Building User Guide

A BREEAM Building User Guide (BUG) is a credit-earning document required under the Management category of BREEAM New Construction and Refurbishment schemes. It provides occupants and facilities managers with clear, practical guidance on building operation and management. Build Energy typically produces the guide at post-construction stage and submits it to the assessor as part of the evidence package. The depth and detail of the guide directly influence the number of Man credits awarded.

A Building User Guide is a formal BREEAM requirement under the Management category. It provides building occupants and facilities managers with instructions on how to operate the building’s systems efficiently and sustainably. Issued at practical completion, the guide covers HVAC controls, lighting zones, metering and sub-metering, waste management facilities, and renewable energy systems. In practice, this helps occupants achieve the intended energy and environmental performance. Build Energy produces BREEAM-compliant Building User Guides for commercial, education, healthcare, and residential schemes across the UK.

In doing so, it ensures that building users and facilities management teams understand how to operate the building effectively. This maximises energy efficiency, comfort, and overall performance. At Build Energy, we support project teams by producing professional, BREEAM-compliant Building User Guides tailored to your scheme and audience.

The Building User Guide (BUG) is more than a box-ticking exercise. In reality, it forms a vital link between design intent and real-world operation. When building users understand how to interact with systems such as heating, ventilation, and lighting, the building is far more likely to perform as designed.

The guide also forms part of the evidence required to secure credits under BREEAM’s Management (Man 04) section. This addresses commissioning and handover. In many cases, producing a BUG is a mandatory requirement to meet your target rating.

BREEAM 2014

Under the BREEAM 2014 scheme, a Building User Guide is mandatory for projects aiming for an Excellent rating. The project must provide a single guide containing helpful and practical information for both staff and facilities management teams.

BREEAM 2018

In the BREEAM 2018 New Construction scheme, a Building User Guide is a mandatory requirement for achieving a Very Good rating or above. The 2018 scheme introduces a key change – project teams must now create separate guides for different user groups:

• One for building users, written in accessible, non-technical language
• One for facilities management, covering systems operation and maintenance in more detail

Building User Guides are typically produced alongside a full assessment by our accredited BREEAM assessors.

The content of the guide will vary depending on the project type, but typically includes:

• An overview of the building layout and key spaces
• Instructions for using building systems (heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting)
• Energy-saving advice and sustainability features
• Emergency and security procedures
• Contact information for building management and maintenance teams
• Visitor arrival instructions
• Local amenity and sustainable transport information

We ensure all guides are clearly written, well-structured, and easy to use in both print and digital formats.

At Build Energy, we have extensive experience producing BREEAM-compliant Building User Guides across commercial, education, healthcare and industrial projects. We work closely with your design and construction teams to gather the necessary information. As a result, we deliver fully tailored guides that meet BREEAM criteria.

We also integrate this service with our broader BREEAM consultancy, evidence gathering, and handover support. This integration makes the certification process as smooth and efficient as possible.

What is a BREEAM Building User Guide?

A Building User Guide (BUG) is a document produced as part of the BREEAM commissioning and handover process. It provides building occupants and facilities managers with clear, accessible guidance on how to operate and maintain the building to achieve its intended energy and environmental performance. The guide must be tailored to the building – generic manufacturer manuals do not satisfy the BREEAM requirement. Credits are awarded under the Man 04 (Commissioning and Handover) category.

What must a BREEAM Building User Guide include?

A BREEAM-compliant Building User Guide must cover: how to control and operate heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting systems; how to manage energy and water consumption; information on waste management and recycling facilities; details of any renewable energy or building management systems; emergency procedures; and contact information for maintenance and servicing. The content must be written in plain English and appropriate for non-technical building users, not just the facilities team.

Is a Building User Guide required for all BREEAM assessments?

A Building User Guide is a requirement under the Man 04 credit in most BREEAM New Construction and Refurbishment & Fit-Out assessments. The specific requirements vary slightly between scheme versions, but in most cases, the project team must produce and issue the guide to building users before or at handover to earn the credit. It is one of the more straightforward credits to achieve with the right documentation support.

Can Build Energy produce a Building User Guide for an existing building?

Yes – we regularly produce Building User Guides for existing buildings undergoing BREEAM In-Use assessments or seeking retrospective certification. For existing buildings we carry out a review of installed systems and existing documentation before preparing a guide that accurately reflects how the building actually operates. We can also update an existing guide where building systems have undergone modifications or upgrades since the original was produced.