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BEAM P
LUS FOR
N
EW
B
UILDINGS
F
RAMEWORK
V
ERSION
1.2
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 9
1.3 C
REDIT
W
EIGHTINGS
AND
O
VERALL
G
RADE
The weighting system, i.e. the relative number of credits given for
compliance with a particular aspect, is a critical part of a building
performance assessment method. It is logical that BEAM should seek to
assign credits or weightings to assessment criteria in accordance with
the significance of the impact.
C
ATEGORY
W
EIGHTING
Having reviewed local and international assessment schemes and other
relevant information, a weighting for each environmental performance
category has been assigned to reflect its importance and global trends
as follows:
Category
Weighting (%)
Site Aspects (S
A
)
25
Materials Aspects (M
A
)
8
Energy Use (E
U
)
35
Water Use
(W
U
)
12
Indoor Environmental Quality
(I
EQ
)
20
100
C
REDITS ALLOCATED
Credits have been broadly allocated to each assessment criterion by
taking into account the international consensus as given by an analysis
of weightings used in similar assessment methods operating elsewhere,
as well as surveys and informed opinions of those who have contributed
to the development of this BEAM version. The award of fractions of a
credit is possible under BEAM.
E
XCLUSIONS
Exclusions are allowed where an issue or part of an assessment is not
applicable to particular circumstances or building type. A spreadsheet is
available on the BEAM Society Limited’s website to show as ‘NA’ (not
applicable) the credits affected.
P
REREQUISITES
For some of the environmental aspects, detailed compliance with legal
requirements is a prerequisite for the award of credits. Consequently,
when an assessed issue becomes subject to legislation it will no longer
count for the award of credits, and will be amended or deleted in any
future revisions of BEAM.
For each performance category, BEAM prescribes different
prerequisites. Every applicable prerequisite, in every BEAM category,
must be achieved; otherwise the project cannot be assessed.
A
SSESSMENTS
Many of the assessments verifying compliance with the prescribed
criteria in BEAM will be undertaken by an independent BEAM Assessor
on behalf of the BEAM Society Limited. The Client will provide
documentation and photographic evidence.
A
LTERNATIVE
A
SSESSMENT
M
ETHODS
BEAM does not seek to be overly prescriptive in setting assessment
criteria and in defining methods of compliance. It encourages Client’s
representatives to consider alternative approaches which meet the
objectives of BEAM. Client representatives are invited to submit a
‘method statement’ if a credit is sought using an alternative approach.
The statement shall address the stated objective of BEAM for which the
credit or credits are sought, the proposed alternative criteria, and the
proposed method for assessment. The proposal should be submitted at