Growing urbanisation, technology improvements, and the need to provide safe, ecologically sound environments have made safety in buildings a top priority in contemporary construction. A widely accepted method for evaluating a building’s performance and environmental responsibility is the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).
Although environmental sustainability has historically been BREEAM’s main focus, protective measures are also included to improve building safety. Through an examination of its approach, advantages, & practical implementations, this article investigates how BREEAM security techniques and security needs assessment enhance the security of buildings.
BREEAM: What is it?
To put it briefly, BREEAM is the industry benchmark for best practices in the planning, building, and maintenance of sustainable buildings. BREEAM is a sustainability evaluation approach that was introduced by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in 1990. It establishes benchmarks for the environmental performance of buildings during the design, guidelines, construction, & operation stages.
An Overview of BREEAM’s Operation:
To guarantee that projects fulfil sustainability objectives and maintain their peak performance throughout time, BREEAM is implemented to define and assess the sustainability performance of buildings. A BREEAM assessment evaluates a building’s specification, design, construction, and use using recognised performance metrics that are compared to predetermined benchmarks. From energy to ecological, a wide range of categories and criteria are represented by the measures utilised.
The most important elements are highlighted in each category, such as lower carbon emissions, low-impact design, climate change adaptability, ecological value, and biodiversity preservation. Reduced life cycle expenses as well as increases in asset value, improved user experience as health, corporate image and CSR requirements, as well as risk reduction, are all made achievable by including sustainability indicators as early in a project as possible utilising the BREEAM methodology.
Knowing BREEAM Security:
A thorough framework which assesses a building’s performance in a number of areas, such as material selection, water use, and energy efficiency, is incorporated into BREEAM. The « Hea 06: Security » credit, especially emphasises planning out crime and guaranteeing building users’ safety, integrates security as part of this framework. Throughout the design and planning stages of a project, this credit motivates developers to collaborate with certified security experts, like Secured by Design (SBD) consultants or Crime Prevention Design Advisors (CPDAs). A proactive strategy for risk assessment is emphasised by the BREEAM security credit. Early vulnerability detection during the design phase allows developers to put specific risk-reduction strategies in place. It guarantees that security is integrated into the entire layout and functionality of the facility rather than being a secondary concern.
The Advantages of BREEAM Security:
Numerous advantages offered by BREEAM security measures support both building security and environmental sustainability in general. These advantages improve the property’s long-term stability & worth in addition to providing right away safety for residents and their belongings.
Increased Safety for Occupants:
The increased safety that BREEAM security offers those who live in buildings is one of its biggest benefits. There is a far lower chance of crime and illegal access when possible threats are addressed throughout the design stage. Residents, staff, and guests all live in a safer environment as a result.
Read Also; How Victim Impact Assessment Boosts Fairness in Criminal Justice?
Better Asset Protection:
Valuable assets, such as machinery, information, especially intellectual property, are frequently housed in buildings. By using physical barriers, surveillance, along tracking systems, BREEAM safety precautions make sure that these valuables are sufficiently safeguarded, lowering the possibility of theft or damage.
Cost-Effectiveness:
It is less expensive to incorporate security measures during the design stage rather than to retrofit them after development is complete. Planning beforehand guarantees that safety protocols remain properly linked with other building systems and reduces the requirement for expensive upgrades.
Increased Marketability:
A building’s marketability can be greatly increased by its BREEAM certification, in addition to its security credentials. Safety and sustainability are becoming more and more important to tenants and buyers, therefore a building with BREEAM certification provides confidence in these areas.
Support for Sustainability Objectives:
By encouraging resilience & long-term usability, security measures contribute to sustainability. For instance, minimising damage & vandalism reduces maintenance expenses & avoids the waste that comes with replacements and repairs.
Conclusion:
A key element of contemporary building design is BREEAM security, which offers a methodical & proactive way to improve safety. BREEAM guarantees that buildings are not only safe but also environmentally friendly and functional by including customised measures that address possible dangers early in the design process.
