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
[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
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.
- UK New Construction 2014
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)
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Do you take the lead in a circular construction economy?
Help us develop and expand this wiki as a resource for academia and industry alike.
Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce
Risks of undermining UK’s energy transition due to lack of electrotechnical industry representation, says ECA.
Cost Optimal Domestic Electrification CODE
Modelling retrofits only on costs that directly impact the consumer: upfront cost of equipment, energy costs and maintenance costs.
The Warm Homes Plan details released
What's new and what is not, with industry reactions.
Could AI and VR cause an increase the value of heritage?
The Orange book: 2026 Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2018
ECA welcomes IET and BSI content sign off.
How neural technologies could transform the design future
Enhancing legacy parametric engines, offering novel ways to explore solutions and generate geometry.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government and other bodies.
From QS to further education teacher
Applying real world skills with the next generation.
A guide on how children can use LEGO to mirror real engineering processes.
Data infrastructure for next-generation materials science
Research Data Express to automate data processing and create AI-ready datasets for materials research.
Wired for the Future with ECA; powering skills and progress
ECA South Wales Business Day 2025, a day to remember.
AI for the conservation professional
A level of sophistication previously reserved for science fiction.
Biomass harvested in cycles of less than ten years.
An interview with the new CIAT President
Usman Yaqub BSc (Hons) PCIAT MFPWS.
Cost benefit model report of building safety regime in Wales
Proposed policy option costs for design and construction stage of the new building safety regime in Wales.
Do you receive our free biweekly newsletter?
If not you can sign up to receive it in your mailbox here.






















