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BREEAM is a globally recognized certification method for sustainable buildings. Contrary to popular belief, BREEAM is not limited to the sustainability of buildings alone. The BREEAM guideline also assesses energy-efficient measures for laboratories, which include cleanrooms. The BREEAM standard for energy-efficient laboratories emphasizes minimizing CO2 emissions and energy consumption (particle emission monitoring systems linked to airflow controls) through strategic cleanroom building designs. The guideline helps assess and implement sustainability practices within laboratory and cleanroom spaces, ensuring both energy savings and safety. This article explains in detail how our patented VIX concept, combined with sustainable construction, easily and quickly achieves BREEAM certification.
Cleanrooms and laboratories often consume significant amounts of energy due to ventilation, air quality systems and specialized equipment. BREEAM focuses on optimizing these processes by applying energy-saving technologies and smart designs. This includes efficient HVAC systems, circular material use, attention to employee health, sustainable refrigerant policies and energy consumption monitoring.
A BREEAM-ready cleanroom not only benefits the classified environment but also provides long-term savings through reduced operational costs. Additionally, it improves working conditions of cleanroom operators by offering a healthier indoor climate and higher safety standards. Integrating BREEAM standards in our cleanrooms helps ensure energy efficiency (VIX concept) and environmental sustainability (refrigerant policy).
The BREEAM certification method consists of several main categories, each with varying points. These categories are weighted as follows:
By applying BREEAM standards, our cleanrooms meet sustainability requirements without compromising performance, resulting in a lower environmental footprint, better working conditions and cost savings. At ABN Cleanroom Technology, we fully commit to ensuring our cleanrooms are BREEAM-ready. Here’s how we achieve that:
1. Energy monitoring: Our cleanrooms utilize an advanced energy management system that continuously monitors and analyzes energy consumption. By providing real-time data insights, inefficiencies can be quickly identified and addressed. This leads to optimized energy usage and reduces unnecessary costs. (ENE 02 Energy Monitoring: Encourage sub-metering with energy meters for monitoring energy consumption.)
2. Low energy consumption through VIX: Our high-level cleanrooms are based on the patented VIX concept, which reduces energy consumption by 50%. VIX systems dynamically adjust airflow based on the current requirements within the cleanroom while maintaining pressure hierarchy. This results in significant energy savings without compromising performance or air quality. (ENE 07 Energy-efficient laboratories: Encourage building designs for laboratories with the lowest possible CO2 emissions and energy consumption.)
3. Detection of potential losses via data integration (CleanConnect): The CleanConnect IoT platform detects potential losses, such as water leaks or energy wastage. This system integrates data from various sensors and devices to provide a comprehensive overview of the facility. Early detection allows for quick problem resolution, contributing to sustainability and cost reduction. (WAT 02 Water Usage Monitoring: Encourage building users to reduce potable water usage by monitoring water consumption.)
4. Circular materials: In constructing our cleanrooms, we use circular materials such as recyclable aluminium and natural wool as insulation material. Aluminium has a long lifespan and can be endlessly recycled without losing quality. Natural wool is a sustainable insulation material that contributes to a healthy indoor climate and offers excellent thermal properties. (MAT 01 Environmental impact of building materials: Identify, promote, and document the use of materials with a low environmental impact throughout the building’s life cycle.)
5. PFAS-free refrigerant policy: As the first cleanroom provider on the market, we implement a strict PFAS-free policy for refrigerants in our HVAC systems. Instead of traditional refrigerants that contain poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances, we use environmentally friendly alternatives. This reduces the emission of harmful substances and contributes to a healthier working environment and ecosystem. (POL 01 Environmental impact of refrigerants: Reduce the contribution of refrigerants to climate change by preventing leakage and using refrigerants with no or very low global warming potential.)
Through this integrated approach of energy efficiency (VIX concept) and material usage (sustainable construction), our cleanrooms easily and quickly achieve BREEAM certification. These measures lead to lower operational costs, reduced environmental impact and improved employee health and well-being.
Legolisation means standardisation. Standardisation causes a shift in production. Work is carried out in conditioned spaces such as factory halls. our cleanrooms are manufactured partly or entirely off-site, which means huge savings on transport costs and reduction of inconvenience on-site