BREEAM Infrastructure, formerly known as CEEQUAL, is a sustainability assessment and rating methodology designed for civil engineering, infrastructure, landscaping and public space projects and contracts.
Initiated by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), this system seeks to foster an environment of sustainability awareness and continuous improvement in the industry.
Since its launch in 2003 with Version 2, CEEQUAL has evolved to become BREEAM Infrastructure in October 2022, following its acquisition by BRE Global in November 2015.
This development marks an important step in the improvement and expansion of sustainability practices in civil engineering.
What are the objectives of BREEAM Infrastructure?
The main focus of this methodology is to improve sustainability in civil engineering through several key objectives:
- Awareness and continuous improvement: fostering an environment where sustainability is a priority and an ongoing practice.
- Sustainability-driven strategy: establish and execute sustainable strategies for projects and contracts.
- Improving sustainability performance: optimizing the specification, design and construction of projects to achieve high sustainability standards.
- Recognition and promotion of high performance: recognizing achievements in economic, environmental and social sustainability.
Scope of application
BREEAM Infrastructure can be applied to any type of infrastructure project involving the construction of new assets or the renovation of existing assets.
It is available in two schemes: BREEAM Infrastructure Projects for civil engineering, infrastructure, landscaping and public works.
BREEAM Infrastructure Term Contracts for the maintenance of infrastructure networks and assets.
Types of projects evaluated:
- Roads, railroads, ports.
- Wind farms.
- Flood mitigation plans.
- Wastewater treatment works.
- Utilities.
- Demolitions and rehabilitation works.
- Evaluation stages
BREEAM Infrastructure allows the sustainability performance of projects to be assessed at three key stages, and all or only some of the stages can be certified:
- Strategy
- Design or interim design
- Construction
There are 5 types of evaluation depending on the stages to be certified:
- Complete project
- Strategy and design
- Design only
- Design and construction
- Construction only
BREEAM Infrastructure has assessed more than 900 projects internationally, with a construction value exceeding 50 billion, consolidating its position as a benchmark in sustainability assessment in the field of civil engineering.
