Date: -
Audience: General interest
Price:
£5 Members
£7 Non-Members
Event details
SPAB Ireland Lecture Series 2026
Assess Before You Act: Whole Building Approach for Vernacular Energy Efficiency and Climate Resilience
Rosanne Walker
Tuesday 28 July, 7.30pm
This lecture will explore the building physics behind retrofitting traditional buildings, with a particular focus on why insulation decisions must be based on a proper understanding of how older fabric performs. Looking at vernacular buildings through a whole-building lens, the talk will consider how heat, air, and moisture move through traditional construction, and why this behaviour differs significantly from that of modern buildings.
Drawing on research and practice in the thermal and moisture performance of traditional solid walls, the session will explain how inappropriate retrofit measures can create unintended problems, including interstitial condensation, trapped moisture, reduced breathability, and fabric deterioration. It will also highlight how more informed assessment can support retrofit strategies that improve comfort and energy efficiency while respecting the long-term health and character of the building.
Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the principles that should guide retrofit in traditional buildings, especially where insulation is being considered. The lecture will be particularly useful for architects, engineers, surveyors, conservation professionals, and informed owners seeking a more technical understanding of moisture risk and compatible intervention. There will also be an opportunity to ask live questions during a Q&A session at the end of the lecture.
Who is this talk for?
This lecture is aimed at those directly involved in working on traditional buildings with a technical side to the lecture. Private owners of traditional buildings are also welcome.
You will learn/discover
• Why traditional and vernacular buildings behave differently from modern construction.
• How heat, air, and moisture move through older building fabric.
• Why insulation decisions should be based on a whole-building understanding.
• What risks can arise from poorly designed retrofit measures.
• How building physics can help inform more compatible retrofit solutions.
• How better assessment can improve comfort, durability, and energy performance
IT requirements
You will need a computer, phone or other device with a stable internet connection
Speaker(s)
Dr Rosanne Walker is a researcher and practitioner with expertise in the thermal and moisture performance of traditional buildings, particularly traditional solid walls and the risks associated with insulation and retrofit. Her work has contributed to wider understanding of how older buildings perform in use and how retrofit measures can be designed in ways that are both effective and compatible with historic fabric. She is well placed to speak on the relationship between building physics, moisture behaviour, and sensitive intervention in traditional and vernacular buildings.
Accessibility
Closed captions are available for this talk.
Sponsors
This event is generously supported by The Heritage Council.
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Photo credit: Rosemary Kane/ Alamy