Building Research Establishment BRE
In 1917, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research proposed the creation of an organisation to investigate building materials and methods of construction for new housing.
In June 1920, the Building Research Board met for the first time and in 1921 The Building Research Station (BRS), a government-funded laboratory, was established to carry out research work for the Board.
In 1972, the Building Research Station became the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
The Building Research Establishment was privatised in 1997, owned by a new body, the Foundation for the Built Environment (FBE), since which time it has referred to itself as BRE. In 2005, the Foundation was renamed the BRE Trust.
BRE is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries. Its head office is in Watford and it has regional offices in Scotland and Wales.
BRE activities include:
- Consultancy.
- Research and innovation.
- Testing, certification, approvals and listings (such as the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) and GreenBookLive).
- Sustainability and BREEAM (BREAAM is the BRE Environmental Assessment Method. First launched in the UK in 1990, it sets best practice standards for the environmental performance of buildings).
- Training, events and accreditation (such as the BRE Energy Assessor Accreditation Schemes).
As well as BRE, other BRE Group activities include:
- BRE Global, an independent, third-party approvals organisation working to ensure that fire, security, environmental and other products and services provide the quality of performance and protection that they should.
- BRE Ventures, bringing together innovators, networks and funding streams to take innovation to market quickly.
All profits made by the BRE Group are gift aided to the BRE Trust, the largest UK charity dedicated to research and education in the built environment.
In February 2019, Gillian Charlesworth became the new chief executive of BRE following Peter Bonfield's move to become vice-chancellor and president of the University of Westminster.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 2021 Soft Landings Conference.
- BRE Group profile page on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE National Solar Centre.
- BRE Trust.
- BRE Watford Innovation Park.
- BREEAM.
- CIRIA.
- Construction industry institutes and associations.
- Cork House.
- Design quality indicator DQI.
- Domestic Retrofit training course.
- Homes England Modern Methods of Construction research finalised.
- NABERS UK.
Featured articles and news
The act of preservation may sometimes be futile.
Twas the site before Christmas...
A rhyme for the industry and a thankyou to our supporters.
Plumbing and heating systems in schools
New apprentice pay rates coming into effect in the new year
Addressing the impact of recent national minimum wage changes.
EBSSA support for the new industry competence structure
The Engineering and Building Services Skills Authority, in working group 2.
Notes from BSRIA Sustainable Futures briefing
From carbon down to the all important customer: Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living.
Principal Designer: A New Opportunity for Architects
ACA launches a Principal Designer Register for architects.
A new government plan for housing and nature recovery
Exploring a new housing and infrastructure nature recovery framework.
Leveraging technology to enhance prospects for students
A case study on the significance of the Autodesk Revit certification.
Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance
Announced during commons debate on the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report.
CIAT responds to the updated National Planning Policy Framework
With key changes in the revised NPPF outlined.
Councils and communities highlighted for delivery of common-sense housing in planning overhaul
As government follows up with mandatory housing targets.