Overview

Improving the energy performance of existing housing is seen as a key contributor to meeting the UK’s climate change commitments but refurbishing housing can also improve householders’ thermal comfort, save money and increase security of supply. There has been concern, however, that the standard of design and installation of these energy saving features has often been inadequate. This was a driver behind the Each Home Counts (EHC) Review, which recommends a quality mark and supporting technical codes of practice and standards to cover the design and installation of energy efficiency measures. Key to this is the upskilling and training of those delivering these measures.

The Domestic Retrofit Training Course consists of six 20-30-minute modules to raise awareness of key technical refurbishment topics – moisture awareness, airtightness, exposure, external wall insulation, building physics and unintended consequences. The course is consistent with the EHC review recommendations and the proposed technical direction of PAS 2035 Code of practice for the energy retrofit of buildings (and associated standards), which is now being developed. As well as introducing the key technical issues involved, it provides a first step to further training to become accredited under PAS 2035, which will enable practitioners to display the EHC Quality Mark.

There is an introductory module but the other modules can be taken in any order as there are cross linkages between them as well as extensive reference to supporting BRE guidance which provides further technical details. The learning outcomes are set out at the start of each module.

Intended audience

The course is designed primarily for surveyors and designer, but is also relevant to domestic refurbishment projects clients, materials providers, installers, site managers and assessors.

Users of the modules are invited to provide feedback on the content and the method of delivery so that they can be improved and developed further.

Reviews

Alan

Well structured & informative course on the increasingly important subject of improving the thermal performance of existing buildings. Do not miss this educational opportunity.