Conservation compendium

James Miller, a Conservation Accredited Engineer, introduces a new series on conservation engineering by exploring the philosophy and history of the modern conservation movement, from its roots in the works of John Ruskin to the present day.

In response to the need for particular professional skills when working on heritage assets in the UK, the principal construction professions have formed schemes for accrediting those professionals in architecture, building surveying and civil and structural engineering who have the necessary skills. This article provides details on the schemes.

As structural engineering students, we learn about mild steel, modern design and construction methods. However, historic structures often do not fit into this mould. Whether you work in conservation or are a general practitioner, you are likely to come across cast iron, wrought iron, as well as early mild steel structures.

Replacement of stone on historic buildings may be required for numerous reasons. These include age-related decay and weathering, poor workmanship in terms of material choice or setting, defective fixings, and structural failure. 

Cantilever stone staircases have been used in all sorts of buildings for more than 350 years. Like all structures, stairs need regular inspection and maintenance; without which, collapses can ultimately occur.

Geoff Clifton describes the use of concrete as a major constituent of repair work performed on English cathedrals in the 20th century, but raises concerns about the long-term problems this use may result in.

This article looks at some aspects of floor loading and how its application has changed for the better. It encourages a careful consideration of loadings to avoid unnecessary and irreversible loss of fabric through the application of significant strengthening schemes, cutting away existing historic framing.

This article focuses on the phenomenon of 'bond timbers', which were commonly built into masonry walls from the late 17th to the early 19th century. Guidance is offered to engineers who may encounter these when working on an existing building.

This article is the first of two which will discuss the problem of corrosion of steel frames behind masonry elevations. It aims to provide an introduction to this form of construction and to consider the ways in which lack of maintenance can lead to corrosion of the steel frame, before setting out how remedial work should be approached.

This article continues from the previous instalment in the series, and aims to guide engineers in assessing the extent of corrosion of steel frames and in selecting appropriate treatment methods.

This paper sets out the challenges faced by engineers and some of the approaches taken in the appraisal and protection of ruins.

This article uses four case studies to explore issues with scaffolding of historic structures.

This article discusses common repairs and strengthening of structural timbers in historic buildings, covering conservation philosophy, material choice and detailing.

This article illustrates how structural timber fared at the Grade II listed Dunston Staiths in northeast England.

This article discusses lime mortar and its place in conservation work and like-for-like repair on older masonry. 

This article introduces engineers to the various techniques available to monitor movement in historic structures.

This article describes the origin of filler-joist floors, how they perform and typical defects.

This article aims to discuss some of the issues, challenges, tools and techniques available to the practising structural engineer when assessing existing structures.

James Miller brings this series to a close by looking back over ground covered and forward to a bright future in which conservation accreditation is increasingly valued and engineers are able to innovate through the application of emerging technologies.

This article sets out typical structural issues encountered when dealing with churches and places of worship.

This article seeks to equip engineers with more knowledge about ruins. Building on Part 11 of the Conservation compendium, 'A career in ruins (the challenges presented by derelict structures)', it provides further sources of information from a UK perspective for those engineers who look after them.

A previous Conservation compendium article, 'Part 7: Imposed load in historic buildings: assessing what is real', looked at assessing realistic live loads in historic buildings. This article considers the philosophy of factors of safety and how they should or should not be applied to older structures.

This article has a focus on a particular building form, outlining the development of historic ironworks, how the remaining stone masonry structures can be assessed, and typical defects associated with them.

This article aims to outline the historic use of timber pile foundations, their key characteristics, and how to preserve them for the future.