Embracing the Fabric-First Approach in Whole House Retrofits
- Jun 2
- 6 min read
In an era where sustainability is paramount, the construction industry is witnessing a transformative shift towards energy-efficient practices. Whole-house retrofits are at the forefront of this movement, providing an innovative way to upgrade older, fuel-inefficient buildings. At the heart of these retrofits is the 'fabric-first' approach, which prioritises improving the building's envelope to boost thermal efficiency. This article explains the fabric-first strategy and highlights its importance for effective retrofitting and considerations when planning future projects.
Understanding Whole House Retrofits
Whole-house retrofits involve comprehensive upgrades to existing buildings to enhance energy efficiency, comfort, and lifespan. Unlike piecemeal improvements, these retrofits take a holistic view, addressing all aspects of a building's performance. The goal is to drastically reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions while extending the building's overall utility. The goal is to significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, ultimately creating healthier and more sustainable living environments.
What is meant by a ‘fabric-first’ approach?
In building design, the term “fabric” generally refers to the materials and components used to construct a building. This includes elements like walls, floors, roofs, windows, doors, and other structural components. The fabric encompasses both the physical materials, such as bricks, timber, concrete, and steel, as well as finishes like plaster, paint, wallpaper, and tiles. The fabric of a building may also include elements that enhance overall building performance, such as insulation, air barriers and vapour barriers.
A fabric-first approach to building design involves prioritising the building envelope (walls, roofs, floors, windows, and doors) to create a high-performance, energy-efficient building. This approach considers the building's fabric as the primary means of reducing energy consumption rather than relying on mechanical or electrical systems. Adopting a fabric-first perspective requires a comprehensive assessment of the building’s performance before incorporating technological systems. By focusing on natural means first, buildings can achieve greater energy savings.
Brendan Collum, IRS Director says “Adopting a fabric-first approach instead of treating issues in isolation, like replacing a heating system without considering insulation -promotes long-term energy savings by addressing the root causes of inefficiencies”. |
The selection of fabric can significantly impact a building’s appearance, durability, energy efficiency, and overall functionality. Fabric ‘optimisation’ is the process of designing and choosing building materials and components to create a structure that is both efficient and effective. It involves balancing the cost, performance, and sustainability of materials to ensure the building is functional and affordable.
More about ‘fabric-optimisation’
Fabric optimisation is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it plays a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of buildings by minimising resource use and waste. By selecting sustainable, durable, and energy-efficient materials, fabric optimisation can contribute to creating structures with a lower carbon footprint that are less harmful to the environment.
Secondly, it enhances a building’s performance, leading to reduced energy consumption, improved indoor air quality, and increased thermal comfort. By choosing well-insulated and airtight materials, the energy required for heating and cooling can be significantly lowered, resulting in substantial cost savings over time.
Finally, fabric optimisation helps a building be more cost-effective and improve overall functionality. By selecting materials and components that are affordable, durable, and easy to maintain, buildings can be designed to be safe, comfortable, and practical for their occupants.
Benefits of the Fabric-First Approach
The primary advantage of the fabric-first strategy is its potential for substantial energy savings. By enhancing insulation and reducing thermal bridging, heat loss is minimised, leading to lower energy demands. This translates into cost savings for homeowners or building operators while also reducing the environmental impact of a building. All while helping building occupants enjoy a more stable and comfortable indoor environment year-round.
3 key reasons to take a ‘fabric-first’ approach to retrofits 1. Enhanced Energy Efficiency: Improved insulation and airtightness lower energy demand, resulting in reduced heating and cooling costs. This makes energy bills more manageable for occupants. 2. Increased Comfort: Enhanced thermal performance creates a more stable indoor climate by reducing drafts and temperature fluctuations, ultimately boosting occupant comfort. 3. Achieve Sustainability Goals: By decreasing energy usage, buildings play a significant role in reducing overall carbon emissions, aligning with broader sustainability initiatives and regulatory frameworks. |
Techniques and Innovations in Fabric-First Retrofits
Various techniques are employed in fabric-first retrofits to enhance energy efficiency and optimise building performance:
Insulation Upgrades: The retrofit process often involves the installation of high-performance insulation materials, such as rigid foam boards, spray foam, or mineral wool, in walls, roofs, and floors. These materials are specifically designed to achieve superior thermal resistance (R-values), effectively minimising heat transfer and maintaining indoor temperatures, reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling.
Airtight Construction: A critical aspect of retrofitting is the implementation of airtight construction practices. This involves meticulously sealing gaps, cracks, and joints using specialised materials like caulking, weatherstripping, or foam sealants. By minimising air leakage, these measures significantly improve the building's thermal performance, contributing to improved overall energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
Advanced Glazing Systems: The installation of energy-efficient windows is vital in fabric-first retrofits. Advanced glazing systems often use multiple layers of low-emissivity (low-E) glass, gas fills such as argon or krypton, and insulated frames. Compared to traditional single-pane windows, these modern alternatives offer enhanced thermal properties, reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, which contributes to a more stable indoor climate.
As technology advances, innovative materials and construction techniques continue to emerge, presenting even greater opportunities for enhancing the energy efficiency of existing buildings. These developments support sustainability goals and help reduce the overall environmental impact of building operations.
Implementing a Successful Retrofit
To effectively implement a fabric-first approach to retrofitting, a systematic and comprehensive process is vital. Key steps include:
Preliminary Coordination: Begin with a thorough assessment of the building, meticulously identifying energy-saving opportunities and specific areas of concern. This initial evaluation lays the groundwork for informed decision-making and tailored solutions.
Detailed Design: Work collaboratively with experienced professionals to craft a customised plan that addresses critical elements such as insulation, airtightness, and ventilation. This phase ensures that every facet of the building’s envelope is thoughtfully considered to optimise energy efficiency.
Installation: Engage a team of skilled installers with the expertise and training necessary to implement best practices during the installation process. Precision and attention to detail are crucial for bringing the design plan to life.
Quality Assurance Testing: Conduct rigorous quality assurance testing to validate that the installation meets the established performance criteria. This step involves comprehensive checks and assessments to guarantee that all systems function as intended, ensuring durability and effectiveness.
System Commissioning: Finally, execute system commissioning to finalise adjustments and verify that all efficiency measures operate in harmony. This crucial step ensures that the building functions smoothly, maximising its energy-saving potential.
Selecting contractors who adhere to industry standards, such as PAS 2030, will provide confidence in achieving successful and sustainable retrofitting outcomes.
Brendan says “A well-designed building envelope can also improve thermal comfort by reducing draughts, cold spots, and overheating, creating a more comfortable and healthier indoor environment for occupants by improving indoor air quality, reducing the infiltration of outdoor pollutants and minimising the growth of mould and mildew”. |
The IRS approach
Navigating Challenges in Fabric-First Retrofits
In the past, buildings were constructed with a focus on aesthetics, cost, and function, rather than sustainability. The materials and methods used to construct buildings were often chosen based on their availability, durability, and cost rather than their environmental impact or energy efficiency.
As a result, many older buildings are less sustainable than modern buildings, often requiring more energy to operate. Often constructed with minimal insulation, meaning significant heat loss and gain.
This can lead to higher energy bills, lower thermal comfort, and increased carbon emissions.
Older buildings often have:
Single-glazed windows – reduction in heat retention, allowing increased noise and drafts.
Air leaks – often around windows, doors and other openings, creating cold spots, making it harder to keep a steady temperature and allowing heated or cooled air to escape.
Materials - that require a lot of energy to produce, like brick, stone, and concrete, add to carbon emissions in both production and transportation.
Limited natural ventilation – leads to poor indoor air quality and a reliance on mechanical ventilation systems that use more energy.
Architectural limitations: The design of older buildings may restrict how much insulation and air sealing can be added.
Heritage preservation: For buildings that hold historical value, it's vital to improve energy efficiency without compromising their unique character.
Using a fabric-first approach in older buildings can be challenging for several reasons. Older architecture, budget constraints, and the need to preserve historical features can make retrofitting difficult. It's important to carry out detailed assessments and create customised solutions that respect the original structure while improving energy efficiency.
Working with experienced professionals and performing a comprehensive energy audit can help tackle these challenges successfully.
Brendan Collum, IRS Director says “The use of high-quality materials and workmanship, a building envelope is likely to be more durable and resilient to weather and other environmental factors- improving the overall value of a building, all while reducing energy consumption, improving comfort and enhancing the overall well-being of occupants and local communities. |
For more information take a look at our case studies here: https://www.irsconstruction.co.uk/case-studies
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