Liverpool John Moores University

School Of The Built Environment

Bsc Hons Building Surveying
Level 3

CONSERVATION STUDIES
Coursework
BUEUG3009

Compiled by:

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Contents

Front cover

Contents

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Making the building more environmentally sustainable

2.1 Overview
2.2 Energy usage
2.3 Water conservation
2.4 Waste treatment

3.0 Conclusion

4.0 References

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Chapter 1.0 - Introduction

Following on from a recent visit to a historic building (Speke Hall) that is open
to the public it is necessary to investigate one aspect of this building in more
detail and prepare a report that informs a longer term strategy for the
conservation of this building. Speke Hall is located at: Speke Hall, Garden and
Estate the Walk, Liverpool L24 1XD

The topic I have chosen to undertake is Topic 1 section (B), “Making the
building more environmentally sustainable in terms of energy usage, water
conservation and waste treatment”. I have chosen this topic because out of all
the topics listed I think in today’s society, which the main emphasis is the
environment, a report on making the building more environmentally
sustainable is a greater logic and will have greater benefits.

Throughout this report I will try have due regard to conservation principles and
the features making it worthy of listing, also trying to justify my choices and
methods chosen for making this a worthwhile project. My main emphasis is on

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the ability to critically evaluate a building and justify this with appropriate
reference to relevant documentation and research.

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Chapter 2.0 – Making the Building More Environmentally
Sustainable.

2.1 Overview

2.1.1 Speke Hall, Garden & estate is: A rare Tudor manor house, in a most
unusual setting, surrounded by fragrant gardens protected by a collar of
woodland. Constructed by a devout Catholic family, keen to impress visitors
with their home's grandeur, in particular the Great Hall, this beautiful building
has witnessed more than 400 years of turbulent history. (National trust, 2010)

Speke hall is a wood frame Tudor house and is currently owned by the
National Trust and is open to the public. Construction of Speke hall began in
1530 with the Great Hall, other wings and rooms of the house were gradually
constructed throughout the 16th century. The last significant change to the
building was in 1598, since this time there have only been minor changes to
the Hall and gardens

2.1.2 Since the end of the 15th century the building has been gradually
renovated and extended. The wood-frame style is typical of the period with
the oak frame resting on a base of red sandstone. The main beams of the
house are stiffened with smaller timbers and filled with wattle and daub. The
now grassy moat is crossed by an Elizabethan stone bridge and here studded
wooden doors lead to the interior.

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Having suffered long periods of desertion and neglect, it is little short of a
miracle that the building has survived at all, but even more surprising is that is
has remained virtually unaltered since it was first built for the Norris family
some 450 years ago. With today’s technology and public awareness of global
warming caused by excessive use of energy, now is as good as time as any
to make Speke Hall more environmentally sustainable.

2.1.3 There are a lot of Planning and Conservation issues when trying to
make a listed building more sustainable, especially with Speke Hall being a
Grade 1 listed building. These buildings are considered “Grade I - these
buildings are considered to be of exceptional interest” (Direct.Gov, 2010), only
about 2% of all listed buildings in England are within this category. It is
defiantly advisable to get advice from the Local Planning Authority before
attempting any alterations to a building of this stature, as it is a criminal
offence to alter a building of this type without the appropriate permission.

The overall aim of this study is to try and improve efficiency in terms of energy
usage, water conservation and waste treatment without harming the historical
and architectural character of Speke Hall.

2.2 Energy usage

2.2.1 There is a delicate balance between historic building conservation and

energy conservation. In this current environmentally friendly era, Part L of the
Building Regulations has been revised to improve energy efficiency in historic
buildings: “The new Part L makes it clear that the special characteristics of a
historic building must be recognised. The aim of this revised part of the
Building Regulations is to improve energy efficiency where practically
possible, provided that this does not harm the character of the building or
increase the risk of long-term deterioration to fabric or fittings”. (Building
Regulations, 2002).

2.2.2 Replacing an existing building with a new one requires a considerable

investment of ‘embodied’ energy in materials, transport and construction. This
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is the main reason why to improve energy efficiency in current buildings. Part
L is the first step before carrying out any alterations to historic buildings
because of the revisions stated by the Building Regulations. In modernised
buildings the best way to improve energy usage is:

 Loft insulation
 Water tank insulation
 Double glazing
 Cavity wall insulation
 Draught proofing
 Replace old boiler
 Heating controls
 Energy efficient light bulbs

Obviously being a Grade 1 listed building, not all of these measures can be
introduced into Speke Hall. The author feels the best way to reduce energy in
a building of this stature without jeopardising any of the external elements and
where they retain important interiors, fixtures, fittings and details, is to improve
the thermal insulation and this would be to draught proof and install secondary
glazing as “20% of a buildings space heating is lost through windows, and
most of it escapes through the air gaps around the windows, not through the
single glass pane themselves”, (English Heritage, 2001). Even though this
area isn’t the major area of heat loss of a building, the author feels it’s the
best way because of the type of building in hand “the other 80% is lost
through un-lagged roofs and un-insulated floors and walls” (English Heritage,
2001). In this type of structure thermal insulation isn’t possible: “The
opportunity to improve the thermal performance of walls externally will often
be limited in a historic building because of the impact external insulation has
on the appearance of the building: notably on its proportions, and on details
such as quoins, window reveals, cills, thresholds etc – all unacceptable in
terms of planning and Listed Building Consent”. (Building Regulations, 2002).

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2.2.3 Secondary glazing is considered as a cheap, feasible and far more
sympathetic alternative to the installation of double glazed units. It solves the
problems of heat escaping and draughts entering through the gaps around the
window whilst still preserving the original window and being very discreet,
aesthetically on the building as well as improving energy efficiency.

The secondary glazing can be removed when not wanted and divisions in the
glass panels can be hidden behind the meeting rails or glazing bars making
them reasonably unobtrusive. This can be carried out in accordance with the
original design of the windows of Speke Hall. Storm Windows Ltd has carried
out such work on other National Trust buildings:

“Its unique system of slim-line secondary glazing has none of the usual
wooden sub-frames. Each window is individually surveyed and is virtually
invisible from the inside and out. This bespoke approach enables us to
manufacture a huge range of different shapes including out of square,
Norman and Gothic Arches and even cylindrical turrets. Our window systems
have been specified by organisations such as Historic Scotland in the
refurbishing of General Register House Edinburgh and at the National Trust
property of Snowshill Nr Broadway”. (Derbyshire City Council, 2010)

2.2.4 Draughtproofing is one of the best and least intrusive ways of achieving
improved performance from windows in historic buildings. It will considerbly
reduce energy use, it will also reduce noise and dust ingress to preserve the
fabric of the building, nut most importantly it wont damage the asthetics of the
building. Different types of draughtproofing are availbale, each with a different
function, some types simply act as a gap filler and are apllied as mastic or
foam. Others keep the weather outside by oversized fittings, such as silicone
rubber tubes, polypropylene and nylon-finned pile brushes or rubber,
polyester, or sprung metal Z and V fins.

Quality draughtproofing should not only insulate, but should also be durable
and of an acceptable appearence. A number of companies offer a nationwide
repair and upgrading service for the likes off sash windows which are
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commonly seen in historic buildings. The financial investment is quickly
compensated for in terms of energy savings, thermal comfort and noise and
dust exclsuion.

2.2.5 Other possible ways to reduce enrgy could be to install new, more
effcient boilers and heating systems in Speke Hall if possible, if these arnt
allowed to be removed then to ensure they are serviced regularly or
introducing heating controls such as thermostats.

2.3 Water conservation

2.3.1 Water stress occurs when current demand for water is high in
comparison with effective supply from precipitation and ground water sources.
Before anything can be done to help water conservation a Conservation
Officer must be notified for advice first as building services in a historic
structure will themselves be of historic interest. Relevant detailed advice on
strategies, equipment and installation is included in Energy efficient building
services and fabric for historic building: a good practice guide for historic and
traditional buildings. (CIBSE, in preparation). According to experts
approximately 30% of our water is flushed down the toilet. One of the main
reasons for this is the number of water inefficient toilets being used in the UK.
(Greenworks Energy Website, 2005), undoubtedly the toilet system in Speke
hall will fall under this category.

In most cases, good practice standards of hot water systems which will
contribute most to water conservation. Will apply equally to new and to
historic buildings, two points may however be made:

• Some large historic buildings have sprawling systems. When alterations are
being carried out, an attempt should be made to simplify them, reducing the
lengths of pipe runs, improving insulation, and possibly installing more local
water heaters.

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• When taps, shower heads, etc are being renewed, replacements should be
sought which are economical in their use of hot water.
Source: Building Regulations, 2002

2.3.2 Fitting and replacement of services installations must be done

carefully, avoiding unnecessary damage to the historic fabric by short-lived
services elements and observing the principles of reversibility and minimum
intervention. This relates not only to holes, chases, and fixings, but also to the
direct and indirect damage to historic objects by the proximity of services.

2.3.3 Waste water reuse or recycling systems, allow:

 Reuse of gray water for flushing toilets or watering gardens, and
 Recycling of wastewater through purification at a water treatment plant
are other methods.

2.4 Waste treatment

2.4.1 All drainage systems for waste in Speke Hall are outdated and will
need to be updated to ensure the building becomes more sustainable. There
are only certain limits on what can be done to a building as such as this,
design and sizing of sewage collection systems considers population served,
commercial and industrial flows, flow peaking characteristics and wet weather
flows. Combined sewer systems are designed to transport both stormwater
runoff and sewage in the same pipe. The author would consider Speke Hall to
be in a rural area.

Systems to manage surface water are known as SUDS (Sustainable Urban

Drainage Systems) though they can be applied in rural or in built up areas.
Private treatment of waste water is usually only necessary in isolated rural
areas without access to a mains sewer. It is important that location, design
and maintenance are fully considered to minimise any impacts on the
environment.

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2.4.2 Where a main sewer is not available, other systems for managing
waste water are used. This is often a septic tank with a leachfield, which will
require periodic removal of untreated solid waste. Private package treatment
plants usually require an electricity supply to aerate the sewage, but the
resulting effluent is of a higher quality than from a septic tank. A leachfield in
clay, rock or near a watercourse will be ineffective and sewage may escape
into the wider environment without effective treatment. (Cornwall Sustainable
Guide, 2009).

A building as old as this wouldn’t have a up to date waste management

system, so these methods mentioned are suitable to make the building more
sustainable.

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Chapter 3.0 – Conclusion

3.1.1 Listed above is possible remedies the author thinks are possible to
implement on a building such as Speke Hall without damaging any external or
internal fabrics. Whether these systems stated are correct in preserving the
stature of this building are unknown, this is one of the implications of lack of
experience in the conservation area.

With today’s technology the author is sure that these measures can be
inserted into Speke Hall without any problems and will defiantly promote
sustainability in this historic building.

Many historic buildings include soft, weak or permeable materials, e.g.

mortars, plasters, renders and paints. These cause the fabric to respond in
fundamentally different ways to air, moisture and structural movement from
the hard, strong, impervious materials and membranes widely used in modern
construction. In this case daub is used so careful consideration and only work
by specialists must be done before any improvements on Speke Hall.

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Chapter 4.0 – References

Building Regulations (Part L), (2002). “Balancing the need for energy
conservation with those of building conservation”. Building Regulations and
historic buildings.
Available from: http://blackboard.livjm.ac.uk/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?
tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_82920_1 [Accessed 9th
April 2010]

Cornwall sustainable guide, (2009), “water treatment & drainage”

Available from:
http://consult.cornwall.gov.uk/portal/planning/csbg/cornwall_sustainable_buildi
ng_guide?pointId=486#section-486 [Accessed 14th April 2010]

Derbyshire City Council, (2010). “Storm Windows Ltd”, Derbyshire’s Craft

Register
Available from:
http://www.derbyshirehistoricbuildings.org.uk/craftsregister.php?
MainSpecialism=1&MainSubSpecialism=33&SubSpecialism=0&Action=list
[Accessed 8th April 2010]

Direct.Gov (2010). “Finding a listed building”, Home and community

Available from:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Planning/PlanningPermissio
n/DG_10030546 [Accessed 7th April 2010]

English Heritage, (2001). “Damproofing & Secondary Glazing”. English

Heritage Publication
Available from: http://www.helm.org.uk/upload/pdf/Draughtproofing%20and
%20secondary%20glazing_1994.pdf [Accessed 8th April 2010]

Greenworks Energy website, (2005), “water saving solutions”

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Available from: http://www.greenworks-energy.co.uk/water-saving-toilets.php
[Accessed 14th April 2010]

National Trust, (2010). “Days Outs & Visits”, Speke Hall, Garden & Estate
Available from: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-spekehall [Accessed 7th
April 2010]

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