BREEAM updates standards for commercial refurbishments
24 September 2026
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has launched BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out Commercial Version 7 (BREEAM RFO V7), an updated framework comprising two sustainability standards designed to help building owners, occupiers and developers reduce carbon, improve resilience and protect the long-term value of existing commercial buildings.
With 80% of the buildings that will be occupied in 2050 already in existence, improving existing buildings will be an important part of reducing emissions. Deep retrofits can produce 50–75% less carbon than constructing the same building from scratch. Meanwhile, more than 170 million square metres of office space across major European markets could become obsolete by 2030 as ageing buildings struggle to meet tighter climate and sustainability requirements, increasing the need for investment in existing assets.
BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out Version 7 provides a framework for assessing and improving the sustainability of commercial refurbishment and fit out projects. It helps reduce environmental impact, strengthen resilience, improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort, and create long-term value from existing assets.
The two standards are:
- BREEAM Refurbishment V7 – for projects involving changes to a building’s fabric core systems or operational performance
- BREEAM Fit Out V7 – for tenant-led or interior-focused projects where the wider building structure and core systems are not being significantly altered
Both new standards help project teams reduce carbon across a building’s lifetime and make better-informed decisions about its future performance. They support more accurate predictions of energy use, while BREEAM Refurbishment V7 also helps buildings manage energy demand and respond to changing grid conditions. Together, the standards help owners plan for the transition to net zero, manage risk and protect long-term asset value, with further environmental benefits from retaining existing building elements and making more sustainable material choices.
They provide measurable, independently certified outcomes that can be benchmarked consistently across different countries and markets, while performance-led energy assessments help translate design intent into measurable, real-world outcomes.
Tom Wilson, director of BREEAM, says:
“The buildings we will need in 2050 are largely already here. Many will still be part of our towns and cities when our children and grandchildren are living and working in them. We have a responsibility to make sure they are fit for that future.
“BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out Version 7 helps owners, occupiers and project teams make practical choices that cut carbon, improve performance and create healthier, more resilient places for people.
“Every building we improve is one we do not have to replace. By giving existing buildings a new lease of life, we can protect their value today while leaving a better built environment for generations to come.”
The BREEAM RFO V7 standards comprise a flexible model that includes fabric and structure, core services, local services and interior design. This enables assessments to align closely with the scope of refurbishment or fit out works, reflecting the differing responsibilities of owners and occupiers while accounting for the varied lifecycle timelines of building systems, infrastructure and interior elements.
The standards also introduce a five-part resilience framework covering hazard screening, climate risk assessment, resilience planning, protection from operational and malicious risks, and contribution to local resilience. This supports a proactive and risk-based approach to climate adaptation, operational continuity and long-term asset performance.
Find out more about BREEAM RFO V7 here.
