BREEAM provides clients, developers, designers and others with:

• market recognition for low environmental impact buildings
• assurance that best environmental practice is incorporated into a building
• inspiration to find innovative solutions that minimise the environmental impact
• a benchmark that is higher than regulation
• a tool to help reduce running costs, improve working and living environments
• a standard that demonstrates progress towards corporate and organisational environmental objectives

BREEAM addresses wide-ranging environmental and sustainability issues and enables developers and designers to prove the environmental credentials of their buildings to planners and clients. It:

• uses a straightforward scoring system that is transparent, easy to understand and supported by evidence-based research
• has a positive influence on the design, construction and management of buildings
• sets and maintains a robust technical standard with rigorous quality assurance and certification

In the assessment procedure, credits are given for performance indicators in a range of areas. Aquilar can supply a range of products to help with two areas within the assessment:

Water and Pollution, each area is summarised below –

WATER LEAK DETECTION AND PREVENTION

Wat 03 Water Leak Detection and Prevention – No. of credits available: 2

Aim – To reduce the impact of water leaks that may otherwise go undetected

One Credit – Demonstrate compliance for a leak detection system which is capable of detecting a major water leak on the mains water supply within the building and between the building and the utilities water meter.

One Credit – Demonstrate compliance for one of the following flow control devices fitted to each WC area/facility to ensure water is supplied only when needed (and therefore prevent minor water leaks):

a. A time controller i.e. an automatic time switch device to switch off the water supply after a predetermined interval
b. A programmed time controller i.e. an automatic time switch device to switch water on and/or off at predetermined times.
c. A volume controller i.e. an automatic control device to turn off the water supply once the maximum preset volume is reached.
d. A presence detector and controller i.e. an automatic device detecting occupancy or movement in an area to switch water on and turn it off when the presence is removed *
e. A central control unit i.e. a dedicated computer-based control unit for an overall man-aged water control system, utilising some or all of the types of control elements listed above.

(* The AquiTron PIR Water Shut-Off AT-OFC helps compliance with item d.)

WAT02 WATER MONITORING – (PULSED WATER METERS)

The aim of ‘BREEAM WAT02 water monitoring’ is to reduce the consumption of potable water in new buildings through the effective management and monitoring of water consumption.

Aquilar have a range of pulsed water meters that can help you achieve BREEAM compliance. These meters are also used with our water leak detection system AT-WFM to help achieve BREEAM WAT 03 credits.

One credit is available:

1. 1. Specify a water meter on the mains water supply to each building. This includes instances where water is supplied via a borehole or other private source.
   2. For water-consuming plant or building areas consuming 10% or more of the building’s total water demand:
      2.a: Fit easily accessible sub-meters OR
      2.b: Install water monitoring equipment integral to the plant or area.
   3. For each meter (main and sub):
      3.a: Install a pulsed or other open protocol communication output AND
      3.b: Connect it to an appropriate utility monitoring and management system, e.g. a building management system (BMS), for the monitoring of water consumption. If there is no BMS system in operation at post-construction stage, award credits provided that the system used enables connection when the BMS becomes operational.
   4. In buildings with swimming pools or large water tanks and aquariums, fit separate sub-meters on the water supply of the above and any associated changing facilities (toilets, showers etc.) irrespective of their water consumption levels.
   5. In buildings containing laboratories, fit a separate water meter on the water supply to any process or cooling loop for ‘plumbed-in’ laboratory process equipment, irrespective of their water consumption levels.

Here are some of the additional reasons for installing sub-meters:

• Increase awareness of water usage within the building
• Identify and monitor large water uses and changed consumption levels to improve management and maintenance as well as to encourage reductions in unnecessary consumption
• Reduce costs related to water consumption
• Manage water demand for different building areas and uses
• Reduce the need for large-scale increases in water infrastructure in the future which are likely to increase costs over time as well as impact on our rural and urban landscapes and communities.

POLLUTION IMPACT OF REFRIGERANTS

Pol 01 Impact Of Refrigerants – No. of credits available: 3

Aim – To reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions arising from the leakage of refrigerants from building systems.

One Credit – 5. Demonstrate where systems using refrigerants are contained in a moderately air tight enclosure (or a mechanically ventilated plant room), and an automated permanent refrigerant leak detection system is installed covering high-risk parts of the plant OR where a refrigerant leakage/charge loss detection system is specified, which is not based on the principle of detecting or measuring the concentration of refrigerant in air.

RELEVANT DEFINITIONS

Refrigerant leak detection: An automated permanently installed multi-point sensing system, designed to continuously monitor the atmosphere in the vicinity of refrigeration equipment and, in the event of detection, raise an alarm. The system may be aspirated or have multiple sensor heads linked to a central alarm unit or BMS. Various sensor types are available including infra-red, semi-conductor or electro-chemical *

* All Aquitron refrigerant leak detection systems are either aspirated or are based on infra-red, semi-conductor and electro-chemical sensor technologies.

To see the range of Aquilar Products and Systems can help achieve BREEAM credits for water leak detection or refrigerant leak detection click here

For more information on compliance systems and specific compliance statements please contact us

BREEAM is a registered trade mark of the BRE Group and is used by permission. Aquilar Ltd and its products are not affiliated, endorsed or certified by BRE Global or its affiliates. Credits are subject to a successful audit by an authorised third-party assessor.  All rights are reserved.