4 Ways That Early Water Leak Detection Could Positively Impact Your BREEAM Rating

Established in 1990, BREEAM - Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology - is the longest-standing certification for a building’s environmental sustainability.

Originally established in the UK, it has gained popularity both in Europe and beyond, and now includes a US-specific certification to align with local building standards. As of July 2024, there are 610,000 BREEAM-certified buildings in 102 countries.

BREEAM is seen as the most rigorous and scientific certification, using licensed assessors to evaluate and score against 10 categories. Certificates are issued for a period of 3 years, giving building owner-operators ample opportunity to improve on their score.

Whether you’re just starting to consider BREEAM, or already certified, early water leak detection can have a positive impact on the level you achieve - and often in ways you might not have previously considered.

1. Reducing water consumption from leaks

Water leaks make a more significant contribution to overall water consumption than you might expect: a single tap dripping once every 2 seconds will waste a whopping 1,388 gallons (or 5,256 liters) every year. And if you experience a catastrophic water leak, you’re looking at tens or even hundreds of thousands of liters of water loss.

If you’re serious about minimizing water consumption from leaks, it’s critical that you are able to detect and repair water leaks before they escalate into significant Escape of Water events.

Detecting water leaks in the early stages minimizes water loss, which means less water consumption. However, to avoid high false positive rates (and a dramatic drop in your facilities management team’s productivity and morale) it’s critical to select an early water leak detection solution that is capable of detecting small volumes of water, and offers the ability to adjust leak sensitivity to each specific use case.

2. Minimizing use of materials and related waste

BREEAM evaluates the environmental impact of both the building materials used, and their disposal. By detecting water leaks before significant damage is done, early water leak detection helps to maximize the lifespan of the materials used, and minimize the use of new materials that might otherwise be required to repair affected areas.

For example, a water leak from an HVAC unit that grows over a week could cause damage to walls or ceilings, requiring drywall and insulation to be removed, disposed of, and replaced; and new plaster and paint to be applied. Were the same leak detected within minutes or even an hour, it’s likely the area could be wiped clean, and building repairs would not be required.

3. Supporting energy efficiency

BREEAM measures the efficiency of a building's energy use, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the building's impact on climate change. Detecting water leaks at an early stage means leaks are much smaller, and less likely to require the use of energy-intensive dehumidifiers to dry spaces.

Referring back to that HVAC example, water leaks make a substantial contribution to inefficient operation of already power-hungry units. Detecting the leaks early doesn’t just save water - it also identifies a requirement for maintenance or repair that contributes towards energy efficiency.

4. Supporting health and wellbeing

Indoor air quality is valued by BREEAM - but in buildings with water leaks in concealed spaces, mold and mildew can quickly grow and have a detrimental impact on both air quality and tenants’ health.

Early water leak detection ensures that leaks don’t go unnoticed, particularly in concealed spaces. This ensures that mold and mildew aren’t given a chance to grow and negatively impact air quality.

Discover how early water leak detection can support both your organization's ESG goals and financial performance

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