How does the BREEAM certification process work?

BREEAM starts with a formal assessment carried out by a licensed BREEAM Assessor. The process begins early in the design stage, where the project team identifies which credits are achievable. These credits cover energy, water, pollution, materials, health, waste, and several other categories.

As the project moves forward, the assessor gathers evidence — plans, calculations, environmental reports, commissioning records, etc. — to show the building meets the required standards. Once everything is verified, the project gets a rating such as Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent or Outstanding.

It’s a structured but flexible process, so teams can choose the most relevant sustainability pathways for their project.