Retrofit coordinator
Retrofitting means ‘…providing something with a component or feature not fitted during manufacture or adding something that it did not have when first constructed’ (Ref Retrofit 2050: Critical challenges for urban transitions). It is often used in relation to the installation of new building systems, such as heating systems, but it might also refer to the fabric of a building, for example, retrofitting insulation or double glazing.
Retrofitting has come to prominence in recent years as part of the drive to make buildings more thermally efficient and sustainable. The Climate Change Act, commits the UK government to reducing carbon emissions by 20% compared to 1990 levels in 2020 and by 80% in 2050; targets that it will not be possible to achieve without a dramatic improvement in the energy efficiency of the existing building stock.
However, retrofitting involves the careful balancing of different elements and their effects on the overall performance of a building. A change in one part of a building can affect another, and sometimes this is only apparent after irreversible defects have occurred. It is very important therefore that risks are understood and managed in a way that is appropriate to each individual project. Standard solutions should not simply be rolled out without proper consideration, and it is vital that care is taken to ensure high quality installation.
As projects increase in size, the scope for client-side risks such as poor quality, poor supply chain coordination, and project overspend, also increase. A retrofit coordinator can be useful in this regard, taking responsibility for overseeing and managing the retrofitting of a building or series of buildings, typically providing effective management and leadership for large-scale retrofit programmes.
A retrofit coordinator might:
- Provide project management and client assistance from the start to finish with regard to planning, organising and managing the project.
- Provide consultants and contractors with informed advice and support.
- Provide clients with assurance that project risks are being effectively managed and quality is being maintained.
- Identify and provide solutions for possible risks to the retrofit process.
- Undertake post-occupancy evaluation to determine overall success and ensure that lessons are learned for future projects
Professionals from a range of backgrounds can become retrofit coordinators, including; architects, asset managers, building services engineers, building surveyors, construction managers, energy assessors and consultants, site foremen and so on.
The Royal Institute Of British Architects (RIBA) has recognised The Retrofit Academy CIC's eight-day training programme and the Centre of Refurbishment Excellence (CoRE) ten-day training programme to upskill existing professionals to become retrofit coordinators.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Climate Change Act.
- Ecobuild 2016 - Making the business case for large scale retrofit investment.
- Green building.
- How to deal with retrofit risks.
- National Refurbishment Centre.
- Nearly zero-energy building.
- New energy retrofit concept: ‘renovation trains’ for mass housing.
- Performance gap.
- The Each Home Counts report and traditional buildings.
- Renovation v refurbishment v retrofit.
- Retrofit.
- Zero carbon homes.
- Zero carbon non-domestic buildings.
[edit] External references
IHBC NewsBlog
IHBC FREE CPD Boost - Easy Access Webinar from Historic England and the IHBC
'Enhancing conservation areas & townscapes with S.215s', 13 December - numbers limited so book now!
IHBC Out of Context - CPD check-up and prize
‘Who said that and what would you say back? FREE BS7913 for the best responses…
IHBC CPD boost: bite-sized briefings
‘Periodically’, Bob Kindred’s bite-sized briefings from the best of current heritage handbooks.
IHBC CPD Green Issue QuickQuiz
Do you know the ABCs of EPCs?
IHBC CPD Green Issue QuickQuiz Part 2
Do you know the ABCs of EPCs? - The answers! You tested your knowledge on energy performance certificates (EPC’s) in the last Newsblog so now see how well you did!
IHBC at Listed Property Show London 2019 – FREE CPD
4 hours free CPD via IHBC and partners + lots more at the show in association with Historic England, on 9-10 February 2019 at London’s Olympia.
IHBC launches new Toolbox Guidance Note for small traders
IHBC’s latest Guidance Note in our Toolbox aims to provide sole practitioners and small traders with advice on taking on new work, offering ‘Ten Red Flags’ to watch out for.
Scotland - Historic Environment Audit (SHEA) 2018 is now out
HES lead officer, Karen Robertson, has offered her personal blog looking at the trends and findings.
Slate Landscape of North-West Wales - preferred UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Slate Landscape of North-West Wales will be the UK’s next preferred nomination for UNESCO World Heritage Site status, Heritage Minister Michael Ellis announced recently.
Draft Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill for Palace of Westminster
The draft Bill has been presented to allow ‘interested parties the opportunity to consider the approach taken to the governance of the Restoration and Renewal Programme’.
APPG for Healthy Homes & Buildings White Paper published
The White Paper highlights ‘the need for a holistic approach to building design and renovation’.
Register English Community Assets on CAsE and you could win £100 gift voucher
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) asks if you own or manage a community asset that you register it on the new Community Assets Exchange - you could win £100 gift voucher.
North of Tyne gets £600m devolution deal
Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry has confirmed a £600 million devolution deal for the North of Tyne. It is expected to generate £1.1 billion for the local economy.
Fifteen projects reach final of Heritage Angel Awards Wales
Fifteen outstanding examples of heritage achievement have been selected for a Heritage Angel Award by a panel of judges headed by Baroness Kay Andrews.
Entries open for 2019 John Betjeman award: Closing 26 Feb 2019
SPAB invites nominations for the award celebrating excellence in the repair to specific elements of places of worship of all denominations and faiths in England and Wales.
Civic Voice: Guidance tool for communities to identify local heritage assets
A resource developed as part of Civic Voice’s Big Conservation Conversation and their ‘Local Heritage List’ campaign.
The economic value of culture - a benefit transfer study on museums in England
New research has been published to help understand the visitor and non-visitor value of cultural engagement at 4 cultural institutions in England – is this transferrable?
Former housing minister Nick Raynsford issues warning on planning
He writes that it has been reduced to a ‘chaotic patchwork’ of responsibilities which is not compatible with promoting the health, wellbeing and civil rights of communities.
DCMS revises - Principles of Selection for Listed Buildings
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has issued its revised ‘Principles of Selection for Listed Buildings’ with new dates, definitions and more.
Specialist contractors call for government regulation of the construction industry
The chairman of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group wants to government to set up a statutory authority to regulate construction industry practice.
Brexit skills shortages - survey
Add your company’s take to the largest-ever poll on Brexit skills shortages.
Slow progress on encouraging female apprentices to construction industry
With 88% male in 2016/17 industry initiatives to encourage young women to join the construction industry do not appear to be making much headway.
Water-jet cutting of stone changes the industry, but only so far!
Nuclear archive wins Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award for 2018
A national archive for the civil nuclear industry by Reiach & Hall Architects has won a top Scottish architecture prize: the Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award for 2018.