PAS2035 Consultants CEO, Joe Nelson, was recently invited to visit and review plans for the latest retrofit-specific research initiatives being developed at the world-renowned Energy House 2.0 facility at the University of Salford.
The visit provided a unique opportunity to discuss the future direction of retrofit research with leading academics, including Professor Richard Fitton, whose work continues to shape understanding of real-world building performance across the UK retrofit sector.
As a consultancy actively delivering large-scale PAS 2035 projects across social housing portfolios, PAS2035 Consultants was able to provide practical feedback from the front line of retrofit delivery. Discussions focused on the types of housing archetypes that consistently present the greatest technical challenges, particularly hard-to-treat solid wall properties, non-traditional construction types, properties with complex moisture risks and homes where multiple building defects interact with energy performance issues.
A key topic of discussion was the importance of ensuring future research environments accurately reflect real-world housing conditions. Whilst laboratory testing provides invaluable data, the team highlighted the growing need to incorporate recycled and reclaimed materials within testing programmes where appropriate. This would help researchers better understand how retrofit measures perform when applied to ageing housing stock rather than idealised construction assemblies, providing findings that are directly applicable to the challenges faced by housing providers and retrofit practitioners every day.
PAS2035 Consultants will be returning to support future phases of development, including the exciting construction of new semi-detached test properties that will allow researchers to investigate retrofit interventions under highly controlled yet realistic conditions. These facilities will provide opportunities to examine heat loss, moisture movement, ventilation strategies, thermal bridging and whole-house retrofit performance in ways that are simply not possible within occupied homes.
The visit also included discussions regarding the future role of Smart Meter Enabled Thermal Efficiency Ratings (SMETERS) and other in-situ measurement techniques. As the industry moves beyond theoretical modelling and increasingly focuses on measured performance, the ability to compare predicted and actual building outcomes will become increasingly important. The collection of robust performance data will play a critical role in improving design assumptions, refining retrofit strategies and identifying underperforming buildings that require further investigation.
This aligns closely with PAS2035 Consultants' growing interest in Building Performance Evaluation and the assessment of performance gaps between design intent and operational outcomes. As the sector continues to evolve, there is increasing recognition that understanding why buildings underperform is just as important as understanding how to design them.
Looking ahead, PAS2035 Consultants is exploring opportunities to further specialise in building performance analysis and post-retrofit evaluation, particularly in alignment with the principles of BS 40101:2022. Combining practical PAS 2035 delivery experience with measured performance assessment offers significant potential to improve retrofit quality, validate outcomes and provide clients with a deeper understanding of how their buildings perform in use.
We are delighted to be supporting Professor Fitton and the wider Energy House team as they continue to undertake world-leading research. By bringing together academic expertise and real-world retrofit delivery experience, initiatives such as these will help shape the future of building performance, retrofit standards and decarbonisation across the UK's housing stock.