The Brief
As part of the BREEAM certification process, the project required accredited post-construction, pre-occupation indoor air quality testing in line with BREEAM’s HEA 02 criteria. Specifically, the testing needed to measure formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds — pollutants that can off-gas from building materials — following ISO 16000-3 and ISO 16000-6 standards, conducted by an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited body.
What We Did
Airscan’s team carried out the full air quality testing campaign in the post-construction, pre-occupation window — the critical period when off-gassing from new materials is at its peak and conditions most directly reflect what the building itself is contributing to the indoor environment. Testing covered formaldehyde and total VOC concentrations across the building in accordance with ISO 16000-3 and ISO 16000-6, with Airscan operating under its BELAC-granted ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, which explicitly covers both applied methods.
How It Works
BREEAM’s HEA 02 credit requires that air quality be assessed before occupation, using standardised methods and a body whose accreditation covers those specific methods — not just air quality testing in general. Testing at this stage captures what the building envelope and fit-out materials are releasing into the air under realistic conditions, providing evidence that the indoor environment meets the standard before it becomes anyone’s daily workplace. The results feed directly into the project’s BREEAM certification portfolio as documented evidence against the credit criteria.
Outcomes
The test results submitted by Airscan contributed to De Watergroep’s office receiving a BREEAM Excellent certificate — confirming that the building meets a high standard across sustainability, environmental responsibility, and occupant health and wellbeing. The project was delivered in collaboration with Vandenbussche Bouw and Boydens Engineering, part of Sweco.
