What is the primary objective of **BREEAM**?

**BREEAM's primary objective is to provide a science-based sustainability assessment and certification framework for the built environment.** Developed by BRE in 1990, it evaluates performance across 10 core categories—**Management, Health & Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, Pollution, and Innovation**—using a weighted credit system that yields ratings from **Pass (≥30%)** to **Outstanding (≥85%)**. This converts sustainability ambitions into measurable, third-party verified outcomes for new construction, in-use assets, infrastructure, and communities.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **BREEAM**?

**No organizations are legally required to comply with BREEAM, as it is a voluntary certification scheme.** Professionally, it applies to developers, owners, and operators of buildings, infrastructure, and communities seeking market differentiation, ESG credibility, or alignment with planning incentives. Licensed **BREEAM Assessors** and **Advisory Professionals (APs)** are mandatory for certification, with BRE Global conducting quality audits under UKAS ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation.

Does **BREEAM** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, BREEAM mandates third-party certification via licensed Assessors and BRE Global quality audits.** Assessors compile evidence against scheme manuals and submit for BRE review, including potential site visits. Certification is issued only after QA verification, ensuring impartiality; **BREEAM In-Use** certifications are valid for **3 years**, requiring reassessment.

How often should an assessment for **BREEAM** be performed?

**BREEAM New Construction assessments occur once per project at design, construction, and post-occupancy stages.** For operational assets, **BREEAM In-Use** requires reassessment every **3 years** to maintain certification and verify ongoing performance via post-occupancy evaluation (POE).

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **BREEAM**?

**Non-compliance with BREEAM results in no certification and forfeited market benefits like asset value uplift or ESG reporting credibility.** As a voluntary scheme, there are no legal penalties, but projects may face planning delays, higher financing costs, or tenant rejections where BREEAM ratings are expected.

Can **BREEAM** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**BREEAM is not designed for direct mapping to other frameworks and must stand alone per its schemes.** Version 7 aligns internally with EU Taxonomy for disclosures, but executives should select the correct scheme/version without cross-referencing to avoid compliance risks from differing criteria.

What is the first step to begin implementing **BREEAM**?

**The first step is appointing a licensed BREEAM Assessor and selecting the appropriate scheme/version at project inception.** Conduct a pre-assessment to target ratings (e.g., Excellent ≥70%), register the project, and embed credits into design and procurement for early integration.

What is the primary objective of **ISO 14064**?

**ISO 14064 provides requirements and guidance for quantifying, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals.** The modular standard family—**ISO 14064-1:2018** for organizational inventories, **ISO 14064-2:2019** for project-level reductions/removals, and **ISO 14064-3:2019** for validation/verification—ensures credible GHG statements through five principles: **relevance**, **completeness**, **consistency**, **transparency**, and **accuracy**. It supports organizational boundary setting (e.g., equity share or operational control), Scope 1-3 classification, baseline scenarios, additionality, and risk-based assurance.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 14064**?

**No organization is legally mandated to comply with ISO 14064, as it is a voluntary international standard.** It is professionally required for entities preparing credible GHG inventories, including companies, governments, NGOs, and project developers facing stakeholder demands for verifiable data in emissions trading, investor disclosures, supply-chain reporting, or climate finance. Users include those aligning with regulatory readiness (e.g., CSRD, SB-253) or programs like CDP, where ISO 14064 elevates self-declarations to assured statements.

Does **ISO 14064** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ISO 14064 does not require external audit or third-party certification.** Parts 1 and 2 specify quantification and reporting without mandating verification, but **ISO 14064-3** provides optional guidance for independent validation (forward-looking) or verification (historical) at limited or reasonable assurance levels. In practice, external assurance by ISO 14065-compliant bodies enhances credibility for markets, regulators, and investors.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 14064** be performed?

**ISO 14064 requires annual GHG inventory assessments for organizational reporting under Part 1.** Reporting periods are typically calendar or fiscal years, with consistency in methods, boundaries, and base-year adjustments for structural changes (e.g., acquisitions). Project assessments (Part 2) follow monitoring plans, while verification (Part 3) aligns with reporting cycles or stakeholder needs.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 14064**?

**Non-compliance with ISO 14064 carries no direct penalties, as it is voluntary.** Indirect consequences include rejected GHG claims in carbon markets, failed procurement qualifications, investor skepticism, greenwashing litigation risks, and exclusion from climate finance. Poor inventories undermine comparability, expose material misstatements during assurance, and forfeit strategic benefits like emissions trading participation.

An **ISO 14064** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 14064 aligns closely with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard's principles and Scope 3 categories.** Its five principles mirror GHG Protocol requirements, enabling interoperable inventories. Part 3 assurance supports frameworks demanding verified data, though organizational (Part 1) methods differ from project offsets (Part 2) to prevent misuse.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 14064**?

**The first step is defining organizational and operational boundaries per ISO 14064-1.** Select consolidation approach (e.g., equity/operational control), identify Scope 1-3 sources/sinks, establish base year and recalculation policy, and document relevance to decision uses. This governance decision ensures relevance and sets the foundation for data collection, quantification, and assurance.

BREEAM vs ISO 14064

Standards Comparison

BREEAM

Voluntary

1990

Sustainability certification framework for built environment performance

ISO 14064

Voluntary

2018

International standard for GHG quantification, reporting, and verification.

Quick Verdict

BREEAM certifies sustainable buildings via category credits and ratings, while ISO 14064 standardizes GHG inventories for organizations. Companies adopt BREEAM for asset value uplift and compliance, ISO 14064 for credible emissions reporting and investor trust.

Building Sustainability

BREEAM

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

Cost

€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Third-party certification by licensed assessors and BRE audits
Weighted credit scoring across 10 core categories
Lifecycle schemes for new construction and in-use assets
Continuous updates via Knowledge Base Compliance Notes
Alignment with EU Taxonomy and net-zero strategies

Greenhouse Gas Accounting

ISO 14064

ISO 14064 GHG quantification and verification standards

Cost

€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Three-part modular structure for inventories, projects, verification
Five core principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy
Scopes 1-3 boundaries with equity/operational control options
Risk-based assurance and third-party validation processes
Baseline scenarios and additionality for project reductions

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

BREEAM Details

What It Is

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a science-led sustainability certification framework for the built environment. Developed by BRE in 1990, it assesses environmental, health, and resilience performance across buildings, infrastructure, and communities. Its credit-based methodology with category weightings converts performance into ratings from Pass to Outstanding.

Key Components

10 core categories: Management, Health & Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, Pollution, Innovation.
Credits awarded for evidenced compliance, weighted by impact (e.g., high for Energy).
Built on technical manuals, KBCNs for updates, and third-party assurance.
Licensor-led certification via BRE audits under ISO/IEC 17065.

Why Organizations Use It

Drives ESG compliance, net-zero alignment, and EU Taxonomy readiness. Offers asset value uplift (up to 30%), energy savings (22-33%), and risk reduction. Enhances market differentiation, tenant appeal, and regulatory credibility.

Implementation Overview

Staged process: early assessor appointment, design integration, evidence gathering, post-construction verification. Applies globally to all sizes/assets; requires licensed assessors for certification. (178 words)

ISO 14064 Details

What It Is

ISO 14064 (Parts 1-3:2018-2019) is an international standard family for greenhouse gas (GHG) quantification, reporting, and assurance. It specifies requirements for organizational inventories (Part 1), project reductions/removals (Part 2), and validation/verification (Part 3), employing a principles-based approach with five core principles: relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency, accuracy.

Key Components

Three interdependent parts forming a measurement-to-assurance lifecycle
Organizational/operational boundaries, Scopes 1-3, baselines, additionality
Risk-based assurance with materiality, evidence gathering, competence requirements
Aligned with GHG Protocol; verification under ISO 14064-3 and ISO 14065

Why Organizations Use It

Meets regulatory demands (e.g., CSRD, SB-253), enables emissions trading, green finance
Enhances data credibility, stakeholder trust, internal decarbonization
Mitigates greenwashing risks, improves comparability
Drives efficiency via hotspot identification, supply-chain engagement

Implementation Overview

Phased: governance, boundaries, data systems, reporting, verification
Suits all sizes/industries; challenging for Scope 3
6-12 months typical; voluntary with third-party assurance (178 words)

Key Differences

Aspect	BREEAM	ISO 14064
Scope	Built environment sustainability across categories	GHG emissions quantification and verification
Industry	Construction, infrastructure, global with adaptations	All sectors, worldwide organizational inventories
Nature	Voluntary third-party certification schemes	Voluntary international standards for reporting
Testing	Licensed assessor audits and BRE QA	Independent validation/verification engagements
Penalties	Loss of certification and rating	No direct penalties, credibility loss

Scope

BREEAM

Built environment sustainability across categories

ISO 14064

GHG emissions quantification and verification

Industry

BREEAM

Construction, infrastructure, global with adaptations

ISO 14064

All sectors, worldwide organizational inventories

Nature

BREEAM

Voluntary third-party certification schemes

ISO 14064

Voluntary international standards for reporting

Testing

BREEAM

Licensed assessor audits and BRE QA

ISO 14064

Independent validation/verification engagements

Penalties

BREEAM

Loss of certification and rating

ISO 14064

No direct penalties, credibility loss

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about BREEAM and ISO 14064

BREEAM FAQ

ISO 14064 FAQ

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BREEAM

ISO 14064

Quick Verdict

BREEAM

Key Features

ISO 14064

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

BREEAM Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

ISO 14064 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

BREEAM FAQ

What is the primary objective of BREEAM?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with BREEAM?

Does BREEAM require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for BREEAM be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with BREEAM?

Can BREEAM be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing BREEAM?

ISO 14064 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 14064?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 14064?

Does ISO 14064 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 14064 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 14064?

An ISO 14064 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 14064?

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The CIS Controls v8.1 Evidence Pack: What Auditors Ask For (and How to Produce Proof Fast)

Top 5 Reasons Automation Tools Like Vanta Slash SOC 2 Type 2 Timelines from Months to Weeks

CMMC Level 2 Implementation Guide for Small DIB Contractors: First 5 Steps to C3PAO Certification with Infographic

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

APPI vs ISO 21001

ISO 45001 vs Basel III

PRINCE2 vs SOC 2