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*Traditional construction (solid wall) differs significantly from modern construction in that modern buildings are designed to keep moisture out with layers of impervious materials such as cement and plastic membranes. Traditional buildings however work by using solid semi-permeable materials that can absorb moisture without damage and release it slowly back into the environment as conditions become dryer. Adequate ventilation is a key part of this process. This is often referred to as ‘breathable construction’ and encompasses solid masonry buildings as well as timber framed construction, generally constructed before the First World War.
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Housing Retrofit vs Grid Decarbonisation
23 October 2019, Caerphilly Castle, Wales
STBA EVENT hosted by CADW
Our half-day workshop, kindly hosted by Cadw at Caerphilly Castle, included presentations and discussions on the best way forward for reducing whole-life carbon in retrofit in view of the proposed decarbonisation of the grid. Download the programme here
Presentations will become available to download on our resources page (presentations & articles).
This event was kindly sponsored by Lime Green Products, manufacturers of hydraulic lime mortar, lime plaster & lime render and working to improve their products by collaborating with other companies & organisations, as well as through ongoing research and development in key areas such as product chemistry, environmental assessment and historic building maintenance.
PAS 2035 published - June 2019
PAS 2035 Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency - specification and guidance has now been published. This standard represents a major step forward for the industry, especially as the aims of the retrofit process as set out in PAS 2035 include the avoidance of unintended consequences, improved comfort, health & wellbeing plus the protection and enhancement of architectural heritage.
While the standard will initially apply only to publicly funded works (mainly ECO3), it is hoped that this will establish best practice across all retrofit activity.
The standard is now available via the BSI website. Unfortunately, it has been coupled with the revised PAS 2030 which makes the package even more expensive than it would otherwise be. We are currently negotiating for our members to receive a discount when purchasing PAS 2035/2030. This will be available for a limited time (2 months) and members wishing to take advantage of this offer can email debbie@stbauk.org for further information.
Read more about PAS 2035 in the article by John Edwards (one of the STBA Panel of Experts) in Construction Manager.
Petition for zero-rated deep retrofit / eco refurbishment
Harry Paticas (STBA member and member of our panel of experts) has initiated a petition for the removal of VAT on deep retrofit/eco-refurbishment building works on all homes. "This would act as a much-needed incentive for homeowners to carry out "whole house" responsible and moisture robust retrofit works.” The UK Green Building Council report titled "Retrofit Incentives" published in July 2013 explores these issues in section 4.5 titled "Reduced Rate of VAT for energy efficiency". While we recognise that in 2012 there were some legal obstacles to achieving this, we urge that this matter is now readdressed.
Whole-House Retrofit – STBA project with Melin Homes
The STBA is piloting a large-scale Whole-House retrofit project under the BEIS Thermal Efficiency Innovation Fund initiative, working with social housing provider Melin Homes, on 30-40 dwellings in South Wales.
Following surveys of building fabric and services, ventilation and indoor air quality as well as context and heritage value, we have drawn up retrofit plans for each property. STBA and Melin Homes are now discussing the repair work that needs to be carried out prior to retrofit. We expect that repairs will be carried out on some properties in September and retrofit works will commence in October.
Alongside the training for surveyors, we are also developing training for installers and inspectors. Following further testing, the process, survey templates and supporting methodology will be released as a toolkit for industry use across the UK.
Follow us on Twitter!
👇👇👇YES! #sdgs #climateheritage #sustainabledevelopment twitter.com/WUF_10/status/…
21st November @ 10:30
We named our Scholarship, which trains young architects, surveyors and engineers after William Lethaby. Application… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
21st November @ 11:14
We're @LondonBuildExpo 27-28 Nov and have curated 2 seminars in the Sustainability Summit on the 27th Nov 13:40 Pl… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
21st November @ 10:09
Bookings open for @asbp_uk Conf&Expo, 27th Feb 2020 in London. #HealthyBudings2020 Additional discounts available f… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
21st November @ 15:14
Really powerful chorus of voices at Tuesday's @Good_Homes event deploring the pitiful under-ambition in the propose… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
21st November @ 12:42
As the temperature outside is dropping, it’s crucial your home’s insulation is doing a good job of keeping you warm… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
21st November @ 13:30
Great to see @LucieFu's Lime Mortar decision making tool go live at uselimemortar.com. So much to learn about… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
13th November @ 08:24
We look forward to participating in the @greenregister #HotTopic event on 28th Nov. What will (or should) retrofit… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
21st November @ 12:32
Hull has started clearing gutters 🥳 Get ready for #NationalGuttersDay on 29 November. Don't forget to tag us in you… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
13th November @ 15:49_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
28 November 2019,
Bristol
We are pleased to partner with The Green Register for their HOT
TOPIC 2019 conference, a day of talks and case studies
celebrating retrofit and asking what the future holds when looking
at upgrading our existing building stock.
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Upcoming Events by Others:
One-day technical training events, run by STBA Supporting Organisation, The Green Register, and led by STBA Technical Director, Nicholas Heath.
Upcoming date(s):
A two-day course run by ESC in conjunction with CITB National Construction College.
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Whole House Retrofit: a short paper that sets out the background to the development of the whole house approach, then examines the various levels of retrofit which are often described as whole house but in reality most fall far short.
The STBA’s optimal approach (Responsible Retrofit) is explained, together with a final section which looks forward to a vision of transformative retrofit and the role that it could play in delivering a truly sustainable society for the 21st century.
Planning Responsible Retrofit: designed for use by owners,
designers, project managers and contractors when planning a
retrofit project.
Moisture in Buildings: an integrated approach to risk assessment and guidance by Neil May (UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings) and Chris Sanders
Available to download via the bsi website.
Bristolians' Solid Wall Insulation Guidance: Solid-wall insulation guide and video developed for those living in Bristol to help them make more informed decisions about how to insulate their homes. This guidance is now used by professionals as well as homeowners all over the UK.
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An immediate objective of the STBA is to focus on the risks and benefits associated with generic approaches to repair, maintenance and retro-fitting of traditional buildings. We have completed a gap analysis of current research on performance of traditional buildings, including an analysis of expertise and skills, in order to inform future research and policies.
We are establishing advocacy routes to key decision-makers involved in the sustainability of the built environment, including the Green Deal, in order to help inform policy development relating to traditional buildings.
We have completed a gap analysis of current research on performance of traditional buildings, including an analysis of expertise and skills, in order to inform future research and policies.
In addition, the STBA has identified three key areas of immediate concern relating to standards used in the refurbishment of traditional buildings:
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Get Involved - STBA Membership
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Responsible Retrofit - STBA Guidance Wheel & Knowledge Centre . . . . .
STBAWheel - an
interactive retrofit guidance tool that
allows the user to customise the context and selected
measures to
reveal guidance on specific types of properties and
conditions.
