Retrofitting Traditional Buildings: Fabric First

There are various approaches to retrofitting that can be applied to traditional buildings in Scotland. For the Traditional Buildings Health Check Retrofit Scheme, we will be following a fabric-first approach. As implied by its name, Fabric First focuses on making improvements and repairs to the fabric of the building, which encompasses the main structural elements of a property, such as the roof, walls, windows, doors, and floors.

The benefits of the Fabric First approach

The principle behind the Fabric First approach is that the more airtight a building is, the more effectively it will retain heat, resulting in a more energy-efficient property. Before retrofitting a property, it is important to ensure that the building envelope is in good condition and fully functional. Attempting to implement retrofit solutions when there are serious problems within a building, such as a leaking roof, is not a good idea, as the leaking roof will negate any benefits derived from the retrofit measures.

Buildings retrofitted in line with the Fabric First approach may experience various benefits. A home that is airtight and well-insulated will provide a more comfortable indoor environment for building users, as long as it is still well-ventilated. By consuming less energy, the building occupier is likely to see a reduction in their energy bills. Additionally, the increased energy efficiency provided by the Fabric First approach will reduce energy consumption and associated carbon emissions, helping to combat the very real consequences of climate change in Scotland.

How the Fabric First approach is implemented

The best way of ensuring a building is in good condition and ready for retrofit is to conduct regular maintenance. By following a maintenance plan, any issues can be identified more quickly and efficiently, preventing small problems from becoming major defects.

To ensure retrofit measures are effective, it is necessary to understand the factors affecting the energy efficiency of the building envelope, as well as understanding available energy efficiency improvements that can be made. Some of the key requirements for an energy-efficient property include:

Being Suitably Insulated

• A building that is well-insulated will retain heat effectively and provide a comfortable environment for building users, offering an effective thermal barrier between the internal and external environment. However, being well-insulated does not simply mean adding as much insulation as possible to different parts of a traditional building. To insulate effectively, it is important to understand the construction of different parts of the building and select insulation made from materials that work best with the original building fabric. In traditional Scottish buildings, this will often require choosing an insulation material that is vapour-permeable (breathable). Insulation with good breathability will help damp air to escape from the building. If retrofit insulation in a traditional building is not breathable, water can become trapped internally, creating damp environments, or it can even become trapped within parts of the building fabric, causing damage.
• Ensuring adequate ventilation is extremely important when insulating a property. The addition of thick layers of insulation is likely to reduce the airflow within the building, increasing the risk of dampness developing. Hence, before installing insulation, it is necessary to consider how it will affect the flow of air through the building and how this will ultimately impact ventilation. It is important to achieve a balance between insulation and ventilation.

Draining channel infill impedes the underfloor Fresh Air Inlets. The inlets should be kept clear to facilitate free flow of air.

Fresh Air Inlet has been filled in and sealed with expanding foam, this reduces the amount of ventilation to the underfloor area, while also  being an inefficient method of obtaining a weatherproof seal.

Traditional Sash and Case window with sections of missing joinery. Gaps allow air to pass through creating draughts.

Eliminating Draughts

• Draughts within buildings occur when there is an uncontrolled flow of air through parts of the building fabric. Draughts commonly occur at junctions between different parts of the building fabric, such as around windows or doors, or at gaps in flooring. The flow of air caused by draughts causes cold air from outside to enter the property, often causing an unwanted cooling effect and affecting the comfort of people inside the building. If a building is draughty, it may have poor energy efficiency, even if it has lots of insulation. Therefore, to achieve an energy-efficient building, any draughts should be tackled in addition to installing insulation. There are various draughtproofing technologies that can be included in a fabric-first approach to retrofit, such as draughtproofing strips for windows and doors that seal up gaps causing unwanted airflow.

Preventing Thermal Bridges

• A thermal bridge is where a material that conducts heat more effectively than the surrounding materials creates a path for heat to flow through the building fabric. For example, if a long metal nail were driven through an insulated wall, it would create a pathway for heat to flow through the wall, bypassing the insulation. Even if a building element is well-insulated and free from draughts, if there are thermal bridges, then energy efficiency will suffer. To prevent thermal bridges, it is important to avoid using materials that readily transfer heat energy as part of the building fabric, unless they are suitably insulated.

Being Suitably Ventilated

• Ventilation is incredibly important for traditional buildings to function effectively. Good ventilation enables fresh air to enter the property and replace stale internal air, known as air changing. While too much air entering a property in an uncontrolled manner causes draughts, controlled ventilation helps maintain a healthy internal environment. Air changes allow pollutants to be removed from the air, and damp air to exit the building. This contributes to a good level of indoor air quality, which contributes to a healthy environment for people to live in. A lack of ventilation may lead to damp, poor quality air accumulating and causing issues such as dampness and mould.

Slackbrae Cottage, Brucefield Estate.

Niddrie Road, Glasgow, is an example of a retrofit project guided by the Fabric First approach. You can read about this project and the benefits they saw on our retrofit introductory blog here. Similarly, Brucefield Estate, which was visited by SCHT staff and Trustees, also followed a Fabric First approach during their renovations of Slackbrae Cottage. The property was restored using traditional materials, with the aim of the cottage being highly insulated to make the building as energy-efficient as possible, reducing the need for mechanical or electrical building services.

Read our other Retrofit Blogs

• Retrofitting Traditional Buildings
• Retrofitting Traditional Buildings: Windows
• Retrofitting Traditional Buildings: Insulation
• Retrofitting Traditional Buildings: Chimneys

Find out more

More information on altering the fabric of traditional buildings in line with a fabric first approach to retrofit can be found at:

• Historic Environment Scotland - Guide to Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings
• Historic Environment Scotland - Short Guide: Fabric Improvements for Energy Efficiency

Retrofitting Traditional Buildings

The first blog in our new TBHC Retrofit series takes a look at why the Retrofitting of Traditional Buildings is necessary.

Retrofitting Traditional Buildings: Windows

In our third blog in our TBHC Retrofit series, Callum, SCHT Heritage Trainee, takes a look at retrofit solutions for sash and case windows.

Retrofitting Traditional Buildings: Insulation

In our fourth blog in our TBHC Retrofit series, Callum, SCHT Heritage Trainee, takes a look at insulation and its role in the retrofitting of traditional Scottish buildings.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus