BREEAM RFO V7 Has Launched: What's Changed (July 2026)

What is BREEAM RFO?

BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out (RFO) is the industry-standard framework used to assess the environmental performance of existing buildings undergoing renovation. Unlike "New Construction" schemes, RFO is tailored to the realities of working with what's already there, whether that's a Victorian warehouse conversion or a company moving into an existing modern office. It gives a roadmap for improving energy efficiency, occupant health and material circularity without the carbon "cost" of demolishing and starting again.

At its core, BREEAM RFO gives developers, landlords and occupiers a structured way to measure and improve environmental performance during refurbishment works. It evaluates energy use, materials, waste, health and wellbeing, and management practices, ultimately awarding a certification that reflects how sustainable the upgraded asset is.

Indoor air quality credits, previously sitting in category Hea 02 under RFO 2015, have been repositioned to Hea 04 in RFO V7. If you're targeting certification on a live project, our BREEAM Air Quality Testing service is built to get it right first time.

BREEAM RFO V7 Has Officially Launched

As of 15 July 2026, BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out Version 7 is live, the scheme's first major overhaul since 2015. It follows the same path as BREEAM New Construction (NC) V7, which launched back in September 2025.

The headline change is structural: RFO is no longer one scheme covering everything. It has split into two distinct standards:

BREEAM Refurbishment V7 — for building upgrades touching fabric, structure, core systems and operational performance. This is the route for anything extending beyond individual spaces.
BREEAM Fit Out V7 — for tenant-led, interior-focused projects where the wider building structure and core systems aren't being significantly altered.

"Refurbishment and Fit Out" remains the umbrella term for the scheme, but which standard you register under now depends on where the bulk of the works sit. BRE has also merged the UK and International schemes into a single global framework, so assessors and clients working across borders no longer have to juggle two rulebooks.

What RFO V7 Means for Indoor Air Quality

Under RFO V7, indoor air quality now sits in Hea 04, having moved from Hea 02 in the outgoing 2015 scheme — the same shift already seen in NC V7. The mechanics stay familiar: an Indoor Air Quality Plan remains the gateway to credits in this section, and a compliant plan is now a minimum standard requirement for any project targeting a Very Good rating or above.

A few other IAQ-relevant points worth flagging for live projects:

Smoking bans are a minimum standard from Very Good upwards, but only apply to BREEAM Refurbishment V7, not Fit Out.
VOC assessment scope has widened for M&E works. Finished mechanical and electrical products are still excluded, but on-site applications of paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants used for M&E purposes must now be assessed under their relevant material category.
No asbestos remains a Pass-level minimum standard, and commissioning of building systems (with technical and non-technical user guides handed over) is required from Very Good.

None of this is a wholesale rewrite of how IAQ is assessed, but the credit renumbering and the tightened minimum standards mean project teams working from old documentation could easily miss a requirement.

What do the Experts Think About BREEAM RFO V7?

Indoor air quality expert, Adam Taylor, who also had a hand in shaping the BREEAM Indoor Air Quality category, is excited to see this update in action. Commenting on the release, Adam welcomed the removal of the industry's long-standing "fear factor" around air quality testing:

"The biggest change is the removal of the "Fear Factor" surrounding the air quality credits. In the world of indoor air quality, one of our biggest challenges is the attitude "what if we test the air quality and its's bad? In the latest revision, you get a point just for doing the testing, you get another point if the building actually passes the testing. Under V7, projects can now gain credit simply for undertaking post-construction IAQ testing, with an additional credit available if the building meets the required performance criteria."

Adam Taylor, CEO, IAQ Expert

Industry reaction has been largely positive, with many sustainability consultants welcoming the closer alignment between RFO V7 and New Construction V7, as well as the increased focus on measurable building performance rather than purely design-stage commitments.

Several commentators have highlighted the strengthened health and wellbeing criteria (Hea), clearer assessment requirements, and the introduction of defined competency requirements for indoor air quality professionals.

Registration and Transition to RFO V7

If you're mid-project or about to register, timing matters. There's a three-month transition period during which assets can still be registered under UK RFO 2014 or International RFO 2015. Once those older versions close to new registrations, projects already registered under them will still have five years to submit for QA and certification.

If you're scoping a refurbishment or fit-out now, don't assume RFO 2015 guidance still applies without checking first. Our BREEAM Indoor Air Quality Plan service is a solid starting point for getting the ventilation, VOC and off-gassing strategy right from day one, whichever scheme version your project sits under. Trust us, we've seen clients fail BREEAM Indoor Air Quality Testing under RFO 2015 simply for poor planning and timing — BREEAM in Central London case study.

As with all standards and legislation, figures and requirements are subject to revision. Always verify against BRE's current published technical manual before finalising a compliance strategy.

BREEAM Update Timeline

September 2025: BREEAM New Construction V7 official launch
January 2026: BREEAM NC V7 fully replaces V6 — all new registrations must meet V7 specifications
July 2026: BREEAM RFO V7 officially launches
Ongoing: A three-month transition period applies for registering under UK RFO 2014 / International RFO 2015 — check BRE's guidance for exact cut-off dates

Considering BREEAM Certification?

ARM Environments offer specialist air quality services required for BREEAM certification, including BREEAM Indoor Air Quality Plans and BREEAM Air Quality Testing. Drop us a message in the form below for a quick response.