Burberry, Heathrow T5, BREEAM UK Commercial Project

Scope of Burberry, Heathrow T5, BREEAM UK Commercial Project

Sustain Quality were instructed to carry out BREEAM assessments to identify evidence contributing to the certification of BREEAM credits for the redevelopment fit out of Burberry, Heathrow, Terminal 5, London, TW6 2GA. With the aim of BREEAM to assess, encourage and reward environmental, social and economic sustainability throughout the built environment.

We were brought into the proposed development at Burberry, at RIBA STAGE 2, assessing under part 3 and 4 of the retail shopping unit, with a total area of 200 m² within a shopping canter in the Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5.

The credits were targeted by the design team who were to provide evidence in the form of specifications, drawings, reports and commitment letters to secure the design stage rating.

Our role was to assist the Client in understanding its commitment to fully comply with the BREEAM credit criteria in order to achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating, as well as guiding the Contractor in satisfying the evidential requirement need of a construction rating in also achieving the targeted credits and deliverables with relevant issue criteria confirmed at the interim design stage of the assessment and RIBA Stage 5, Post Construction phase, confirming the attainment and robust evidence of achievement.

BREEAM Tools for Implementation

The design team’s proposed fit out had high aspirations and aimed to achieve the sustainable development policy by adopting BREEAM principles at the early stages of the project with Client commitment letters confirmed and Contractor requirements defined for responsibility. A detailed description of criteria and target provisions were set to be implemented upon commencement of the Post Construction stage assessment with deliverables met and relevant evidence provided and documented to achieve the approved rating and certification.

Furthermore, we instructed a Sustainability Champion and AP Assessor for the design and assessment stages for support and adhering to BREEAM principles.

Design Team BREEAM Minimum Standards

These looked at the minimum standards, targeting responsible construction practices, commissioning and handover, reduction of energy use and carbon emissions, energy monitoring, responsible sourcing of materials and construction waste management.

Using BREEAM UK 2014 Non-DOM RFO v2.0, all minimum associated credits of ‘excellent’ were achieved.

We took into evidential account the category and rated BREEAM scores within: management, health and wellbeing, energy, transport, materials, waste, pollution and exemplary/Innovation.

 Post Construction Evidence

Utilising Considerate Construction (as a BREEAM ‘compliant’ organisational, local or national considerate construction scheme) to reduce impacts on the community, driving for continuous improvement in site safety, the monitoring of construction site impacts (taking into account it was a water free construction site) with management systems, commissioning and handover with user guide literature, aftercare support, visual comfort, thermal comfort and zoning, energy performance, energy monitoring and sub-metering, life cycle impacts, responsible sourcing of materials, designing for durability and resilience, material efficiency, operational waste and surface water runoff.

All aspects were signed off within the Confirmation Statement, agreeing the achievement of credits targeted. Used in conjunction with BREEAM Trackers, site reports with all members of the design team and BREEAM portal.

Challenges for BREEAM Task Implementation

• There was limited scope to improve Indoor Air Quality due to material selection.
• To align the client’s ESG strategy with what the contractors could deliver.
• There was limited scope to allocate exclusive cycle facilities.

Solutions to BREEAM Project Challenges

• Most of the challenges can be taken forward as ‘lessons learnt’ for future projects.
• From the Client’s perspective, introducing sustainability at much earlier stage had the possibility to add greater influence at RIBA Stage 0 and 1. This is due to the standard materials potentially not achieving VOC emissions benchmarks.
• To be able to implement greater integration between the Client, the design team and the Contractor.

Key Project Achievements

All criteria content was documented and identified at RIBA Stage 2 and achieved to satisfy the Post Construction evidence for BREEAM, ‘Excellent,’ 74.07%, rating, which has now been received as a PC BRE certification.

Benefits for Client

A beneficial process for the client in identifying, measuring and reducing their fit out and refurbishment project impact in concept, construction and its life cycle – creating a timely, optimal and sustainable build that’s better for the environment, community and its people.

Location

Burberry, Heathrow T5, TW6 2GA