Last edited 10 Nov 2020

Main author

Emma Houston Other Consultant Website

BREEAM Hard landscaping and boundary protection

Contents

[edit] Aim and benefits

To recognise and encourage the specification of materials for boundary protection and external hard surfaces that have a low environmental impact, taking account of the full lifecycle of materials used.

Hard landscaping can make up a significant area of the development and mitigating its impact can make a significant different to the site.

[edit] Value to client

Choice of specification will take into account the life-cycle cost and impact, which means that durability and maintenance affecting the client are considered part of the design.

[edit] When to consider

Stage 2

When the design is moving into detailed design. Green guide ratings of materials should be checked and the areas being dealt with should be calculated as early as possible.

[edit] Step by step guidance

Landscape architect or Architect is responsible for this credit.

The landscape specification and design drawings should be provided with the green guide ratings for each applicable element detailed.

The green guide to specification should be consulted when the specification is being put together -www.thegreenguide.org.uk

Access to the Green guide requires a log in, an email address is all that is needed and anyone can access it.

Where a green guide rating cannot be found to match a proposed element the BREEAM assessor can contact the BRE for a bespoke rating. Many manufacturers have green guide ratings for their products.

The areas of each applicable element are required to confirm that 80% of the products are A or A+. Where all the elements are A or A+ areas are not needed.

The areas of each element are best shown on design drawings.

Any existing or specified natural boundary protection gets an A+.

[edit] Questions to ask while seeking compliance

Who is specifying the hard landscaping and boundary protection?

Has the green guide been used when choosing the materials?

Are there any materials that must be used due to the requirements of a third party (e.g. local council)? See KBCN00062.

Can natural boundary protection such as hedges be used?

How much hard landscaping does there need to be?

[edit] Tools and resources

www.thegreenguide.org.uk

[edit] Tips and best practice

Determine the green guide ratings as early as possible.

The more soft landscaping you have the less areas that need calculated.

[edit] Typical evidence

Landscape specification

Landscape drawings

Areas of the hard landscaping and boundary protection

Green guide ratings for each element.

[edit] Applicable Schemes

The guidelines collated in this ISD aim to support sustainable best practice in the topic described. This issue may apply in multiple BREEAM schemes covering different stages in the life of a building, different building types and different year versions. Some content may be generic but scheme nuances should also be taken into account. Refer to the comments below and related articles to this one to understand these nuances. See this document for further guidelines.


BRE Global does not endorse any of the content posted and use of the content will not guarantee the meeting of certification criteria.

--Emma Houston 11:17, 18 Jan 2018 (BST)

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