• Green Guide 2008 ratings

    Green Guide 2008 ratings

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    Upper Floor Construction

    Upper Floors

    Separate ratings for Upper Floors are provided for each of the following building types:
    Domestic, Health, Commercial, Retail, Industrial, Education


    Functional unit for Upper Floors for Commercial buildings:
    1m² of upper floor construction, to satisfy England & Wales Building Regulations, capable of supporting a live floor load of 2.5 kN/m², based on a 7.5m column grid and surface ready for addition of sub-structural floor system.  Beams directly between columns are excluded but any additional beams or structure should be included.

    Variation for Housing
    As for commercial buildings but based on a 4m span between loadbearing walls, a live loading of 1.5 kN/m² and a surface ready for the addition of a sheet carpet and underlay.  All domestic upper floors also include a painted plasterboard ceiling. Only the structure spanning between the loadbearing walls should be included.


    Variation for Education
    As for commercial buildings but based on a floor between classrooms with a 8m column grid and a live loading of 3 kN/m², and surface ready for the addition of a sheet flooring.


    Variation for Health
    As for commercial buildings but based on a 6m column grid, a live loading of 2 kN/m² and surface ready for the addition of a sheet flooring.


    Variation for Retail
    As for commercial buildings but based on a 6m column grid, a live loading of 4 kN/m² and surface ready for addition of sub-structural floor system.


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    Domestic ratings should also be used for any non domestic building of a domestic scale; 1-3 storeys max.

    Users of the Guide should be able to find an exact match between their specification and one listed in the Green Guide. If an exact match cannot be found, then the user should be able to find a specification that is similar. If in doubt, or if no similar specification is available and where the specification is for a BREEAM, Code for Sustainable Homes or EcoHomes building assessment, the registered assessor working on the scheme should contact the scheme service provider for a bespoke rating.

    Any submission for a bespoke rating shall give details of the specification as per the requirements stated in the technical scheme guidance. In addition, where the submission is for a bespoke rating where the span is much greater than the given distance recorded in the functional unit of the defined building category, the submission shall be supported with evidence and documentation confirming the span and loading for the floor, and how the design team has optimised the material content of the specification across its defined span, including:

     - a comparison of all the materials in their chosen solution and a comparable Green Guide-listed specification;
     - if relevant to the comparison, holistic design approaches where the chosen solution is dependent on changes to the supporting structure where, for example, columns or shear walls, etc. are used to optimise the material usage in the floor structure.

    This section applies to all floor constructions that are not immediately above the ground. This includes floors to be constructed at ground level, but above a basement. For domestic construction, the upper floors include a painted ceiling, but for non-domestic upper floors, the ceiling finish is excluded.

    The floor of an attic space should also be assessed using the upper floor rating relevant to the construction type.

    BREEAM 2008 Schemes to which this element applies:
    Upper floor chart
    View this as a full page (PDF file)

    Please select the element type of Upper Floor Construction ratings you wish to review:

     

    For more information

    Call us on 0333 321 88 11 if you would like to know more, or email enquiries@bregroup.com.