This 3-part Information Paper looks at the various processes associated with the refurbishment of the BRE Victorian Terrace. The Victorian Terrace is a demonstration project converting a disused Victorian stable block into a number of energy-efficient spaces, including a terraced house, two flats and a presentation room, using some of the latest processes and materials for refurbishing existing buildings. Starting from the point where the specification was finalised – Part 1 sets out the design philosophy, Part 2 looks at the construction process, during which the various products specified were installed, and Part 3 gives some early results from post-refurbishment monitoring and examines the lessons learned.

Contents

Part 1BackgroundRefurbishment philosophy
Physical monitoring programme
Refurbishment approach adopted
Building’s original configuration
Planning requirement
Selecting the heating system
Modelling the building’s thermal performance
Refurbishment specification
Basis of the selection of the materials
Start of refurbishment
Condition of the building prior to refurbishment
- Cracking- Degraded timber beam
- Roof timbers
- Roof ties
- Debonded brickwork
- Clock tower
- BatsAsbestos assessment
Impact of 2008 financial crisis
Refurbishment team
References

Part 2
Introduction to the measurement process
- Why measure the construction process?
- What is CALIBRE?Findings
- Overall performance
- Man-hours per building area
- Trades and skills
- EfficiencyFabric refurbishment process
- Man-hours and performance per work package
- Roof
- Floors
- External walls
- Insulation retrofit
- Windows and doors
- Internal fit-out
Summary
- Efficiency improvements
- Mapping the new installation processes for new products
- Sourcing of materials
- Site logistics

Part 3
Background
The refurbishment process
Innovative materials and techniques
-Structural crack repair
-Screed
-Insulation
-Adding thermal mass
-Finishing board material
-Glazing
-Rooflights
-Air source heat pumps
-KNX
Refurbishment specification for the four individual spaces
Post-refurbishment monitoring
-Airtightness testing
-Ventilation rate measurements
-Indoor air quality testing
-Thermal performance
-Co-heating tests
-Energy performance calculations
-Tests on phase change materialsLessons learned
-Fabric performance
-Mechanical heat recovery and ventilation
-Heating
-Bats
-BREEAM
Next steps
ReferencesAppendix
- Specifications for the individual spaces

A4, 44pp