Retrofit Process: Step by Step

Why Retrofit Advisers and Co-ordinators? 

Though the UK has slowly improved building standards in new homes (arguably not enough), we can see for energy efficiency and ventilation, existing homes have lagged behind. 

This has created a two-tier set of building standards. In an attempt to begin to address the disparity, some local councils participated in a strategic programme running from 2009-2014 called Retrofit for the Future which installed various retrofit measures, mainly insulation and other fabric upgrades in a substantial number of existing properties with the intention of using it as a study case for further work. The analysis of this programme including its failures and weak points were published in 2015 in a report called Each Home Counts.

The report made a number of recommendations leading to the current PAS 2035 framework which governs the Retrofit Assessment and Coordination that our company, hearth, carries out on behalf of its clients.

When I first heard of PAS and the new roles it requires, I was skeptical. We have trained architects, surveyors and engineers. We have BREEAM and Home Quality Mark assessing sustainability of existing and new assets. We certainly have enough jargon covering dozens of separate qualifications that cost a small fortune to achieve; the cost and time to achieve them might dissuade smaller builders and design teams to upskill. Why add another system with onerous requirements?

PAS 2035 aims to do something that UK building regulations does not address and that is sorely needed for domestic properties, namely taking a whole-house, coordinated approach. I respect that separate disciplines are necessary for larger projects and it is difficult to achieve all the knowledge and skills required to advise not only on building fabric but also heating and cooling systems, much less combine this with financial planning and project management. However there are a number of reasons to insist on having one point for domestic properties where all these disciplines come together. 

Firstly there are few owners who have the means to have an entire team at their disposal. Secondly its often the case that every decision in a home has multiple impacts so these have to be fully coordinated. Finally homes can benefit from installing smaller focused measures where possible. This requires a lean, flexible team, one where the contract could be drawn out over time rather than necessarily being completed in one block of work. This is necessary to fit with owner’s budgets and the practicalities of juggling life and home improvements. 

Each Home Counts laid out a number of key roles. The overall ‘risk’ associated with a property determines whether the roles can be delivered by one person (homes with only 1 or 2 simple updates to be made, and with ho historic listing can be streamlined) or delivered by several specialists working together (the number of separate roles multiplies with historic listing and complex sets of interactive measures) 

It also lays out a process including a thorough, upfront analysis of the requirements resulting in a clear project brief.  Crucially it considers the owner’s requirements for the property, the condition of the property (maintenance, repairs, damp), the existing energy use, and the owner’s budget. The Retrofit Assessor carries out the initial assessment. The Retrofit Coordinator may carry out further investigations if necessary and then puts together a Whole House Plan. This includes a financial assessment looking at options to achieve better energy use, since there may be several ways to achieve the same thing but with different price points, pros and cons. The ultimate plan is agreed with the owner including timing for each retrofit measure. Some upgrades may be carried out singly, others need to be carried out together depending on the property and any other work that may be being done at that time.

Crucially, the Coordinator also creates a specification for the work and inspects work on site—this is important for quality control. A final step is to go back to the owner after the work is complete, and assess whether the measures are working as intended, and if not, to address any problems or see whether adjustments should be made for better performance. 

This may sound complicated, but it is simply good project management and it is hoped that the follow-through by one responsible person will ensure a better outcome for the project and one that really delivers on its objectives. We also think this will help homeowners prepare for changes in building regulations and ensure their property stays fully legal.  We are also keen to keep our clients abreast of any funding opportunities—if the right grants, incentives or low-cost loans aren’t available at the outset they could be some time later and enable some upgrades to be brought forward or just make them more financially viable. The big out-take of Each Homes Counts was that a coordinated, trustworthy process was needed, and we aim to deliver that as intended.