The Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance is a collaboration of organisations that acts as a forum for sustaining and improving solid-wall buildings.


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Get Involved! 

Organisations interested in supporting our work can get involved as a Member (not-for-profits) or Affiliate Member (for profit) Click here


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Featured News


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STBA-SPAB 2017 Conference Review


This year’s conference was a great success.  The packed room was buzzing from the start, right up until after the last speaker finished. 


Comments from delegates included "These guys know what they're talking about" to "I've learned a lot and am going to make some changes". 


Our three conference themes of context, continuity and change will all feature strongly in our work going forward.


A full review of the day’s discussions is available here.

 

The presentations are being uploaded:

 

                    - links via our Resources page and 

                    - keep informed via our Newsletters 

 


More . . . 

 

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The SPAB Building Performance Survey - June 2017


This research looks at questions of risk in the refurbishment of traditional buildings. Since 2011 temperature and relative humidity profiles have been measured through three insulated solid walls - joined, in 2014, by measurements of material moisture content. These different measurement techniques aim to provide a detailed insight into the behaviour of moisture and moisture risks in the fabric of the walls. Over the past six years Archimetrics monitoring has built up a picture of the seasonal behavior of moisture in the walls, as well as longerterm trends, which shows the different and at times competing influences that affect these moisture profiles. 


The latest SPAB Building Performance Survey - produced in conjunction with ArchiMetrics and Historic England can be downloaded. Click here for the Summary and click here for the full report by ArchiMetrics.

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Each Home Counts Workstreams - Getting Involved

 

The STBA is engaging with several of the Each Home Counts workstreams. We are working to ensure that the particular needs of traditional buildings are included.

  • Nigel Griffiths serves on the Standards Group

  • Sam Allwinkle on Training

  • Nick Heath on Design & Installation

We would be interested to hear from our members who are attending other groups - if you are involved, please let Nigel know.


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Sustainability and Heritage


Save the date: 2 November 2017 in London (venue tba)
 
How can older buildings continue to make a positive contribution to the sustainability of the built environment?


The response to this topic at the recent STBA-SPAB Conference has encouraged us to provide further opportunities to look into this subject more deeply.
 
The STBA’s Autumn Event this year will be hosted in London. Neil May and other key experts will discuss sustainability and heritage, then all participants will have the opportunity to share their views. More details to follow - email debbie@stbauk.org to express your interest.
 
See the discussion so far in the Conference Review and download a summary of Neil May's 'Future of the Past' for the background. (The full document can be downloaded here.)


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Events

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Upcoming Events by Others:

 



 

Historic Environment Scotland
Traditional Buildings - Fit for Energy Efficiency? Fort George, Inverness

  • 11th August

More . . . .


 

Energy Efficiency and Retrofit of Pre-1919 Traditional Buildings, Wales 


A 2-day training course led by John Edwards of Edwards Hart Consultants

  • 5 & 6 September

More . . . 

 

 

Eco-Connect - International Refurbishment Symposium & 

AECB Conference 

  • 15th September, London

More on the AECB website . . . 


 

Embodied Carbon: To Rebuild or To Retrofit?

 

(Fit for the Future Members only event)

  •  22nd September

More . . . 

 


CIOB: Understanding Building Conservation 

 

2-day course in London, led by John Edwards 

  • 19-20 September n2017
  • 14-15 November 2017

More on CIOB Academy website . . . 

 

 

 

ASBP's Natural Fibre Insulation CPD Series, London

 

CPDs explaining the benefits with technical information and case studies - 17.00 to 19.00 

  • 19th September
  • 26th October
  • 23rd November

Discounts (Partners rate) for STBA members.

 

See the ASBP website for details.  



 

RICS & SPAB Building Conservation Summer School, Cirencester


Choose from the full 5-day event or just  the Building Conservation in Practice one-day event (14 Sept)
  • 10-14 Sep 2017
More on the RICS website



 

UK Passivhaus Conference, London

  • 24th October

Discounts for STBA members

Details on Passivhaus Trust website.

 

More Events news  


Guidance

Whole House Retrofit


This short paper examines the various levels of retrofit which are often described as whole house but in reality fall far short.

The STBA’s approach is explained, together with the potential opportunities for a sustainable future.

 

Click here.

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'Planning Responsible Retrofit'

Planning Responsible Retrofit is designed for use by owners, designers, project managers and contractors when planning a retrofit project. 

the STBA Guide to Planning Responsible Retrofit.pdf
Planning Responsible Retrofit

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Bristolians' Solid Wall Insulation Guidance

A user-friendly online tool and complimentary guide is available for those living in Bristol to help them make more informed decisions about how to insulate their homes. 

The guidance is available here. 

And you can see the online tool (and video) 
by clicking here (and then follow 'begin survey'.)

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Moisture in Buildings


Moisture in Buildings: an integrated approach to risk assessment and guidance by STBA's Neil May and Chris Sanders 


Available to download via the bsi website.

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More Guidance & Research

Policy

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:

  • Government Consultations - We are establishing advocacy routes to key decision-makers involved in the sustainability of the built environment, in order to help inform policy development relating to traditional buildings.
     
  • Standards and Regulations - The STBA has identified three key areas of immediate concern relating to standards used in the refurbishment of traditional buildings: Moisture Risk, Heat Loss and Internal Wall Insulation (IWI)  
     
  • Advocacy - The STBA is also seeking to influence the performance/ delivery of retrofit projects on traditional buildings by working with leading owners of building stock to measure and improve the interventions adopted. So far this work has included work for Blackpool Council and Bristol City Council. 

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