BREEAM Recycled aggregates

1 Aim and benefits
2 When to consider
3 Step by step guidance
4 Questions to ask while seeking compliance
5 Tools and resources
6 Tips and best practice
7 Typical evidence
8 Applicable Schemes
9 Find out more

[edit] Aim and benefits

The aim of this credit is to recognise and encourage the use of recycled and secondary aggregates, thereby reducing the demand for virgin material and optimising material efficiency in construction.

The aim of the credit in pre-2018 schemes however is NOT to reduce embodied carbon/life cycle impacts.

[edit] When to consider

This first needs considering during your pre-assessment (typically during Concept Design), and needs working into specifications during detailed and technical design. A careful eye is required during procurement, as this is a common VE item for contractors to offer.

[edit] Step by step guidance

The below guidance is meant to represent best practice in BREEAM, and in reality includes the job of a BREEAM AP. Please note, it's relatively unrealistic to expect that you can monitor every step in the below process - do your best.

[edit] Concept Design

During pre-assessment and in post pre-assessment guidance, let structural and civil engineers clearly know you're targeting the credit. Ideally it should be mentioned in their stage 2 report, but that will unlikely provide the level of detail needed for BREEAM evidence.

Try to make sure at this point the engineers understand the calculation. Provide further supporting documents as required.

If this is a D&B project, make sure your pre-assessment and report clearly show that this credit is targeted, and if it is, who is responsible for achieving it. If appropriate, prepare a document for inclusion in the Employer's Requirements outlining the responsibilities of the contractor.

[edit] Detailed Design

Make sure that outline specifications include a requirement to use recycled aggregates as per the BREEAM criteria. Ask engineers for a copy of calculations/specifications (probably towards the end of this stage really) of how compliance is being met.

[edit] Technical Design

Make sure that any more detailed specialist sub contractor specifications include requirements.

If this is a D&B project, make sure commercial teams are aware of which packages this requirement is needed for. If possible, include the requirement in a sustainability prelims document to be included in sub contractor tenders.

If you're lucky enough to have package managers, make sure the relevant package managers are clear of the requirement for their package. If not, make sure the design manager knows these requirements.

Keep an eye on technical submissions from sub contractors to make sure recycled aggregates have been specified, where possible.

[edit] Construction

Request delivery notes for aggregates on site. Request details of concrete mixes where necessary alongside delivery notes.

You can take photos of concrete during construction site inspections, however, in reality all it will show is that concrete has been installed and not that there is any recycled content (although recycled aggregates can look different, dependent on source, it's not robust.)

Ask contractor's structural/civil engineers for final quantities as delivered of virgin/recycled aggregates used to confirm that compliance has been met on site. If you had very thorough design stage evidence, you may just be able to ask for confirmation that aggregates were installed as per the design stage specification, plus some delivery notes to make sure the wool isn't being pulled over your eyes.

[edit] In Use

There are no requirements relating to BREEAM In Use and recycled aggregates.

[edit] Questions to ask while seeking compliance

Please make sure you're on the same page as your team and looking at the recycled aggregate content of your concrete, rather than looking at the percentage of cement replacement used.

[edit] Tools and resources

BREEAM 2014 Issue 5.0 Criteria - WST 02

Recycled Aggregates Calculator

BRE Knowledge Base related articles

[edit] Tips and best practice

The calculation for WST 2 (2014) is not complicated, however it's surprisingly difficult to explain. Sometimes if communicating the calculation to engineers isn't going so well, sending over a calculator for them to play with makes it easier. See "Tools and Resources" for an example.

[edit] Typical evidence

Awaiting content

[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.