A new CIOB Technical Information Sheet on Building Conservation - for everybody

Actions required to tackle climate change has highlighted the importance of retaining existing buildings as an option to the construction of new ones. This necessitates an ever-increasing need for the construction sector to be much better equipped in caring for, adapting, and retrofitting existing buildings, with the biggest challenge concerning traditionally constructed ones and that is why this new Technical Information Sheet is so important. There are approximately 8 million traditionally constructed buildings in the UK which equates to about a third of all building stock. The optimum approach to them is called conservation, which means a well-informed approach, but being proportionate towards some aspects, which is dependent on whether the building in question has any special protection or not. 

There are so many traditionally constructed buildings, that most people in the construction sector will probably work on them at some time in their careers, and they need to do this appropriately. Most traditionally constructed buildings have been treated as if they were modern with detrimental consequences - not professional, not sustainable, leading to energy inefficiencies and poor internal environmental conditions for the occupants. Being professional means treating traditional buildings properly regardless of any special protection and this Technical Information Sheet tells you how.

It takes you through a step-by-step approach starting at the beginning when the building is being analysed and before design work commences. It picks up all the relevant issues that need to be considered along the way through to completion of a project and into the use of the building. It also highlights some sound management processes and tools that provide the optimum way of managing, maintaining, and caring for buildings going into the future, in order that they provide optimum use with due regard to their heritage values and technical limitations.

For those interested in the CIOB Building Conservation Certification Scheme, the Technical Information Sheet, which describes the up-to-date way of looking at building conservation and the way older buildings should be tackled, will no doubt find it to be of great assistance. The Technical Information Sheet also includes the development and deployment of optimum quality management methods and tools. Amplification of its content is obtained through taking part in the CIOB Academy 2-day course Understanding Building Conservation. Building conservation is an international activity and the Technical Information Sheet is described from that perspective, but with many UK examples.

You can find the CIOB Technical Information Sheet on Building Conservation by visiting www.ciobacademy.org/product/building-conservation-its-meaning-understanding-and-implementation