Building Certification Systems

• establishing an individual green building concept in the planning phase
• creation and continuous updating of an integrated quality and safety management plan
• fulfilment of project-related material requirements
• documentation of relevant material properties according to the chosen certification
• verification by Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and in-depth self-declarations
• material control for maximum safety, from planning to certification
• development and implementation of a disposal and recycling concept for on-site waste 
• evaluation and monitoring of the disposal company and method of disposal
• updating and enforcement of certification guidelines on the construction site

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification system is world renowned. Initially developed in the USA, it was introduced to the market in 1998.

Participating builders and project managers must fulfil eight prerequisites that are given in five categories. There is then another option to earn extra credits, to a maximum of 110, for other relevant criteria. These credits will result in a Silver, Gold or Platinum rating.

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BREEAM which stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, is the oldest and most widely used certification system for green buildings. First conceived in 1990 in the UK, BREEAM awards a four-level quality seal based on a simple scoring system that covers eight evaluation categories. These criteria assess the edifice’s effect on the global, regional and local environment, as well as the materials’ influence on the interior architecture of the building.

BREEAM is used to address the construction phases, from planning and implementation to the building’s operation. The system has since been updated to include the project’s life cycle, and it has also introduced new mandatory criteria to re-evaluate the environmental impact of the building.

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The Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development has devised a second German certification standard with BNB, which has been specially adapted for federal buildings. The criteria and underlying technical rules and standards are based on the DGNB system.

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