Design Smarter. Build Greener. Achieve More.

BREEAM

BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for buildings and infrastructure - providing a holistic framework for evaluating performance across energy, water, health and wellbeing, materials, waste, ecology, and management. It offers independent verification of a building’s sustainability credentials and supports ESG, health and wellbeing, and net‑zero objectives.

At Mainer Associates, we help clients design smarter, build greener and achieve more. Our BREEAM specialists and BREEAM Advisory Professionals (APs) integrate sustainability into every stage of project development, ensuring the highest possible outcomes while supporting efficient design, procurement and construction processes.

What is BREEAM?

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the industry’s most widely used framework for assessing environmental quality and sustainability performance in the built environment. It evaluates:

  • Energy efficiency

  • Water consumption

  • Indoor environmental quality

  • Pollution and climate impact

  • Transport and access

  • Materials and circularity

  • Waste management

  • Ecology and biodiversity

  • Design and construction management

BREEAM certification ensures transparent, independently verified sustainability performance and enhances compliance, value, governance and long‑term resilience.

Our BREEAM Services

  • BREEAM New Construction

    Assessment and certification for new‑build developments across commercial, education, industrial and mixed‑use sectors.

  • BREEAM Refurbishment & Fit‑Out

    Evaluation and certification for renovation and interior projects seeking improved sustainability performance.

  • BREEAM Residential

    Previously known as Home Quality Mark, we tailor our support for residential developments to optimise sustainability, wellbeing, and life cycle value.

  • BREEAM In-Use

    Assessment of existing buildings to reduce operational costs, enhance environmental performance and improve asset value.

  • BREEAM Bespoke

    Customised criteria for unique or complex building types that fall outside standard schemes.

  • BREEAM International

    Assessments for global projects seeking alignment with international sustainability standards.

Our Approach: Early & Integrated BREEAM Support

Engaging a BREEAM Assessor early - ideally before RIBA Stage 2 - creates the strongest opportunity for high certification outcomes. Early involvement enables:

  • Clear sustainability strategy and pre‑assessment

  • Evidence planning and credit targeting

  • Alignment with cost plans and procurement routes

  • Embedding sustainability into the design narrative

We integrate BREEAM across the full project lifecycle, from concept to post‑construction, using a robust whole-life approach that aligns with planning, WLCA, LCA, Fitwel, ESG and carbon management strategies.

BREEAM Advisory Professional (AP) Expertise

Our BREEAM APs support both design and construction phases, helping project teams maximise achievable credits while maintaining cost‑effective sustainability strategies. Their role includes:

  • Advising design teams at Concept + Technical Design (Man 01 credits)

  • Supporting contractors with Site Sustainability guidance (Man 03 credits)

  • Coordinating evidence and overseeing compliance through construction

Mainer’s team includes certified BREEAM APs with a proven history of delivering highly successful and efficient BREEAM projects, both in the UK and internationally.

Why Choose Mainer?

  • From early feasibility through to Post‑Construction Review, we ensure BREEAM remains integrated and achievable.

  • Our portfolio includes numerous projects achieving ratings from Very Good through to Outstanding, across commercial, education, healthcare, and industrial sectors.

  • BREEAM delivery is reinforced by our wider Whole Life services, including:

    • WLCA

    • LCA & LCC

    • CarbonCentric Real‑time Carbon Management

    • ESG

    • Building Physics

    • Planning & EIA

  • Mainer has helped shape industry guidance, influencing updates in BREEAM Design Stage assessments and national best practice.

Selected BREEAM Experience

How BREEAM Integrates With Whole-Life Carbon

Our BREEAM support is enhanced by advanced Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA), LCA, LCC, and CarbonCentric data capture - enabling clients to:

  • Reduce embodied carbon

  • Optimise design performance early

  • Manage supply chain data in real time

  • Strengthen scoring potential in BREEAM Mat 01, Wst 05 and other credits

Frequently Asked Questions

  • High BREEAM ratings enhance asset value, improve ESG performance, reduce operational costs and support long‑term compliance and wellbeing.

  • Early AP involvement is required to secure key credits and ensures sustainable strategies are integrated before Concept Design.

  • Yes - our team can deliver BREEAM International assessments for global clients.

  • Yes. We assess existing buildings and help clients reduce operational costs and improve asset performance.