This section of the Conservation Information Resource for Civil Engineers (CIRCE) provides selected information and guidance on methodologies and approaches that can be taken by civil and building engineers when working on conservation, restoration and extending the life of existing structures.
To find out more, simply click on the relevant panels below.
Methodology and approaches
- General guidance - details high-level non-technical guidance
- Information on existing structures - provides resources to help identify existing structures
- Recording historic structures - information and resources to aid the recording of current structures
- Surveying historic structures - advice and guidance on surveying historic structures
Registers
- Accredited conservation professionals - learn more about accredited heritage professionals
Sources of information and guidance
- On-line databases - provides details of a range of online databases provided by heritage organisations
- Books and guidance - full publication details of resources from conservation organisations
- Periodicals and technical journals - information on a range of specialist conservation journals
- Conference proceedings - includes details of conference proceedings and conferences on conservation
Terminology
- Glossary - provides an overview of terminology used by conservation professionals
- Abbreviations - details the abbreviations used throughout CIRCE
High-level, and generally non-technical guidance on conservation of existing structures and sites is available from the many national and international organisations dealing with heritage issues.
The following general papers have been published in The Structural Engineer:
- Conservation compendium Part 1: Why keep it? Engineers and the modern conservation movement by James Miller, IStructE 2015 [4 pp]
- A guide to conservation engineering best practice by Clive Richardson IStructE 2009 [4 pp]
- Raising the profile of conservation by John Avent, IStructE 2010 [3 pp]
- The Structural Engineer in Conservation by Ian Hume IStructE 1997 [5 pp]
- Conservation, refurbishment and re-use of buildings by R. Bowles et al., IStructE 2008 [6 pp]
The following general guidance has been published by various organisations:
- The assessment of civil engineering heritage by P. Cross-Rudkin et al., ICE 2000 [6 pp]
- Appraisal of existing structures Institution of Structural Engineers, 2010 [197 pp]
- Structural Appraisal of Existing Buildings including for a Material Change of Use, BRE Digest 366, 2012
- Part 1: Requirements for a structural appraisal [12 pp]
- Part 2: Preparing for a structural appraisal [12 pp]
- Part 3: Structural appraisal procedures [16 pp]
- Part 4: Additional considerations and information sources [60 pp]
- ISO 13822:2010. Bases for design of structures -- Assessment of existing structures [44 pp]
- Managing change in the historic environment: Engineering Structures, Historic Scotland 2009 [9 pp]
- Conservation of Engineering Structures ICE, (conference proceedings) 1989 [264 pp]
Includes:- Assessment, monitoring and temporary support of historically important structures by I. Hume, 1989 [10 pp]
- The engineer at risk: a personal view of professional responsibility and liability by T. Akroyd, 1989 [14 pp]
- Legislative framework and financial assistance by E. Sharman 1989 [7 pp]
- How we select for statutory protection by P. White 1989 [6 pp]
The first step in the assessment of any existing structure is to determine its age.
Some guides are specific to historic buildings, for example:
Others focus on types of structure, e.g. buildings or bridges.
Others focus on techniques, e.g. Dating technology or on material specific methods such as Dendrochronology .
Information may also be found in local archives, local history groups or various heritage and preservation societies.
Principles for the recording of monuments, groups of buildings and sites, ICOMOS 1996 [4 pp]
Guide to recording historic buildings, ICOMOS 1990 [83 pp]
Understanding historic buildings: a guide to good recording practice, Historic England 2006 [41 pp]
Guide for practitioners 4 - measured survey and building recording for historic buildings and structures, Historic Scotland 2003 [198 pp]
Measurement and Recording of Historic Buildings by Peter Swallow, et al. 2004 [224 pp]
Measured building surveys by Stephen Booth (web pages)
Guide for practitioners 4 - measured survey and building recording for historic buildings and structures, Historic Scotland 2003 [198 pp]
Surveying Historic Buildings by D Watt 2011 [300 pp]
Measurement and Recording of Historic Buildings by Peter Swallow, et al. 2004 [224 pp]
Laser scanning: surveying, recording and monitoring historic buildings by James Miller (web pages)
Many of the Conservation and Heritage Organisations mentioned elsewhere in CIRCE provide on-line databases and guidance, including:
- Building conservation – Subject index (web pages)
- Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) - Technical Q&As Index (web pages)
- Industrial and technical heritage: Bibliography, ICOMOS 2009 [196 pp]
- Building technology heritage library (mainly trade catalogues from USA & Canada, pre-1964) (web pages)
Many of the Conservation and Heritage Organisations mentioned elsewhere in CIRCE provide on-line lists of their publications, available for sale or downloading, including:
Civil engineering history: engineers make history. Proceedings of the First National Symposium on Civil Engineering History, New York, ASCE, 1996 [207 pp]
Engineering History and Heritage: Proceedings of the 2nd National Congress on Civil Engineering History and Heritage, Boston, Massachusetts, ASCE, 1998 [184 pp]
International Engineering History and Heritage: Improving Bridges to ASCE's 150th Anniversary. Proceedings of the Third National Congress on Civil Engineering History and Heritage, Houston, Texas, ASCE, 2001 [500 pp]
American Civil Engineering History: The Pioneering Years. Proceedings of the Fourth National Congress on Civil Engineering History and Heritage, Washington, ASCE, 2002 [551 pp]
Baltimore Civil Engineering History. Proceedings of the Fifth National History and Heritage Congress at the 2004 Annual Civil Engineering Conference and Exposition, Baltimore, Maryland, ASCE, 2004 [352 pp]
Many international and national organisations hold conferences whose proceedings can be found in specialist libraries and, increasingly, on-line, but usually at a cost to non-members. These include:
- Structural faults and repair biennial conference
- The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage (TICCIH) conferences
- Association of Preservation Technology International Annual conference
- International Conference on Structural Health Assessment of Timber Structures
- The International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historic Constructions takes place biennially
- ICARSAH advertises some future conferences
- Conserving our heritage - preserving our development ICE Conference proceedings, Hong Kong, 2009 [80 pp]
Proceedings of the ICE - Engineering History and Heritage (quarterly, 2009-date)
International Journal of Architectural Heritage: Conservation, Analysis, and Restoration (6-8 issues per year)
Conservation Bulletin, Historic England (twice yearly)
Historic England Research (twice yearly)
RICS Building Conservation Journal (bi-monthly)
Industrial Archaeology Review, Association for Industrial Archaeology (annually)
Construction History: International Journal of the Construction History Society (twice yearly)
Journal of Architectural Conservation (annually)
APT Bulletin, Association for Preservation Technology (quarterly)
Several professional organisations have registers for those who are accredited to work on conservation of existing structures. These are introduced in the Part 2 of the Conservation Compendium published in The Structural Engineer (2015) [3 pp].
The Conservation Accreditation Register for Engineers (CARE) identifies civil and structural engineers skilled in the conservation of historic structures and sites.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has its own RICS Building Conservation Accreditation.
The RIBA Conservation Register identifies three levels of membership: Specialist Conservation Architect, Conservation Architect and Conservation Registrant.
The Register of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation exists for the benefit of clients and the structures they are responsible for.
The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) is the professional body for building conservation practitioners and historic environment experts working in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with connections to the Republic of Ireland. It embraces professionals from all disciplines.
A large number of terms are used by engineers, architects and conservation and heritage professionals when discussing various types of work on existing structures such as buildings, bridges, fortifications, water mills and canals. These include:
- Conservation
- Restoration
- Refurbishment
- Preservation
- Renovation
- Retrofit
- Remediation
- Rehabilitation
There are also more general teams such as
- Repair and maintenance
- Extending the life of a structure
- Asset management
And the related and wider-ranging activities of:
- Archaeology, and
- Industrial archaeology
Finally, much work on existing structures can be referred to as:
- Work on heritage structures, buildings or monuments
- Contributing to social, economic and environmental sustainability
Conservation Principles Policies and Guidance for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment published by Historic England contains useful guidance on these terms in the glossary. [78 pp] direct
The Guide to International Conservation Charters, published by Historic Environment Scotland also addresses terminology and types of work on heritage structures. [100 pp] direct
In these CIRCE web pages, the terms Conservation, Refurbishment and Extending the useful life are used most often.
| Abbreviation | Organisation or publication |
|---|---|
| ACI | American Concrete Institute |
| APTI | Association for Preservation Technology International |
| ACSCE | American Society of Civil Engineers |
| ASTM | American Society for Testing Materials |
| BRE | Building Research Establishment |
| CARE | Conservation Accreditation Register for Engineers |
| CEB | Comité euro-international du béton / Euro-International Committee for Concrete |
| CIRIA | Construction Industry Research and Information Association |
| DMBR | Design Manual For Roads And Bridges |
| ECCE | European Council of Civil Engineers |
| fib | Fédération internationale du béton / International Federation for Structural Concrete |
| fip | Fédération internationale de la précontrainte / International Federation for Prestressing) |
| ICE | Institution of Civil Engineers |
| ICOMOS | International Council on Monuments and Sites |
| ISCARSAH | International Scientific Committee on the Analysis and Restoration of Structures of Architectural Heritage |
| IStructE | Institution of Structural Engineers |
| PHEW | Panel for Historical Engineering Works |
| RIBA | Royal Institution of British Architects |
| RICS | Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors |
| TICCIH | The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage |