BREEAM Certification with SOCOTEC

Q: How is the BREEAM evaluation process structured?

The evaluation is carried out in two different phases: Design Phase: Evaluation of project documentation that generates a grade and provisional certificate Post-Construction Phase: Evaluation of the completed building that provides the final qualification and the final official certificate The distribution of credits between both phases varies according to the construction typology of your project.

Q: Can I certify a building that is already in operation with BREEAM?

Yes, with BREEAM ES In Use. This methodology is specifically designed for existing buildings in operation, both commercial and residential. It allows the actual behavior of the asset to be evaluated based on operational data, which facilitates the closing of gaps between theoretical design and actual operation.

Q: What advantages does BREEAM ES bring in its use for existing assets?

Operational benefits include: Direct reduction of operating costs based on real data Increase in the value of the real estate asset Closing gaps between theoretical design and actual operation Possibility of comparing behaviour between different typologies with a single standard

Your strategic partner for sustainable construction

What is BREEAM?

BREEAM® (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the world's leading building sustainability assessment and certification system, with more than 600,000 certified buildings since 1990.

In Spain, BREEAM ES adapts this internationally recognized methodology to the local regulatory, legal and technical reality, providing a rigorous framework for assessing the sustainable performance of new and existing buildings, both residential and non-residential.

The system gives a final ranking from "Correct" to "Exceptional", based on credits obtained in each category, multiplied by environmental weighting factors.

Talk to our experts

Martí Riera

Sustainability Director

marti.riera@socotec.com

Gianfranco Ibarcena

Responsable técnico eficiencia energética & LEED AP

BREEAM assesses the full life cycle of buildings through 10 key sustainability

Management

Sustainability Policies and Procedures

Health & Wellbeing

Indoor Environment Quality & Comfort

Energy

Energy efficiency and CO₂ emissions

Transport

Accessibility and sustainable mobility

Water

Efficiency in water consumption and management

Materials

Environmental Impact & Responsible Sourcing

Waste

Management during construction and operation

Land Use and Ecology

Biodiversity Protection

Pollution

Control of emissions and impacts

Innovation

Pioneering solutions in sustainability

Why choose SOCOTEC for your BREEAM certification?

At SOCOTEC we have accredited BREEAM ES Advisors with extensive experience in all available schemes. Our multidisciplinary team of architects and engineers accompanies you from the initial phases to obtaining the final certificate, ensuring:

✓ Consolidated technical experience in sustainability consulting
✓ Independence and rigor throughout the certification process
✓ Comprehensive support from design to commissioning
✓ Agile response to technical queries (maximum 5 calendar days)
✓ Adaptation to Spanish regulations under BREEAM ES standards

Esquemas BREEAM que certificamos:

BREEAM ES

New Construction

BREEAM ES Nueva Construcción

Applicable to non-residential buildings (offices, industry, commerce, education, hotels, health), both new construction and renovations and extensions.

Measurable Benefits:

Energy savings from 30% to 70%
Reduction of water consumption by up to 40%
Reduction of maintenance costs by up to 30%
Increase in property value by 7.5%
Significant reduction in CO₂ emissions

Get Certification →

BREEAM ES Nueva Construcción

Applicable to non-residential buildings (offices, industry, commerce, education, hotels, health), both new construction and renovations and extensions.

Measurable Benefits:

Energy savings from 30% to 70%
Reduction of water consumption by up to 40%
Reduction of maintenance costs by up to 30%
Increase in property value by 7.5%
Significant reduction in CO₂ emissions

BREEAM ES

In Use

Specialized methodology for existing buildings in operation, applicable to commercial and residential typologies (offices, shops, hospitals, logistics, industry, housing).

Competitive advantages:

Reduction of real operating costs
Increase in the value of the real estate asset
Evaluation based on real behavioral data
Comparison between different typologies with a single standard
Closing gaps between design and operation

Get Certification →

Specialized methodology for existing buildings in operation, applicable to commercial and residential typologies (offices, shops, hospitals, logistics, industry, housing).

Competitive advantages:

Reduction of real operating costs
Increase in the value of the real estate asset
Evaluation based on real behavioral data
Comparison between different typologies with a single standard
Closing gaps between design and operation

BREEAM ES

Urban Planning

BREEAM ES Urbanismo

Comprehensive certification for large-scale urban developments, which assesses the sustainability of neighborhoods, districts, and entire communities.

Strategic scope:

International recognition of sustainable urban projects
Awareness of stakeholders (planners, promoters, politicians)
Standards higher than the regulations in design and materialization
Sustainable mobility and integrated green infrastructure

Get Certification →

BREEAM ES Urbanismo

Comprehensive certification for large-scale urban developments, which assesses the sustainability of neighborhoods, districts, and entire communities.

Strategic scope:

International recognition of sustainable urban projects
Awareness of stakeholders (planners, promoters, politicians)
Standards higher than the regulations in design and materialization
Sustainable mobility and integrated green infrastructure

BREEAM ES

Housing

BREEAM ES Housing

Specific scheme for residential buildings, applicable to new construction and rehabilitation, both in the project and post-construction phase.

Demonstrated impact:

Increase in the value of homes by 10% compared to the surroundings
Reduction of CO₂ emissions between 7% and 56%
Water consumption savings between 20% and 35%
Benefits for developers and future inhabitants

Get Certification →

BREEAM ES Housing

Specific scheme for residential buildings, applicable to new construction and rehabilitation, both in the project and post-construction phase.

Demonstrated impact:

Increase in the value of homes by 10% compared to the surroundings
Reduction of CO₂ emissions between 7% and 56%
Water consumption savings between 20% and 35%
Benefits for developers and future inhabitants

Advantages of BREEAM certification

Economic Savings

Reduction of energy and operating costs, with return on investment

Environmental Impact

Significant reduction in CO₂ emissions and resource consumption

Competitive Differentiation

International recognition that increases the value of your real estate asset

Health & Wellness

Improving the quality of the indoor environment for occupants

SDG Compliance

Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Secure Investment

Access to green financing and institutional investor confidence

Our certification process

1. Initial Review and Evaluation

Training meeting with your project team on BREEAM principles
Delimitation of responsibilities of each team member
Compilation of basic project documentation
Eligibility Analysis by Credit
Deliverable: Pre-assessment report with optimistic and pessimistic scenarios
Deliverable: Requirements Tracking Matrix

2. Support in Design Phase

Formal registration of the project with ITG by accredited BREEAM ES Advisor
Regular advisory meetings with your design team
Evaluation of solutions in architecture, MEP systems and renewable energies:
- Distribution of spaces, shape and orientation of the building
- Plumbing, water recovery and consumption systems
- Energy, lighting and air conditioning management
- Integration of renewable energies
Drafting of BREEAM requirements documents for contractor tendering
Deliverable: BREEAM Justification Forms for Provisional Certificate

3. Technical Assistance on Site

Monthly monitoring of compliance with requirements during execution
Verification of material, product, and equipment specifications
Validation of contract-specific management plans
Evaluation of changes during the development of the works
Response to your queries in maximum 5 calendar days
Supervision of final commissioning tests
Deliverable: Periodic progress reports and interim scoring

4. Final Certification

Drafting of final justification forms
Filing with certification bodies
Responding to requests for additional information
Managing appeals if applicable
Follow-up until the official certificate is granted
Deliverable: Validated Definitive BREEAM Certificate

Start your BREEAM project with SOCOTEC

¿Quieres evaluar el potencial de sostenibilidad de tu proyecto?

Do you want to assess the sustainability potential of your project?

Request a BREEAM pre-assessment and receive personalised advice from our accredited experts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - BREEAM Certification

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[{"id":"7640","title":[{"value":"What levels of certification can I earn with BREEAM?"}],"text":[{"value":"The BREEAM system awards rankings based on the total percentage of score obtained. The levels range from \"Correct\"<\/strong> (basic level) to \"Exceptional\"<\/strong> (maximum recognition). The final score is calculated by multiplying the credits earned in each of the 10 sustainability categories by specific environmental weighting factors.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n","format":"basic_html"}]},{"id":"7641","title":[{"value":"How is the BREEAM evaluation process structured?"}],"text":[{"value":"The evaluation is carried out in two different phases<\/strong>:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Design Phase:<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Evaluation of project documentation that generates a grade and provisional certificate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Post-Construction Phase:<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Evaluation of the completed building that provides the final qualification and the final official certificate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\nThe distribution of credits between both phases varies according to the construction typology of your project.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n","format":"basic_html"}]},{"id":"7642","title":[{"value":"What technical guarantees does BREEAM ES have in Spain?"}],"text":[{"value":"BREEAM ES is certified under the UNE-EN ISO 9001 standard and maintains governance structures with an Advisory Council and Panel of Experts that guarantee technical and scientific independence.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe methodology is completely adapted to the Spanish legal, regulatory and technical reality.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIn Spain, the designated national operator (National Scheme Operator) is the Technical Institute of Galicia, which acts as an independent certifying body, quality guarantor and official BREEAM adapter for Spain, ensuring that the methodology is relevant, rigorous and applicable to the technical, regulatory and Spanish market context.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n","format":"basic_html"}]},{"id":"7643","title":[{"value":"What BREEAM scheme do I need for my non-residential building?"}],"text":[{"value":"For non-residential buildings (offices, industry, commerce, education, hotels, healthcare), the applicable scheme is BREEAM ES New Construction<\/strong>. This scheme is valid for both new construction and renovations and extensions, and you can certify in the project\/design or post-construction phase.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n","format":"basic_html"}]},{"id":"7644","title":[{"value":"Can I certify a building that is already in operation with BREEAM?"}],"text":[{"value":"Yes, with BREEAM ES In Use<\/strong>. This methodology is specifically designed for existing buildings in operation, both commercial and residential. It allows the actual behavior of the asset to be evaluated based on operational data, which facilitates the closing of gaps between theoretical design and actual operation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n","format":"basic_html"}]},{"id":"7645","title":[{"value":"Is there BREEAM certification for complete urban developments?"}],"text":[{"value":"Yes, BREEAM ES Urbanism<\/strong> provides comprehensive certification for large-scale urban projects, including neighborhoods, districts, and entire communities. This scheme establishes criteria that are higher than the mandatory regulations in both design and materialisation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n","format":"basic_html"}]},{"id":"7646","title":[{"value":"What is the Embedded Emissions Reduction service?"}],"text":[{"value":"We offer Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)<\/strong> according to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards<\/strong>, which includes:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Sensitivity analysis of material impacts of the project<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Strategic support for choosing low-impact materials<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Complete enumeration of building elements and components<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Assigning carbon values to each component and process<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Development of integrated scenarios and final calculation of embedded emissions<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\nThis service considers the phases of extraction and manufacture, construction, use and end of life of the building.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n","format":"basic_html"}]},{"id":"7647","title":[{"value":"Do you offer post-executive full stroke calculation?"}],"text":[{"value":"Yes, as an optional service. Once the executive project is completed, we can calculate the complete LCA of the building in 2-4 weeks, considering according to RICS methodology: foundations, structure, envelope and interior partitions. We also offer as-built model upgrades.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n","format":"basic_html"}]},{"id":"7648","title":[{"value":"What advantages does BREEAM ES bring in its use for existing assets?"}],"text":[{"value":"Operational benefits include:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Direct reduction of operating costs based on real data<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Increase in the value of the real estate asset<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Closing gaps between theoretical design and actual operation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Possibility of comparing behaviour between different typologies with a single standard<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n","format":"basic_html"}]},{"id":"7649","title":[{"value":"What documentation do I need to prepare to start the BREEAM certification process?"}],"text":[{"value":"SOCOTEC will request in writing the basic documentation required according to your BREEAM scheme. It generally includes: project report, architectural plans, installation reports, material specifications, energy efficiency studies and any documentation that demonstrates compliance with sustainability criteria.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n","format":"basic_html"}]},{"id":"7650","title":[{"value":"How long does the full BREEAM certification process take?"}],"text":[{"value":"The time varies according to the complexity of the project and the BREEAM scheme applied. The process ranges from the initial evaluation (pre-project), design phase (project), on-site assistance (execution) to final certification (post-construction). SOCOTEC will provide you with a specific timeline after the initial evaluation of your project.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n","format":"basic_html"}]}]

Talk to our experts

Martí Riera

Sustainability Director

marti.riera@socotec.com

Gianfranco Ibarcena

Responsable técnico eficiencia energética & LEED AP