BREEAM Assessor (New Construction) key terms

A voluntary sustainability rating method for buildings that scores environmental performance across defined categories and converts the total into a certified rating from Pass to Outstanding.

The overall performance band awarded to a certified project, expressed as Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent or Outstanding according to the percentage of available credits achieved.

One of the environmental topic areas, such as energy, water, materials or health and wellbeing, into which issues and credits are grouped and which carries a weighting in the total score.

A single requirement within an assessment category, containing one or more credits that a project can aim to achieve by meeting defined criteria and submitting evidence.

The unit of achievement awarded when a project satisfies the criteria of an issue; credits are multiplied by category weightings and summed to produce the overall score.

The percentage influence a category has on the final score, adjusted by building type and scheme version, so that higher-priority environmental topics count for more.

A set of multipliers applied to category scores to reflect the relative importance of each environmental topic for a given building type and scheme version.

A mandatory requirement that must be met before a given rating can be awarded, regardless of the total score achieved elsewhere in the assessment.

An additional credit available for exemplary performance or for a new technology or process that goes beyond the standard requirements of the scheme.

Stricter performance thresholds attached to certain issues that reward projects going beyond the normal credit requirements, often through additional credits or innovation recognition.

The specific edition and technical manual of the standard under which a project is registered and assessed, fixing the criteria, weightings and evidence rules that apply.

The detailed reference document for a scheme version that sets out the aim, criteria, evidence requirements, checklists and calculation methods for each issue.

A defined point in the project lifecycle, such as design or post-construction, at which credits are formally assessed and evidence is reviewed against the applicable criteria.

The formal step in which a project is entered into the certification scheme with the scheme operator, fixing its scheme version and creating the assessment record.

A design-stage review in which the assessor evaluates the available evidence and reports the credits likely to be achieved, before construction is complete.

The post-construction assessment in which all credits are verified against as-built evidence and the certificate and rating are formally issued by the scheme operator.

The organisation that administers the scheme, licenses assessors, quality-assures submitted assessments and issues the final certificate and rating.

An individual who has completed the required training and examination, holds a current licence and is authorised to register and assess projects under the scheme.

The formal file held by the scheme operator for a registered project, containing registration details, submitted evidence, assessor reports and certification decisions.

The organised collection of documents, calculations, drawings, certificates and photographs that supports each claimed credit and is retained for verification.

The assessor's check that submitted evidence is relevant, current, complete and actually demonstrates compliance with the criteria of the claimed credit.

The judgment that the evidence provided is adequate in scope and quality to prove the credit criteria are met, without relying on assumption or verbal assurance.

The documented link between a claimed credit, its criteria, the evidence relied upon and the person who verified it, allowing an independent reviewer to retrace the decision.

An independent review by the scheme operator or its agent of a sample of assessments to confirm that credits awarded are properly evidenced and consistent with the criteria.

The systematic checking of input data, such as energy model outputs or meter readings, for completeness, correct units, plausible values and traceable source documents.

A situation where the assessor's other roles, financial interests or relationships could bias the assessment, which must be declared and managed or avoided.

The requirement that assessments and credit decisions are made objectively on the evidence alone, without pressure from clients, designers or commercial interests.

The professional rules binding licensed assessors, covering integrity, competence, confidentiality, accurate reporting and proper use of the scheme's trademarks and claims.

The combination of technical knowledge, scheme expertise and relevant project experience that an assessor must maintain to carry out assessments reliably.

The ongoing training and learning that a licensed assessor must record to keep skills current and to retain the licence under the scheme's requirements.

The web-based platform used to register projects, enter credit responses, upload evidence, calculate scores and submit the assessment for certification.

A provisional indicator within the online tool showing, for each issue, whether the evidence entered is likely to support the claimed credit, needs more information or is non-compliant.

An early exercise estimating achievable credits and identifying gaps, used to set sustainability targets and plan evidence collection before formal registration.

The planned schedule of assessment activities, evidence deadlines and submission dates aligned to project milestones and the certification route chosen.

The duty of the project client to provide accurate information and timely access to evidence, on which the assessor's certification claims depend.

A claimed credit that fails to meet its criteria or lacks adequate evidence, resulting in the credit being withheld or the assessment being returned for correction.

Any public statement about a project's rating or credits, which must accurately reflect the certified outcome and follow the scheme's rules on use of its marks.