Acoustic Assessments for BREEAM

When is BREEAM applied to a development?

BREEAM is more commonly applied to new-build, non-domestic developments, although there are schemes under BREEAM or similar for refurbishment projects (Refurbishment and Fit-Out Technical Standard – BREEAM) as well as dwellings (e.g. Home Quality Mark [HQM]).

BREEAM will sometimes be a requirement of the Local Authority. For example, a planning condition could state that a development must achieve at least an ‘excellent’ rating according to BREEAM.

Alternatively, an end user or developer may decide to adopt the scheme themselves, in order to ensure their final product is sustainable and therefore more desirable.

How does acoustics fit into BREEAM?

Acoustics falls under two main categories: Health and Well Being (under the ‘Hea 05’ credits) and Pollution (under the ‘Pol 05’ credit).

In terms of Hea 05 credits, the number available depends on the nature of the project (shell only, shell & core or fully fitted / simple building) and the final use (e.g. schools, offices, retail etc).

For Pol 05, one credit is available for shell & core, fully fitted and simple buildings. The credit does not apply to shell only developments.

Hea 05 Credits 

Hea 05 effectively aims to ensure the final development provides a suitable acoustic environment for the end users. For example, a quiet, controlled environment may be essential for school classrooms, but less critical for a proposed storage warehouse. Appropriate criteria are therefore adopted accordingly.

The typically available credits under Hea 05 can be summarised as follows:

First Credit: Sound insulation of separating elements between adjacent rooms. To ensure noise intrusion is controlled to avoid disturbance, or to ensure a suitable level of privacy between sensitive spaces.

Second Credit: Ensuring suitable internal ambient noise levels. To ensure noise from outside (e.g. road traffic, railways etc) and noise from building services (e.g. mechanical ventilation) do not cause an unacceptable distraction.

Third Credit: Suitable design of absorption and room layouts. To ensure rooms intended for speech or music are not too reverberant (or ‘echoey’) and spoken information can be heard clearly.

Depending on the specific use of the building, criteria would be taken from different sources, as specified by BREEAM. For example, for school developments, criteria would be adopted from Building Bulletin 93; for healthcare facilities, criteria would be adopted from Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 08-01: Acoustics; and for offices or retail, criteria would be adopted from British Standard 8233: 2014.

To achieve the credits, evidence must be submitted at both design stage (to show that acoustic requirements have been considered and designed appropriately) and at commissioning stage (to demonstrate that the established design targets have been achieved by the constructed development).

Pol 05 Credits

Pol 05 relates to noise emissions from the proposed development, specifically to noise from fixed plant installations. This is to ensure an unacceptable noise impact is not caused for existing sensitive receivers close to a development, due to plant (e.g. air conditioning, supply/extract fans).

The noise of proposed fixed plant would be assessed through a noise impact assessment, in order to demonstrate if mitigation is required, and what form this mitigation should take where required.

The credit for Pol 05 is achieved at design stage, by demonstrating that a noise impact assessment has been carried out, and that any required mitigation has been incorporated into the design.

What Stages to an Acoustic Assessment are There?

A good acoustic assessment can provide useful information throughout the duration of the project, to ensure a project runs efficiently and provides a final development that is suitable for its intended use. An idea of the main stages is as follows:

Feasibility Stage
Undertaking noise surveys on the proposed site, to establish if levels of noise due to the existing surroundings are suitable for the proposed development use

Early Design Stage
Outline reviews to inform the design team what acoustic requirements need to be incorporated into the high-level design, for example in terms of sound insulation requirements between rooms, control of external noise and any recommended site zoning

Detailed Design Stage
Undertaking a detailed review of proposed construction drawings to ensure the proposals are expected to achieve the stated project requirements

Construction Stage
Answering questions as they arise on site, and undertaking site visits to ensure the designs are being correctly implemented

Completion Stage
Acoustic commissioning stage, to demonstrate that the design targets have been met by the completed development