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Insulation vs ventilation etc: How buildings ‘work’ in relation to retrofit

EdinBRIC recently held a well-attended hybrid event on insulation and ventilation, with expert speaker Jon Stinson of Building Research Solutions.

His presentation discussed the principles of building physics in relation to domestic energy efficiency and retrofit. 

Contrary to common belief, energy efficiency in buildings does not simply mean blocking all the draughts and insulating everything. Jon Stinson’s presentation explains why this is, covering various topics including the fundamentals of building physics, energy balance and thermal energy exchange, water transfer and ventilation, and thermal fabric retrofit measures. 

If you are interested in retrofitting your flat, particularly if you own an older sandstone tenement flat, this presentation serves as an excellent introduction on the topic. It offers valuable insights into how buildings handle energy, heat, moisture, and air, equipping you with the necessary knowledge to move forward with a retrofit and improvement project, without the risk of unintended consequences. 

You can now watch the recording on YouTube and access the slides and the presenter’s notes

EdinBRIC, Edinburgh Building Retrofit and Improvement Collective, is a community-led collective which aims to improve homes to make them warmer and more energy efficient. Find out more about what they do on their website

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Using traditional building methods

Tenement buildings can often require specialist builders who use traditional building methods. In this webinar, we will be joined by traditional building professionals who will advise you on how to find a contractor who uses traditional building methods and inform you on other aspects such as contracts and commissioning.

Latest updates

The Repairing Standard and upcoming changes

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government announced a series of updates to the existing Repairing Standard that will be enforceable from 1st March 2024. The Repairing Standard covers the legal and contractual obligations of private landlords to ensure their property or properties meet the minimum physical standard of repair.

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Help and information

If you live in any kind of building containing flats, you have rights and responsibilities, along with your co-owners, to maintain and manage your building.
But, every building is different, so get professional help for anything more than a simple problem. 

Working with your neighbours will make sure you always deal with problems fairly and help maintain harmony in your building.

Repairs are inevitable and need to be tackled quickly before more damage is caused.

Follow these steps to ensure the repairs process goes smoothly and all owners pay their share.

Not satisfied with your flat? Check out what you can and can’t do to your flat to alter and improve it before deciding to sell and move on.