Whilst the corporate investors and blue chip companies tend to demand new buildings, there is a huge built environment in the UK, with a great variety in age, design, style, condition and usage, much of it unprotected by the powers and legislation wielded by English Heritage and Cadw.
 
All buildings must be cared for; and repairs, alterations and improvements are a part of their life cycle.  Done well, the building’s obsolescence is minimised; done poorly, will undermine the fabric, make the building unsound, and hasten its demise as a useful building. 
 
Understanding the building is vital, just as much as understanding the needs of the client and their planned use of the building.
 
This national conference will focus on skills that will help the building professional understand the building.

The conference is a half day (AM) programme.
 
Key Benefits:
Help to prevent misdiagnosis of problems with building types
Provide an insight into the approach and techniques used to properly diagnose defects
 
Who Should Attend?
Building Surveyors
Contractors
Building Engineers
Architects
Facilities & Property Managers

Programme:

Dating by itself is not enough
Once you know the build time line, you can focus on the construction methods and build materials that will give you an idea of typical defects for that building.
 
But whilst dating a building can provide valuable clues for its construction and inherent defects, without an understanding of how buildings, and the related technologies have evolved, it may be dangerously misleading. 

This session will explore both the benefits and pitfalls of relying on first impressions of a building’s history.

Understanding Built Structures

• Structural performance of old buildings
• The difference between idiosyncrasies and problems
• Sensitive and innovative structural repairs

Pathology of old buildings

• Understanding and Dealing with typical problems of old buildings
• Common defects – their cause and rectification
• Non destructive surveying techniques
• Performance of Buildings in use
• Rot, damp and timber infestation – a green approach