Page 166 - The Building Conservation Directory 2013
Basic HTML Version
1 6 6
t h e b u i l d i n g c o n s e r vat i o n d i r e c t o r y 2 0 1 3
T w e n t i e t h a N N i v e r s a r y e d i t i o n
4.2
Services & Treatment : Heating & Lighting Services
HEATING
‘Jupiter Heating Systems has developed a pioneering dry floor underfloor
heating system which could revolutionise the approach to flooring installation
in historic and listed buildings.’ Church Building Magazine 2009
01276 859066
BUILDING SERVICES CONSULTING ENGINEERS
◾
◾
MARTIN THOMAS ASSOCIATES
Suite 3, Chatmohr Estate, Crawley Hill, West Wellow,
Hampshire SO51 6AP
Tel 01794 324725 Fax 01794 324726
Email
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
: Registered low-carbon consultants, specialising
in mechanical and electrical services for historic and cultural buildings.
Providing mechanical, electrical, lighting and public health engineering
for private and public sector clients covering domestic, institutional,
commercial and cultural applications. The company has a genuine
interest in preserving historic fabric and a wide experience of integrating
modern services with minimal intervention. The challenges of aesthetics
and the quest for service voids are acknowledged and the conflict
between comfort, conservation and environmental control is well
understood. Clients include English Heritage, the National Trust, local
authorities, conservation trusts, Exeter, Winchester, St David’s and
Wakefield cathedrals and many private clients.
(b) Converted Georgian town-house
In this example, the building is assumed to have been converted to
offices. These might be occupied during the normal working week but
not at weekends. The significant historic fabric is non-organic, such as
fireplaces and tiled floors. Occupant comfort is the primary focus.
Improvements to the fabric should be made as far as possible. After
the walls and roof, generally the most significant source of heat loss will
be the single glazed windows, which should be improved if possible.
Original timber shutters are often available internally and arrangement
should be made to close these at the end of the day to reduce heat loss.
External doors may open directly into the building and so a draught
lobby might be provided, if possible. The provision of carpets within the
building will reduce the cold radiant effect from stone or tiled floors
and improve comfort, but on a solid ground floor they must still allow
the floor to breathe.
(c) Church converted for community use
There are often intermittent and variable hours of use in this type of
building. The significant historic fabric may include timber elements
such as choir stalls.
The best approach is to minimise the number of areas where
continuous heating is required for occupant comfort and provide
these as insulated spaces with controlled ventilation. The main space
is likely to have poor fabric performance, airtightness and radiant cold
surfaces. Consideration should be given to options which improve
fabric performance, although these may be limited, and which provide
a barrier between occupants and cold surfaces such as the provision
of carpet. The occupants may have to accept a compromise in comfort
conditions, with colder rooms, but a radiant heating system is likely to
be the most effective and will minimise drying of timber elements if
suitably positioned.
Conclusion
Maintaining an appropriate environment for people, building fabric
and objects is a delicate balance. In relation to fabric and objects
the effect of poor environmental conditions often takes time to
manifest itself whereas people are usually quick to complain if they
are uncomfortable. The monitoring of environmental conditions,
particularly identifying and responding to trends, enables sensible
approaches to be adopted which take into account the effect on historic
fabric and objects but at the same time allows the sustainable use of
existing buildings.
Tim Bowden
is a chartered engineer and director for Ramboll. He
leads engineers involved in the assessment and design of electrical
and mechanical services in historic buildings. Recent projects include
heating improvements at Liverpool Cathedral and the replacement
of electrical services at Cragside, Northumberland. He is a member of
the SPAB’s casework panel and the CIBSE heritage group.
Having shutters to windows and closing them at night reduces heat loss and
improves security.
