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FIT FOR HM THE QUEEN Renovating heritage buildings


The news that Buckingham Palace is to undergo a significant renovation highlights the importance of maintaining our historic buildings. Luke Czerpak, Compliance Manager at electrical contractors Eaton Electrical, explains the challenges involved.


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Oxbridge and the majesty of Edinburgh Castle, our historic buildings attract visitors from around the world.


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The renovation of heritage properties can suffer in the hands of inexperienced builders and contractors, resulting in unique features being tarnished or poorly converted in a way that can spoil the building forever. We would always advocate using high quality components and qualified professionals with the relevant skills.


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uIt’s not unusual for an historic building to have outdated and sometimes hazardous wiring and heating systems which pose a considerable fire and flood risk.


20 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MARCH 2017


So, in both economic and heritage terms, it’s important to maintain these special properties. All buildings, whether iconic or not, inevitably decay over time and need repair work. However, the costs of restoring and maintaining such buildings are often high, requiring significant levels of expertise.


The latest high profile public building to announce restoration work is Buckingham Palace, with the project due to commence this spring. Although it is one of the UK’s most instantly recognisable buildings, some have voiced dissatisfaction at the size of the estimated bill – around £369m.


Past the use‐by date


Originally known as Buckingham House, the building at the core of today's palace was built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, for the princely sum of £7,000. Since then, exterior amendments and extensions have been carried out although there have been no major structural adjustments since 1914.


However, the electrical and plumbing systems are the most cause for concern and are the focus of the renovation. Some of these systems haven’t been updated for over 40 years. Bearing in mind the palace’s size and the urgent need for updating essential services, the estimated bill seems pretty reasonable.


Unfortunately, it’s not unusual for an historic building to have outdated and sometimes hazardous wiring and heating systems which pose a considerable fire and flood risk. As an electrical contractor, we regularly come across this in older buildings as electrical renovation is often delayed due to potential cost or disruption. However, the occurrence of flood or fire would be disastrous in a building


ritain is fortunate to have many iconic buildings recognised the world over. From the imposing Houses of Parliament to the ancient halls of


that houses as many valuable artefacts as Buckingham Palace.


Call the experts


Renovating a period property is not the same as building a new house or adding an extension – it requires specialist skills. They will almost certainly be listed, and as such, will have a set of statutory requirements such as building regulations and listed building consent to be met when any renovation is undertaken.


It is usually a given that the fabric and structure of the building should be affected as little as possible. Any work needs to complement the original style of the building and use authentic materials where possible to retain the building’s character. This applies equally to the interior of the property. But here there is a major stumbling block as few heritage properties were built with the need for electricity or heating systems in mind.


This means that any modernisation project needs sympathetic solutions which both complement the character of the property whilst offering 21st century efficiency. Energy conservation is often a major issue in older buildings with high ceilings and large rooms which are a challenge to heat so meeting both key demands can be challenging.


Reuse, recycle


One solution is to retain original fittings where possible and safe to do so. Many heritage properties contain early electrical fittings, light fittings designed for candles, oil or gas, and old fuse boards. These fixtures can sometimes be suitable for conversion. It’s a matter of doing a full assessment and evaluating what could be adapted. However, even when re-using original features, there will be a need for new wiring. Like constructing an extension to a heritage property, the aim is to keep this as discreet as possible. Fortunately, older properties often have voids in roof spaces or in skirting boards where electrical components can be concealed. In addition, new technology such as ‘mains signalling’ reduces the need for cabling. However, it isn’t always possible to completely camouflage electrics while meeting health and safety demands. It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that health and safety comes first and provide a solution that enhances the building as much as possible but which meets current health and safety standards.


The right person for the job


The renovation of heritage properties can suffer in the hands of inexperienced builders and


contractors, resulting in unique features being tarnished or poorly converted in a way that can spoil the building forever. We would always advocate using high quality components and qualified professionals with the relevant skills. This means using an experienced


building contractor to repair any damage or a skilled carpenter for joinery tasks such as removing panelling. Similarly, electrical work in heritage properties is specialised and should always be carried out by an NICEIC registered contractor, preferably with experience of working on older buildings.


The work doesn’t stop once the renovation is finished. In terms of electrics, we advise that all electrical installations should be inspected and tested once every five years – or more frequently if the system is older. According to the Institution of Engineering and Technology guidelines there should be an annual inspection in historic properties.


Like most challenges, working on heritage buildings can be frustrating, demanding – and fantastically rewarding. These buildings are an important part of our history and it’s our duty to preserve them for the future.


www.eatononline.co.uk About the author


Luke Czerpak is the Compliance Manager at Eaton Electrical and has been involved in many heritage projects including museums and art galleries, as well as National Trust and Landmark Trust properties.


uBuilt for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 at a cost of £7,000, Buckingham Palace is about to embark on a restoration programme, that is estimated to cost around £369m.


Help and advice with historic buildings


istoric England (www.historicengland.org.uk), the public body that looks after England's historic environment, recommends checking with the relevant local authority conservation officer prior to carrying out any renovation project. These officers should be able to advise what kind of consent will be needed. Planning decisions are normally made by the local planning authority although they may also need to consult Historic England on certain types of application. The government's planning portal (www.planningportal.co.uk) is the national planning application service for England and wales. Working in conjunction with local authorities, the portal offers guidance on a range of areas including building regulations, planning policy and legislation.


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When planning authorities consider applications on listed buildings they give particular attention to preservation of the building and its special features. Application forms for listed building consent can be downloaded from the relevant local authority website.


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