After exploring what the BREEAM certification is and how it applies to buildings in use, this article delves into one of its most significant recent developments: the new BREEAM ES Fit-Out Annex. This new BREEAM ES tool simplifies the environmental assessment of refurbishment and fit-out projects, eliminating the need for Bespoke processes and making certification more accessible than ever.
Sustainability is no longer limited to new construction. Increasingly, refurbishment and fit-out works have become key strategies to update the existing building stock and reduce environmental impact. A large share of current projects in Spain focus on adapting existing buildings for new uses, improving efficiency, or updating interior design.
Until now, applying an environmental certification such as BREEAM ES to this type of project was a challenge: it required a Bespoke process, with specific technical and documentary adaptations for each case — resulting in longer timelines and higher certification costs.
Source: BREEAM ES New Fit-out Annex
With the launch of the new Fit-Out Annex, BREEAM ES now provides an official, standardized framework to assess these interventions. This represents a turning point for environmental certification in refurbishment projects, simplifying and accelerating the entire process.
At Evalore, we had the privilege of participating as a pilot project, working alongside BREEAM ES to test the annex and validate its practical application in a real case.
The Fit-Out Annex is an extension of the BREEAM ES New Construction 2015 Manual, designed to adapt the BREEAM methodology to partial refurbishments, interior works, or system upgrades.
With its publication, the Bespoke processes are no longer required for this type of project.
The application framework is now clearly defined:
This annex introduces revised criteria that replace parts of the original New Construction manual, adapting credits to the reality of interior or partial works. It also includes a specific assessment tool that enables faster and more accurate pre-assessments and project follow-ups.
The annex structures the assessment into four parts, applied according to the actual scope of the intervention.
If the project includes works from Part 1 (envelope or structure), the full New Construction manual must be used.
Each project activates only the relevant parts, reducing documentation requirements and increasing the precision of the evaluation.
This flexible approach enables a wide range of projects — from office refurbishments to HVAC upgrades or interior redesigns — to be certified under BREEAM in a consistent and proportionate way.
Source: BREEAM ES New Fit-out Annex
During the development phase of the Fit-Out Annex, Evalore took part as the first pilot project, applying the tool in a real refurbishment case.
This collaboration with BREEAM ES allowed us to test the registration, assessment, and documentation procedures, identify improvement opportunities, and validate the clarity of the new requirements.
The results confirmed that the BREEAM ES Fit-Out Annex accelerates the certification process, simplifies technical interpretation, and ensures transparent and consistent evaluations.
It also demonstrated that the tool can be effectively applied to projects of different scales — from partial refurbishments to large tertiary-use renovations.
The BREEAM ES Fit-Out Annex offers multiple advantages for assessors, developers, and design teams alike:
Overall, this annex makes BREEAM ES refurbishment certification faster, clearer, and more accessible, aligned with the current needs of the construction market.
Source: Evalore. Pilot project for offices in Barcelona.
The Fit-Out Annex represents a major step forward in simplifying and expanding environmental certification for existing buildings.
Thanks to this tool, BREEAM ES strengthens its role as a benchmark standard not only for new construction but also for upgrading and modernizing the built environment.
For Evalore, being part of the pilot project was a unique opportunity to contribute to developing solutions that facilitate the transition to more efficient, healthy, and sustainable buildings.
If you’re planning a refurbishment and want to apply BREEAM efficiently, Evalore can guide you through the entire process — turning your fit-out project into a benchmark for sustainability.
Camila Harguindeguy
Civil Engineer and Sustainability Consultant, Espacios Evalore SLP
After exploring what the BREEAM certification is and how it applies to buildings in use, this article delves into one of its most significant recent developments: the new BREEAM ES Fit-Out Annex. This new BREEAM ES tool simplifies the environmental assessment of refurbishment and fit-out projects, eliminating the need for Bespoke processes and making certification […]
