factor gives the total volume of timber in the doors and frames).

BES 6001:2008 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products

This is a BRE Global standard that provides a framework for the assessment and certification of the responsible sourcing of construction products. The Standard has been structured so that compliance can be demonstrated through a combination of meeting the requirements of other recognised certification schemes, establishing written policies, setting objectives and targets and engaging with relevant stakeholders.

To comply with the standard a product must meet a number of mandatory criteria. Where a product demonstrates compliance beyond the mandatory levels, higher levels of performance can be achieved. The standard's performance ratings range from Pass to Good, Very Good and Excellent.

The development of this standard and subsequent certification schemes will, it is envisaged, provide construction products, not wholly covered under current recognised standards, a means for demonstrating their responsibly sourced credentials. In turn this will allow clients, developers and design teams to specify responsibly sourced construction products with greater assurance and provide a means of demonstrating compliance with the assessment criteria for this BREEAM issue.

To view a list of products approved to BES6001 and additional information about the Standard visit: www.greenbooklive.com/

BS 8902:2009 Responsible sourcing sector certification schemes for construction products – Specification

BS 8902:2009 is not included in the tier table as it is not a product standard; rather it is a standard against which other sector standards for responsible sourcing can be assessed. BRE Global recognises that sector schemes compliant with BS 8902:2009 may be developed in the future and should be eligible for inclusion within this Table. Inclusion of schemes deemed as compliant with BS 8902:2009 will be considered by BRE Global on a case-by-case basis to determine their position within the table’s Tier hierarchy. A sector scheme deemed compliant with BS 8902:2009 by an appropriate third-party accreditation body will secure more tier points than an equivalent but unaccredited scheme.

FSC and PEFC validity

This CPET document may be helpful to assessors with respect to determining the validity of FSC and PEFC certificates.

http://www.cpet.org.uk/files/CPET-HowtocheckFSC%20and%20PEFC%20certification.pdf

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