Context 165 - August 2020

C O N T E X T 1 6 5 : A U G U S T 2 0 2 0 3 carbon aims to consider holistic regeneration. This will focus on the quality of life, the built and natural environment, and culture, informing new employment opportunities, and on how climate change and fuel poverty can best be tackled. At the time of writing we are still waiting for the government’s response to its 2018 call for evidence on energy performance certificates, and for the consultation on review of Part L of the Building Regulations for existing buildings. More promisingly, work has started on the new PAS (Publicly Available Specification) 2038, which will guide retrofit for non-domestic buildings, and the STBA has prepared an update of its 2012 Gap Analysis on Performance and Energy Efficiency of Traditional Buildings . The 2020 update will be available on the Historic England website. John Preston, heritage chair, STBA Defective regulations A dissertation by a senior building control surveyor concludes that the building regulations and supporting approved documents produced by theWelsh Government are not fit for purpose when carrying out building works to traditional, historic building and listed buildings. This, he says, can be applied equally to England. Anthony Gwynne has 28 years’ experience in building control as a team leader and chartered building surveyor working for a local authority in England on theWelsh border. He points out that with special partnership arrangements, local authorities based in England can carry out building control functions inWales and vice-versa. This requires dealing with two separate systems of building control, which are almost identical. Gwynne’s report draws on a survey of how the construction industry views the approved documents to the building regulations. He sees problems arising from government policy on these issues ‘being underpinned by a utopian belief in technological progress and power of the market’. The report concludes: • Non-vapour-permeable applications are being inappropriately applied to traditional forms of vapour- permeable construction with disastrous results. • Approved documents to the building regulations do not provide enough practical guidance for traditional buildings. • Current U-value calculations underestimate the actual thermal performance of traditional solid walls. • The building regulations elemental U-value requirement of 0.3 for upgrading traditional buildings is unrealistic. Such solutions trap water, and increase the risk of condensation and mould growth. The U-value should be increased to 0.7, Gwynne proposes. • Standards reviewed for retrofit are insufficiently detailed in respect of solid-wall insulation and are not fit for purpose. • Industry-produced standards providing guidance are too expensive to buy and the public are reluctant to use them. • Patented vapour-permeable solutions provided by the private sector are too expensive. Gwynne calls for changes to the approved documents to the buildings regulations; a national compliance guide; and investment in technical solutions, training and an information hub. Care for your church The IHBC’s Northern Ireland branch has launched an accessible Care for your church and church property publication with the Church of Ireland. The document has been endorsed as practice guidance by the Republic of Ireland’s Association of Architectural Conservation Officers. The branch has had discussions with churches and agencies about providing branded versions for their specific needs. In collaboration with the Church of Ireland it is planning to provide branded print copies for each Anglican parish on the island, and each diocese. The churches mainly work on an all-Ireland basis, working across two jurisdictions, two currencies and two VAT systems, and now across a European land border. The guide will also be available online. CARE FOR YOUR CHURCH and Church property DO • Carry out regular inspections and maintenance. • Seek advice from suitably qualified professionals. • Quickly identify problems and arrange repairs. • Repair rather than restore or replace. • Respect the building’s character and history and ensure the newwork is sympathetic. • Remedy previous bad repairs. • Use a reputable and experienced contractor. • Contact your local authority and relevant Church authorities for advice and consent. • Ensure the building iswell ventilated. DON’T • Allow serious defects to remain. • Repair using unsympatheticmaterials. • Use unsuitablemass produced architectural elements. • Waste re-usablematerials. • Remove or demolish original elements. • Carry out anyworkwithout the required consents or professional advice. • Lay a hard surface or tarmac close to your building as it prevents rainwater run off. • Allow big spikes/drops in heating temperatureswhere at all possible. • Use unsuitable paint finishes. BUILDING ELEMENT WHEN TO CHECK, SERVICE AND MAINTAIN Roofs Gutters, downpipes and drains Render Brick, stone, pointing andwall ventilators Windows and doors Heating systems and controls including automatic frost protection Fire detection, emergency lighting, intruder alarm Internal and external lighting Electrical installation testing / certification Lightning protection First aid fire fighting equipment Portable appliance testing Water pipes Asbestos Fire risk assessment Spring andAutumn Spring andAutumn Spring Autumn Autumn Autumn Spring andAutumn (check insurance recommendations/local regulations) Autumn 3/5 years (check insurance recommendations/local regulations) Spring (check insurance recommendations/ local regulations) Weekly checks and annual testing Annually Check for frost protection -Autumn Maintain an up to date register,made available to all contractors/volunteers etc in linewith relevant local requirements. Maintain an up to date FRA. Employ a CharteredFireengineer if complex issuesexist. Include amanagement plan.Annual review. TheAssociation of Architectural ConservationOfficers (AACO) has endorsed the contents of this leaflet as practice guidance for the Republic of Ireland. ©