At a glance
What the symbols mean
- (+)Can contribute towards points or creditsThe module delivers some or all of the analysis or evidence the criterion is scored on.
- →Provides design directionThe module shapes the design decision; the credit is earned once the team develops the design in detail and documents it.
- •Provides the data basisThe module supplies some or all of the underlying data; the team interprets it and produces the evidence required to claim the point.
- –No contributionNothing in this scheme that the module speaks to.
The symbol beside each criterion is C4B’s strongest contribution to it; the symbols beside the modules show what each module contributes on its own.
- 8BREEAM issues supported
- 2(+) Can contribute towards points or credits
- 3→ Provide design direction
- 3• Provide the data basis
Coming soon: contributions to 2 more BREEAM issues, from modules that are not live yet.
| C4B | Criterion | C4B modules that contribute |
|---|---|---|
| → | Hea 01 Visual comfort — daylighting, glare control and direct sunlightcoming soonup to 4 credits |
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| → | Hea 05 Thermal comfort3 credits |
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| • | Hea 10 Natural hazards1 credit |
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| → | Ene 01 Energy and carbon performance for regulated energy uses9+3 credits |
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| (+) | Ene 02 Prediction of operational energy and carbon — energy strategy1 of 12 credits |
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| (+) | Ene 04 Low carbon design5 credits |
|
| • | Ene 07 Flexible demand response1 of 2 credits |
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| → | Mat 01 Building life cycle assessmentcoming soon7+3 credits |
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| → | Wst 05 Adapting to climate change1+1 credit |
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| • | Pol 03 Flood and surface water management5 credits |
|
Health and wellbeing
Visual comfort — daylighting, glare control and direct sunlightcoming soon
C4B modules used
- →Daylight Analysiscoming soon
What C4B contributes
Coming soon: daylight provision to EN 17037 and spatial daylight autonomy to IES LM-83 for a representative room per facade, the daylight glare probability (DGP) with each shading device, and the hours of direct sun at the window — to size windows and choose a glare control strategy at Concept Design.
What the team completes
Demonstrate the daylighting criteria for the relevant areas with a simulation of the design (2 credits), identify the areas at risk of glare and design the risk out (1 credit), and for residential and healthcare buildings show the direct sunlight each unit receives (1 credit).
Data to obtain: Surface reflectances, the visible light transmittance of the glazing, and the buildings and trees that obstruct sky or sun.
Thermal comfort
C4B modules used
- →Typical Hourly Temperature, Humidity and Adaptive Comfort
- →Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments
- →Technical Comfort Strategies
What C4B contributes
The adaptive comfort conditions for the site, and passive and technical strategies that keep spaces within the EN 16798-1 range — for today’s climate and a future one.
What the team completes
Carry out thermal modelling of the relevant spaces for current and projected climate, set the thermal zoning and occupant controls, and document compliance.
Hazards
Natural hazards
C4B modules used
- •Location Information and Data Summary
- •Project Summary report
What C4B contributes
Current and future climate data for the site — temperature extremes, precipitation and wind — as input to the hazard assessment.
What the team completes
Carry out the natural hazard risk assessment and show how the design mitigates the risks identified.
Data to obtain: Flood, seismic, storm and other hazard maps relevant to the site.
Energy
Energy and carbon performance for regulated energy uses
C4B modules used
- →Preliminary Energy Balance
- →Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments
What C4B contributes
A preliminary energy balance and passive design guidance that reduce the regulated energy demand at concept stage.
What the team completes
Credits are awarded on the calculated performance against a baseline building. The energy assessor produces the compliant calculation.
Prediction of operational energy and carbon — energy strategy
C4B modules used
- (+)Preliminary Energy Balance
What C4B contributes
The Concept Design energy strategy credit. The manual allows the strategy to be supported by early-stage design models and calculation — which the preliminary energy balance provides.
What the team completes
Write up the energy strategy: fabric specification, servicing strategy, the low and zero carbon options considered, and the targets. The other 11 credits need a predictive energy model to CIBSE TM54, built by an energy modeller at technical design.
Low carbon design
C4B modules used
- (+)Energy Use: Orientation and Aspect Ratio Optimization
- →Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments
- →PV Energy: Aggregate Yearly Potential
- →Optimal PV Panel Orientation
- →Wind Energy: Aggregate Yearly Potentialcoming soon
- →Geothermal Potential
- →Solar Radiation
- →PV and Wind Energy Potential: Yearly Distributioncoming soon
What C4B contributes
Building form optimisation (1 cr): the Concept Design analysis of how form and orientation affect energy demand. Low and zero carbon technologies (2 cr): the PV and geothermal potential of the site, used to choose and size the systems; the wind potential is coming soon.
What the team completes
Install the chosen low and zero carbon technologies and show that they meet the generation target (2 credits). For the fabric performance credits (up to 2), analyse alternative envelope specifications — insulation, thermal mass, air tightness and solar gains — and show that they cut the heating and cooling demand by at least 5 % (1 credit) or 10 % (2 credits) against building regulations, or that the envelope has been optimised (2 credits). C4B does not model the existing context: account for the neighbouring buildings, trees and terrain, which shade the roof and facades, change the wind at the site and lower the yield.
Flexible demand response
C4B modules used
- •Country Grid Carbon Intensity Assessment
- •PV and Wind Energy Potential: Yearly Distributioncoming soon
What C4B contributes
The grid carbon intensity. The seasonal profile of on-site generation is coming soon.
What the team completes
Design the building’s demand-side response capability and controls, and document the flexible demand response strategy.
Materials
Building life cycle assessmentcoming soon
C4B modules used
- →Suggested Focus for Reducing Overall Carbon Emissionscoming soon
- •Country Average Embodied / Operational Energy Ratioscoming soon
What C4B contributes
Coming soon: the balance of embodied against operational energy and a recommended focus for reducing carbon, to steer early design decisions.
What the team completes
Carry out the building LCA with a BREEAM-recognised tool at concept and technical design, compare the options, and report against the embodied carbon benchmark.
Data to obtain: Material quantities and environmental product declarations.
Waste
Adapting to climate change
C4B modules used
- →Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments
- •Location Information and Data Summary
- •Project Summary report
What C4B contributes
Future climate scenarios for the site, and passive design strategies for the climate the building will face over its life.
What the team completes
Carry out the climate change adaptation appraisal — hazard identification, hazard assessment, risk estimation, evaluation and management — and set out the recommendations before or during Concept Design.
Pollution
Flood and surface water management
C4B modules used
- •Precipitation Overview
- •Precipitation Event Intensity
- •Project Summary report
What C4B contributes
Monthly precipitation and extreme rainfall event intensities for the site.
What the team completes
Commission the flood risk assessment and the surface water drainage design — runoff rates and volumes including the climate change allowance — typically by a civil engineer.
Data to obtain: Flood zone classification and existing drainage information for the site.
Working with C4B on a BREEAM project
- Run the site in C4B early
Enter the project location at pre-design or concept stage, while orientation, form and the energy concept are still open.
- Share the PDF report and the module outputs
Pass the PDF report and the individual module outputs to the design team, energy modeller and BREEAM assessor or consultant.
- Work through “What the team completes”
It is the checklist of what remains for each criterion: the analyses, designs and data that turn C4B’s contribution into an awarded credit.
See your site's climate before design begins
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Frequently asked questions
Can C4B earn BREEAM credits on its own?
C4B contributes the analysis, design direction or data behind each criterion. Every credit is earned by the project team and confirmed by the assessor on the evidence submitted.
Is C4B endorsed by BRE?
No. C4B is independent of BRE and is not a BREEAM-approved tool. It produces climate, energy and comfort analysis that the team uses and submits as part of its own evidence; the assessor decides what it is worth.
Why is a BREEAM credit worth more in some countries than others?
BREEAM International weights each category by country, so the same credit counts for a different share of the final score from one project location to the next. The guide shows credits, which do not change with location.
When should we run C4B on a BREEAM project?
At pre-design or concept stage, while orientation, form and the energy concept are still open. Enter the project location, share the PDF report and the individual module outputs with the design team, energy modeller and BREEAM assessor or consultant, then work through what the team completes for each criterion.
Sources
Values are BREEAM credits for a fully fitted non-residential building; exemplary credits, which count towards Innovation, are shown after the plus sign. BREEAM weights each category by country, so the same credit is worth a different share of the score from one project location to the next. BREEAM International New Construction v7.1 Technical Manual, SD6073, BRE Global, 2026. Criteria not listed here are outside what the platform addresses. BREEAM is a registered trademark of BRE.
Other certification guides
LEED v4.1 BD+C certification guide
The eleven LEED v4.1 BD+C requirements C4B supports today, from Integrative Process and Site Assessment to rainwater, energy and comfort; daylight is coming soon.
DGNB New Construction 2023 certification guide
The nine DGNB criteria C4B supports today: the climate risk analysis, climate resilience, thermal comfort, energy and the PV potential of the envelope; visual comfort is coming soon.
VERDE Edificios 2030 certification guide
The eight VERDE Edificios 2030 indicators C4B supports today: climate risk, bioclimatic design, energy, renewables and comfort; daylight is coming soon.
Certification contribution by module
The full table: for every live module and every scheme, the criteria behind each symbol and the points, credits or score share they carry.