Modern building services for listed historic buildings: problems and risk
The English Heritage Press Office has estimated that listed buildings represent a finite cultural resource of approximately 6% of England's building stock. Many of these listed buildings are historic. It is often necessary to find an appropriate use for them, in order to preserve them for future generations. Many, not threatened by obsolescence, require upgrading to comply with statutory regulations. Others are improved to provide the occupants with twenty-first century standards of environmental comfort, lighting and power, sanitation, security and communications systems. The revitalisation or upgrading of property is commonly accepted as refurbishment. The study initially focused on the refurbishment of listed historic buildings - the enquiry was then narrowed to investigate the integration of modern building services into listed historic buildings. This element of the refurbishment process was identified as an area that frequently constitutes a considerable proportion of the contract sum. A naturalistic form of enquiry was used to elicit information that would contribute to the body of knowledge on this area of building conservation work. Refurbishment characteristics pertaining to the process of integrating modern building services into listed historic buildings were identified and rated for frequency of occurrence and degree of difficulty. An evaluation of perceptions and attitudes to adverse events, that posed risk in the process, was also undertaken. Practitioners from the Construction Industry then described both success and problem factors encountered in this element of building conservation. Having built up a picture of the process, based on the experiences of the constituent members of the project team, three individual projects were studied to gain further insight into the project and what might be considered as 'repetitive essentials'. To facilitate analysis the elicited data was assigned to the most appropriate choice from eight different project categories. These categories were employed as a way of recording the data throughout all stages in the research enquiry. The study concludes by outlining a model, based on these project categories, which could be developed to provide a common project framework. A key function of such a project framework would be to promote understanding through improved communication and integrated teamwork. The study concludes by recommending areas worthy of further research relating to the project framework, the project team and risk in listed historic buildings.
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