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As a builder, ensuring that your projects are BREEAM-certified can go a long way towards facilitating environmental compliance and boosting your revenue. Not only will this make your buildings more attractive to future buyers, users and tenants, but it will also help ensure that they are sustainable and environmentally friendly. For this reason, enlisting the services of a BREEAM Assessor makes perfect sense. So, what is a BREEAM Assessor and what qualities do they need to possess?
The Role of a BREEAM Assessor
Studies have shown that buildings generate almost 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With the increasing awareness of the importance of protecting the environment and preserving our natural resources, environmental assessment and rating methods, such as BREEAM, can allow builders to construct or refurbish more sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings.
As BREEAM covers a multitude of schemes and criteria (with each category having its own objectives, targets and benchmarks), the expert advice of a qualified BREEAM assessor will undoubtedly prove invaluable. They will help ensure the successful BREEAM application and assessment of a project, enabling builders to achieve their target rating and sustainability levels in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
So, what role does a BREEAM Assessor perform? A BREEAM Assessor’s main tasks and responsibilities include overseeing the assessment process and validating a project’s compliance with the applicable BREEAM criteria. They also facilitate the collection of the evidence required to evaluate a building project or asset. Once the assessment process has been completed, the assessor will submit an assessment report to BRE Global for certification.
Besides managing the assessment process, the assessor is responsible for registering a project with BRE Global. The only exception is when a builder wants to have their project assessed against the BREEAM In-Use scheme. In this scenario, the builder must register the building/asset with BRE Global, although they do have the option of appointing a BREEAM Assessor to do this on their behalf.
Once BRE Global has certified a project, the BREEAM Assessor will issue the final certificate to the builder.
Qualities of a Successful BREEAM Assessor
As you may know, your choice of BREEAM Assessor can have a significant impact on the success of your projects. Therefore, to ensure you achieve optimum results, it is imperative that you hire the best person for the job. Here are some of the qualities that a successful BREEAM Assessor should possess:
1. Experience
As with any profession or industry, it is vital that you evaluate a BREEAM Assessor’s level of experience. An Assessor who has evaluated hundreds of projects throughout their career will almost certainly be more effective in their role than one who has just recently obtained their licence.
At Encon Associates, we have had the pleasure of working with various development companies across the UK over many years. This has enabled us to acquire the requisite skills and experience to provide our clients with expert guidance and reliable BREEAM assessments.
2. Skills and in-depth knowledge
An Assessor’s comprehensive knowledge of the relevant BREEAM schemes enables them to fully understand the requirements their clients must fulfil in order to obtain their desired rating. By hiring an Assessor who is familiar with the BREEAM categories and the solutions required to ensure compliance, you can have peace of mind knowing that all the relevant information you need will be communicated to you effectively. This will in turn allow you to make timely decisions and identify the steps you must take to achieve the highest level of sustainability.
At Encon Associates, all of our BREEAM Assessors possess a construction-related degree, as well as an extensive experience and knowledge of the industry. This has helped us develop a keen understanding of different BREEAM areas and deliver effective assessment and advice to our clients throughout the years.
3. Impartiality
An effective BREEAM Assessor will identify and report areas of compliance and non-compliance with total impartiality. They never allow their personal beliefs or opinions to get in the way of fulfilling their roles and responsibilities.
By hiring an impartial assessor, you can be sure that you will only receive relevant data and information. In addition, you can rest assured that your BREEAM Assessor will apply and uphold the scheme’s credibility so that you can achieve the most consistent and accurate certification outcome.
4. Will work closely with the design and asset management team
Unlike a BREEAM AP or Advisory Professional, a BREEAM Assessor is not required to participate in regular design or project team meetings. However, their job may sometimes require them to attend meetings and conduct site visits to gather evidence as part of the assessment process.
An effective BREEAM Assessor will work closely with your design team, albeit on an independent basis, to provide you with all the necessary information to ensure optimum compliance.
5. Must be licensed
Before an individual can secure an assessor’s licence, they must undertake an extensive BREEAM training course. Moreover, once they have obtained their licence, they must regularly demonstrate their competency in order to retain it. Therefore, by hiring a licensed BREEAM Assessor, you will benefit from a highly qualified, skilled and up-to-date BREEAM professional who will carry out the assessment process in an effective way.
Let a BREEAM Assessor Help You
Due to their extensive knowledge and experience, BREEAM Assessors can be valuable allies when pursuing sustainable and environmentally friendly development projects. By choosing a highly effective and efficient BREEAM Assessor who possesses all the qualities outlined above, you can improve your chances of achieving your desired rating and level of sustainability.
If you need professional assistance from a highly experienced BREEAM Assessor or AP, our team at Encon Associates will be happy to help. We can provide you with the expertise and specialist guidance you need to achieve excellent levels of sustainability and your desired BREEAM rating. Get in touch with us today!
