RIAI CPD Links: Structural Repair of Historic Buildings by Dublin Civic Trust

About this Event

Ian Hume, DIC, CEng, MIStructE, DiplConsAA, IHBC, is a leading conservation-accredited engineer who has been involved in the conservation of historic buildings across the UK for 40 years. He served as Chief Engineer of the Conservation Engineering team of English Heritage from 1988 to 1998, followed by extensive work in private practice and visiting lecturing in West Dean College and UK universities. Major conservation works undertaken under Ian Hume’s instruction have included the Mausoleum at Castle Howard, the Ironbridge and Leigh Court barn in Worcestershire. He lectures frequently on conservation engineering and is an active member of the UK Conservation Accreditation Register for Engineers (CARE).

Seminar Content

This stimulating half-day of lectures will focus on best practice repair and structural consolidation of historic buildings. It will explore considered engineering principles that promote the retention of historic fabric and special character, based on correct identification of structural defects and their causes. Not all defective historic buildings are as hazardous as they seem, requiring careful analysis and alternative approaches to repairs to consolidate apparently unstable structures and their elements. Various permanent repair methodologies which might be applied to historic buildings will be discussed, including debate about the merits of hidden repairs as against more obvious repairs.

Topics of discussion will include:

• Conservation philosophy - applying the five basic principles of conservation in a challenging environment.
• Conservation engineering techniques – choosing tried and tested solutions versus new methods.
• Structural monitoring - diagnosing problems and identifying correct solutions through different methods of monitoring.
• Maintenance – learning the rules of regular inspection and works regimes.
• Role of Conservation Engineer - interacting with owners, occupiers, planning and conservation authorities, and other members of the team, and having the confidence and expertise to do what is right for the building.