The BREEAM 2011 Scheme Document is now available and will replace BREEAM 2008 for new building assessments from 1st July 2011. Please see the following link to access a web version of the document.
http://www.breeam.org/BREEAM2011SchemeDocument/
Please note that WBM accepts no responsibility for, nor endorses the content of external websites.
With regard to acoustics there are two issues in BREEAM 2011 that can be used to obtain credits; Hea 05 Acoustic Performance and Pol 05 Noise Attenuation.
Hea 05 Acoustic Performance is within the "Health and Wellbeing" section. The number of credits available depends on the type of building being assessed. This issue is split into two parts:
- Pre-requisite
- Acoustic performance standards
For the "Pre-requisite" part, an acoustician should be appointed by the client at pre-bid / briefing stage of the project to provide early design advice on:
a. External sources of noise impacting the chosen site
b. Site layout and zoning of the building for good acoustics
c. Acoustic requirements for users with special hearing and communication needs
d. Acoustic treatment of different zones and facades.
For the "Acoustic performance standards " part, the building should meet the acoustic performance standards and testing requirements for the relevant building type and function areas as set out in BREEAM 2011.
The numbers of credits available for different types of buildings are as follows:
- Pre-schools, school and sixth form colleges - up to three credits (BB93, control of rain noise and music accommodation)
- Further or higher education buildings - up to two credits (indoor ambient noise and reverberation time)
- Healthcare buildings - up to two credits (HTM 08-01 for internal noise and sound insulation, and for the control of reverberation)
- Multi-residential buildings - one, three or four credits (sound insulation)
- Office, industrial, retail, prisons, courts and other non-residential building types - up to two credits (indoor ambient noise/sound insulation, and reverberation time)
Pol 05 Noise Attenuation is within the "Pollution" section, with one credit available for this issue. The credit can be awarded by default where there are, or will be, no noise-sensitive areas or buildings within 800m radius of the assessed development. Where there are, or will be, noise-sensitive areas or buildings within 800m radius of the assessed development, a noise impact assessment is required to determine the existing background noise levels at the nearest or most exposed noise-sensitive development, and the rating noise level resulting from the new noise source at the assessed development. Noise impact assessment relates only to building services plant; additional process-related noise does not have to be considered. Stand-by generating plant should also not be included. Relative noise limits for the new noise source are set out in the BREEAM 2011 document for daytime and night-time periods.
The reference to and use of BS 4142 "Method for Rating industrial noise affecting mixed residential and industrial areas " (as used in BREEAM 2008) has been replaced with BS 7445 "Description and measurement of environmental noise"
Posted Date: 14th Jul 2011