Question: What is a BREEAM Accredited Professional?
Answer: A BREEAM Accredited Professional (BREEAM AP) is a sustainability specialist trained and licensed by BRE to advise design teams on integrating BREEAM requirements into a project from the earliest stages. The AP acts as a sustainability champion, coordinating the BREEAM strategy, tracking credits and ensuring that decisions made by the architect, engineers and contractor support the target rating.
The AP role is distinct from the BREEAM Assessor, who independently verifies evidence and submits the assessment for certification. Many projects benefit from having both.
Question: What credits does appointing a BREEAM AP achieve?
Answer: Under BREEAM UK New Construction, appointing a BREEAM AP achieves credits within Man 01 Project Brief and Design. One credit is awarded where the AP is appointed by the end of the Concept Design stage (RIBA Stage 2) to facilitate target setting and monitor progress, and a further credit where the AP continues through design to construction. These credits are difficult to recover if the AP is appointed late.
Question: When should a BREEAM AP be appointed?
Answer: To secure the Man 01 credits and gain maximum benefit, the AP should be appointed at RIBA Stage 1 or 2, before the design is fixed. Early appointment allows the AP to influence site layout, orientation, energy strategy, ecology, materials and other decisions that determine many credits and that are costly to change later.
Question: What does a BREEAM AP do?
Answer: Typical BREEAM AP activities include:
- Facilitating target-setting workshops with the client and design team
- Preparing and maintaining the BREEAM credit tracker
- Advising on design options and their credit implications
- Attending design team meetings and reviewing drawings and specifications
- Coordinating specialist reports such as ecology, daylight, LZC and life cycle costing
- Briefing the contractor on construction-stage requirements
- Monitoring progress and reporting to the client
Question: Is a BREEAM AP required for BREEAM Excellent or Outstanding?
Answer: A BREEAM AP is not mandatory, but for projects targeting Excellent or Outstanding the Man 01 credits are usually essential to reach the required score, and the AP's coordination role significantly reduces the risk of losing credits through late or missed actions. Most projects at these levels appoint an AP as a matter of course.
Question: Can the BREEAM Assessor also be the BREEAM AP?
Answer: Yes, provided the individual holds both qualifications. Combining the roles can improve efficiency, although some clients prefer the independence of a separate assessor. Syntegra Group can provide either arrangement depending on client preference.
Question: Why choose Syntegra Group as your BREEAM AP?
Answer: Syntegra Group's BREEAM Accredited Professionals support projects across the UK from concept design through to post-construction certification. Because we also provide BREEAM assessment, M&E design, energy modelling, daylight, thermal comfort, acoustics, ecology and life cycle carbon services, our APs can advise on the technical detail of credits, not just track them, helping clients achieve their target rating cost-effectively.
