BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out FAQs
Refurbishment and Fit Out Commercial Version 7 (General)
Refurbishment and fit out refer to different types of work within existing buildings, and BREEAM addresses each through two standards:
BREEAM Refurbishment V7 covers building upgrades that may include changes to the fabric, structure, core building systems and operational performance of an existing asset. It is typically used where work extends beyond individual spaces to improve the overall building’s performance and longevity.
BREEAM Fit Out V7 is designed for tenant-led or interior-focused projects where the wider building structure and core systems are not being significantly altered. It focuses on interior spaces within a building, including layouts, finishes, furnishings and localised services.
Together, BREEAM Refurbishment V7 and BREEAM Fit Out V7 provide a flexible structure that allow stakeholders to assess and improve sustainability outcomes across both whole-building refurbishment and interior-focused projects.
BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 places a stronger emphasis on advancing decarbonisation efforts to mitigate climate risk, while further improving sustainability across all stages of a building's lifecycle.
Key updates include expanded whole-life carbon assessments, including benchmarking and reporting for both predicted operational and embodied carbon, and an enhanced focus on biodiversity. V7 also integrates mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems – such as ducts, pipes, cabling and other equipment – into its embodied carbon assessments, ensuring a more comprehensive understanding of an asset’s true carbon impact.
The standard also includes updated climate resilience criteria for extreme weather and new health and well-being standards for occupants. V7 streamlines reporting by better aligning with internal and external reporting frameworks, providing more robust, flexible tools for data collection while making BREEAM more accessible for diverse asset types, including mixed-use buildings.
BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 is specifically designed for existing commercial assets undergoing refurbishment or fit out, whereas BREEAM New Construction V7 focuses on performance from the ground up.
While both share the same science-led methodology and performance principles, BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 accounts for the realities of working with existing structures, including operational performance, building constraints and lifecycle considerations. It provides tools to assess, benchmark and improve environmental, social and financial outcomes without requiring a complete rebuild. This makes BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 a practical standard for enhancing the resilience, efficiency and long-term value of existing buildings while still maintaining alignment with the global BREEAM framework.
BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 extends the BREEAM framework across the full lifecycle of existing buildings, complementing both BREEAM New Construction and BREEAM In-Use. BREEAM New Construction focuses on helping deliver sustainability outcomes for new development projects and BREEAM In-Use assesses the ongoing operational performance of occupied buildings. BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out addresses the critical stages in between — when assets are upgraded, renovated or refurbished over time.
For existing BREEAM New Construction and BREEAM In-Use users, BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out provides a structured way to maintain and improve asset performance through each cycle of change. This helps ensure that sustainability and performance improvements achieved at the design or operational stage are not lost during renovation activity. Together, these schemes support a whole-life approach to building performance, enabling owners and occupiers to measure, manage and improve sustainability outcomes consistently across development, occupation and renewal cycles.
BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 can be used on any commercial refurbishment or fit out project, anywhere in the world, except where one of our partners – BREEAM National Scheme Operators (NSOs), operate a locally adapted standard.
Locally adapted Refurbishment and Fit Out standards operate in:
- Spain
- Sweden
- The Netherlands (BREEAM Refurbishment only)
For further information, please visit: Meet the BREEAM National Scheme Operators.
The new approach brings the UK and International standards together within a single scheme framework.
This creates greater consistency for users, improves efficiency for global organisations and helps ensure that projects are assessed against a common set of principles while still recognising local regulations and market conditions.
Key benefits include:
- Greater consistency across markets
- Easier adoption for organisations operating internationally
- Simplified training and assessment processes
- Improved comparability of projects across different countries
- A more streamlined development and update process for future scheme improvements
No. The combined framework continues to recognise local contexts, regulations and market practices.
Where regional differences exist, appropriate requirements, benchmarks or guidance remain in place to ensure assessments remain relevant and robust.
The Refurbishment and Fit Out (RFO) scheme has been restructured into two distinct standards, allowing projects to be assessed under a standard that more closely reflects their scope and characteristics:
- Refurbishment
- Fit Out
The new Refurbishment standard retains the scope and intent of the previous RFO scheme for projects involving refurbishment works or fit out of shell buildings. The change has been made to clearly differentiate these projects from those that are primarily tenant-led or interior-focussed fit out projects, which are now assessed under the new Fit Out standard.
"Refurbishment and Fit Out" (RFO) remains the overarching term used to describe the scheme which covers the combined suite of standards.
This approach provides greater clarity for scheme users while maintaining the market recognition and sustainability principles established through the previous RFO scheme.
Refurbishment and fit out projects can differ significantly in their scope, opportunities, constraints and sustainability impacts.
By creating separate standards, assessment requirements can be better tailored to the characteristics of each project type, ensuring a more relevant and proportionate assessment approach.
We are currently reviewing our BREEAM UK Domestic Refurbishment scheme and considering how to best to update it. It is not currently a scheduled V7 release.
Refurbishment and Fit Out Commercial Version 7 (Technical)
Yes. BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 will be launched in the BREEAM Platform.
For further information and guidance on how to create an account, create an asset and create an assessment, please refer to our BREEAM Platform FAQs.
Licensed BREEAM RFO Assessors can access the full BREEAM Refurbishment V7 and BREEAM Fit Out V7 Technical Manuals via their BREEAM Projects log-in.
If you are not a licensed RFO Assessor, we have created a Technical Standard Summary document intended to help provide you with the key technical information. The Technical Standard Summary can be accessed here.
However, if you would like access to the full Technical Manuals, you can request this through our online form here.
The BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 Technical Standards Summary document provides information on when each of the standards should be used. The document can be accessed through BREEAM projects.
BREEAM RFO Assessors can also access further information regarding the scope of each of the standards in the respective technical manual.
If you are still unsure, please reach out to our trained and licensed BREEAM RFO Assessors, or you can contact BREEAM directly.
The four parts in BREEAM Refurbishment remain as:
Part 1: Fabric and structure
Part 2: Core services
Part 3: Local services
Part 4: Interior design
In BREEAM Fit Out, we have introduced two levels of assessment to reflect the scope of the project:
Level 1: Fit out – interior design works. This is equivalent to a Part 4 only assessment in BREEAM Refurbishment.
Level 2: Fit out – interior design works including local building services. This is broadly equivalent to a Part 3 and 4 assessment in BREEAM refurbishment.
BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 embeds our Version 7 science and aligns with our BREEAM New Construction V7 scheme.
The purpose of Version 7 is to align with industry objectives on decarbonisation which require reductions in operational, embodied, refrigerant, and transportation emissions, addressing whole life carbon across the building lifecycle.
We sought feedback from our BREEAM community which has been incorporated and addressed in this update by:
Introducing new criteria
Revising existing criteria, and
Introducing new minimum standards to reflect how a BREEAM Outstanding or Excellent rated asset should perform
Please refer to the BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 Summary of changes for full details.
We have taken the opportunity to establish Resilience as a standalone category in BREEAM Refurbishment V7.
Resilience is becoming an increasingly important component in the built environment. While resilience related criteria were previously distributed across several categories in existing RFO schemes, we believe it is clearer and more effective to consolidate them within a single category. We have also taken the opportunity to review and update the assessment approach.
As a result, the format, structure and content of the resilience category has been updated. For a full introduction to the Resilience category, and details of the technical changes, please refer to the BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 Summary of changes.
Please note that the Resilience category does not apply to BREEAM Fit Out V7. The aims of the issues within Resilience fall beyond the scope of works that would be included in a fit out project.
The new Resilience category in BREEAM Refurbishment V7 gathers past resilience-related credits (including those from New Construction V7) such as Pol 03 and Wst 05, bringing them into a single category, harmonising and updating them in line with global best practice. It has an updated framework and credits that subsume and enhance the requirements in New Construction V7.
In short, the BREEAM Refurbishment V7 Resilience category aligns with and builds on the distributed resilience-related requirements in New Construction V7.
Yes. We understand that the resilience of an asset is increasingly important to our market. As such, whilst BREEAM has always addressed aspects of resilience across its suite of standards, we will be looking to establish Resilience as a standalone category across all BREEAM schemes to provide clarity on how it is addressed within each of the standards, and to signpost the importance of the topic.
Currently, BREEAM In-Use and now BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out include a Resilience category.
As part of the BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 development, whilst establishing Resilience as a standalone category, we took the opportunity to review and update the framework and credits to enhance the (currently distributed) requirements in New Construction.
Moving forwards, we will be exploring the most appropriate opportunity to introduce a standalone Resilience category into BREEAM New Construction.
In a combined NC/RFO project, the RFO scheme is used as the base, with NC applied to new areas.
The assessment will therefore include the Resilience category in BREEAM Refurbishment V7, and will remove any NC issues already covered, such as Hazards.
Eventually, but not when BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 is initially launched.
We are working on a separate Data Centres project that will allow us to update our offering for this asset group for both New Construction and Refurbishment projects.
We will keep Assessors updated on the progress of this project through the usual communication channels.
Registrations and Certifications
The BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 scheme offers:
design stage certification (referred to as ‘interim’) - based on the design intent of the refurbishment/fit out, and
post-construction certification - based on the as-built completed refurbishment/fit out
Post-construction certification can be achieved through either a:
Post-construction assessment (PCA) - where full as-built evidence is assessed, or
A Post-construction review (PCR) - can only be completed where Interim design stage certification has been achieved
For further details, please refer to the ‘Assessment stages’ section of the technical manuals.
For projects that include both new-build and refurbished areas, the appropriate scheme depends on the scope of the new-build and refurbishment works.
Where the new build area is <50% of the project gross internal area – BREEAM Refurbishment is the appropriate scheme. When a new extension is included within a BREEAM Refurbishment assessment, the scope of works for the new-build element must align with the Parts selected for assessment, and the assessment must include Part 1.
Where the new build area is ≥ 50% of the project gross internal area – a single BREEAM Refurbishment assessment is not appropriate and there are two options as described below:
Complete separate BREEAM New Construction and BREEAM Refurbishment assessments – two certificates and ratings will be issued to indicate the performance of the new build area and existing building refurbishment and fit out
Complete a BREEAM Bespoke assessment – see the ‘How do I obtain BREEAM Bespoke criteria?’ FAQ
To obtain BREEAM bespoke criteria, please contact BREEAM.
BREEAM Bespoke criteria may be required where:
a project is for a Building type not covered in Appendix A of the BREEAM Refurbishment and BREEAM Fit Out V7 manuals
a project is a mix of new build and refurbishment works, and the new build area is ≥ 50% of the project gross internal area
In these cases, BRE Global can produce bespoke criteria to reflect the specific BREEAM issues and criteria applicable to a project.
BRE Global will refer to the appropriate base scheme/s, and generate a bespoke Criteria Appendix Document, and Scoring and Rating tool for the project.
For further information on the Bespoke process, please refer to GN23.
Yes. Once RFO V7 registrations open, there will be a three-month transition period. During this time, you will still be able to register assets under UK RFO 2014 and International RFO 2015.
Once UK RFO 2014 and International RFO 2015 close for new registrations, it will still be possible to submit the registered assessments for QA and certification for five years following the closure of the version.
BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 assessments can only be registered by licensed Assessors who hold the relevant territory licence and have completed the necessary BRE Academy RFO course.
Licensed RFO Assessors will register BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 projects in the BREEAM Platform.
Please note that, before a project can be registered, an asset and assessment must have been created in the BREEAM Platform. When you create an assessment, you will be able to confirm whether this is a BREEAM Refurbishment or BREEAM Fit Out assessment.
For further information on how to do this, please refer to our BREEAM Platform FAQs.
Up to five different commercial asset types can be included in a single BREEAM Refurbishment or BREEAM Fit Out V7 assessment on the BREEAM Platform.
To apply this, within the ‘Building/Development details' page in the assessment, you need to list up to five ‘Asset category/type/subtypes’, and include the following for each of them:
Gross internal area of assessed building/space
Net internal area (NIA) of assessed building/space
Full details of how to apply this are available in GN20.
Once certified, the asset type with the largest NIA will be the asset type displayed on the certificate. In the event that the largest NIA is equally shared between two asset types, ‘Mixed use’ will be displayed on the certificate.
Please note that BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out V7 assessments can only be registered by licensed Assessors who hold the relevant territory licence.
Yes. We will have registration and certification fees for the following that will be aligned and internationally applicable (including the UK):
BREEAM Refurbishment fees
BREEAM Fit Out fees
Updated fee sheets will be found in the usual location on BREEAM Projects. Licensed BREEAM Assessors will be made aware when these are available.
Training, licensing and credentials
BRE Academy offers a BREEAM RFO | New Assessor training course. This course provides all training needed to qualify as a BREEAM RFO Assessor.
Once qualified, you will need to obtain a BREEAM RFO licence to register and certify projects against BREEAM RFO.
Once qualified, you will need to obtain a BREEAM RFO licence to register and certify projects against BREEAM RFO.
However, to meet the requirements of the licence, assessors are expected to keep up to date with any version or standard changes and therefore encouraged to complete the RFO V7 | Version Update module available on the BRE Academy, prior to completing RFO V7 assessments.
All RFO assessors will be assigned the training to their BRE Academy profile, along with a detailed summary of changes, guidance notes, relevant KBCNs, and FAQs to support you through the scheme update.
If completing the update training without holding an RFO licence (such as APs), the training will not give the required qualifications or competencies to take out a licence in RFO and therefore you will not be able to complete 2014/2015 assessments.
Assessors are expected to complete the Version Update module to familiarise themselves with V7 technical requirements, scheme standards, and key changes. In addition, Assessors intending to carry out International 2015 assessments must ensure they are fully up to date with the technical requirements of that version before undertaking any assessments, as this is a condition of the licence.
The same principle applies in reverse from International RFO to UK RFO.
This means that assessors will need to hold the relevant territory licence for the location of the project they want to register.
The BREEAM Platform can be used for pre-assessments in any country but the assessments can only be registered if you hold the relevant licence for that territory.