08 August 2012
Yorkon Publishes New Technical Paper - 'A Practical Guide to BREEAM'
Off-site construction specialist, Yorkon, has published a new technical paper for construction clients and contractors - 'A Practical Guide to BREEAM - An Essential Tool for Sustainable Development, Design and Construction'.
BREEAM is the world's foremost method of assessing and rating buildings for environmental efficiency. Over 200,000 projects have already been certified and a million registered since the system was first launched. The scheme evaluates the specification, design, construction and uses of a building. Its measures include energy and water use, the internal environment for health and wellbeing, pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes. BREEAM is revised every few years to ensure it remains fully up-to-date and represents current best practice.
The new technical paper from Yorkon sets out the most recent changes to the BREEAM methodology and provides construction clients with a valuable guide to the process and how it should be thoroughly integrated into the design and construction phases of a project, as well as the important roles for the client, contractor, and architect.
The report, which can be downloaded from www.yorkon.info/industryreports, looks at:
- An introduction to BREEAM 2011
- The purpose of BREEAM
- How a project is assessed and when
- The benefits
- The latest changes to the methodology and assessment
- How off-site construction can add value to the BREEAM process.
Commenting on the issue, Simon Ambler, Director of Yorkon, said, "The biggest opportunity to address the UK's environmental impact lies in the better management and improvement of our buildings. The environmental performance of an organisation's built assets is a key factor in its sustainability credentials and carbon footprint. Operating a building also represents a major cost - and with soaring energy prices and such a challenging economic climate, reducing energy, water, waste and other such costs can be a relatively easy way of improving cost efficiency.
"The latest BREEAM updates are contributing to a change in mindset across the property sector - the responsibility for the BREEAM process must be shared by the whole team - architect, contractor, and client. And it has to be considered from the very earliest planning stages of a project. If these two points are taken on board, BREEAM becomes a genuinely invaluable tool, and will help us protect the resources of the planet for future generations."
The Yorkon approach to off-site construction can add significant value to the BREEAM process, promoting both sustainability and whole life value.
A steel-framed modular building is manufactured off site in a factory so vehicle movements to site are reduced by up to 90 per cent; work on site is quieter and cleaner; and materials are stored under cover, minimising waste through damage and deterioration. Other environmental advantages include:
- Up to 67 per cent less embodied energy is required to produce a modular building compared to a site-built facility (source: MPBA)
- Precision manufacturing in a factory environment improves thermal efficiency, often exceeding Building Regulations requirements for air permeability to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions
- The building structure has significant recycled content - steel, aluminium, glass, particleboard and plasterboard
- Material waste is reduced by up to 90 per cent (source: WRAP)
- The building modules are inherently easy to disassemble and recycle when a building becomes surplus to requirements or at the end of its life.
Yorkon is part of the Portakabin Group.
To download a copy of the new guide to BREEAM, visit www.yorkon.info/industryreports.
Editor's Notes
1. If you would be interested in an article based on the new guide for your publication, please let us know. We would be happy to discuss your requirements.
2. Other advantages of Yorkon steel-framed modular building solutions include:
- Programme times reduced by up to 50 per cent, allowing earlier completion and occupation
- Reduced disruption during construction
- Improved quality and reduced future maintenance
- A high level of design flexibility internally and externally
- Buildings can be expanded without decanting
- Greater cost control
- Improved health and safety during construction.
