Retrofit project roles

1 Introduction
2 Post-retrofit inspector
3 Retrofit assessor
4 Retrofit coordinator
5 Retrofit contract administrator
6 Retrofit designer
7 Retrofit evaluator
8 Retrofit installer
9 Retrofit lead professional
10 The Building Safety Act
11 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] Introduction

There are a broad range of types of work to existing buildings, that might range from simple alterations to full extensions, fit-out to full refurbishment, remediation to renovation or repurposing and restoration through to deconstruction to demolition.

Retrofit in particular is a term that is increasingly used to describe works to existing buildings, often with a focus on energy performance improvements, because approximately 30% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from buildings, particularly homes. The UK Green Building Council estimates that some 29 million homes will need to be retrofitted before the year 2050 and figures by Trustmark from November 24, indicate that some 225k retrofit assessments have already been carried out in the UK, presumably by retrofit assessors (though not defined).

Retrofitting in general means “providing something with a component or feature not fitted during manufacture or adding something that it did not have when first constructed” (Ref Retrofit 2050: Critical challenges for urban transitions). It is often used in relation to the installation of new building systems, such as heating systems, but it might also refer to the fabric of a building, for example, retrofitting insulation or double glazing.

A Retrofit design as defined by the PAS 2035:2023 standard is described as a 'package of information prepared by a Retrofit Designer that determines the unique combination of EEM systems, products, and materials to be installed in a building, as well as their interrelationships, in order to achieve specified energy efficiency and other outcomes for that building'

The above is one of the two key published reference documents available on the subject of retrofit, though there are a number of others also available (see below) :

PAS 2035:2023 'Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency – Specification and guidance first published in 2019, then 2021 and most recently in 2023 and
the 'Residential retrofit standard: RICS Professional Standard UK' published by RICS in March 2024

Further more, largely based on these already published documents the British Strandards Institute are developing a standard which aims to provide standardisation of the method of retrofit assessment described in PAS 2035. This assessment is completed as part of the process that records vital evidence to the stakeholders in the process. The standard will provide requirements for the level of expertise needed for the role of the retrofit assessor and is being developed by the CB/401 - Retrofitting Energy Efficiency Measures Committee, currently referred to as BS 40104 Assessment of dwellings for retrofit.

Because of the scale of retrofit needed across the UK and the complexity of ensuring retrofit projects are carried out correctly, efficiently and effectively a number of roles are developing that relate in different ways to such retrofit projects, some of these are outlined here:

[edit] Post-retrofit inspector

A post-retrofit inspector is an ' appropriately qualified and competent professional with responsibility for carrying out the evaluation of the completed project.' As described in the RICS 'Residential retrofit standard: RICS Professional Standard UK', published as a 1st edition in March 2024, effective from 31 October 2024.

[edit] Retrofit assessor

The RICS standard describes a retrofit assessor as 'The appropriately qualified and competent professional with responsibility for carrying out the survey inspection, design and/or other technical assessment of the property chosen for retrofit, e.g. an associate, member or fellow of RICS.'

[edit] Retrofit coordinator

The RICS standard describes a retrofit coordinator as an 'appropriately qualified and competent professional with responsibility for end-to-end coordination of a residential retrofit project, e.g. the lead professional, project manager or similar.' The PAS2035 standard describes the same as a professional able to carry out works for an assessment: 'survey, inspection and assessment of a building to collate information for a retrofit design'

A retrofit coordinator might:

Provide project management and client assistance with regard to planning, organising and management.
Provide consultants and contractors with informed advice and support.
Provide clients with assurance that project risks are being effectively managed and quality is being maintained.
Identify and provide solutions for possible risks to the retrofit process.
Undertake post-occupancy evaluation to determine overall performance.

[edit] Retrofit contract administrator

The RICS 'Residential retrofit standard: RICS Professional Standard UK', describes a retrofit contract administrator as 'The appropriately qualified and competent professional with responsibility for monitoring the construction and/or fitting of the retrofit installation(s) and associated building works, such as repairs prior to installation of EEMs at the property chosen for retrofit, e.g. an RICS member, engineer, architect or similar.'

[edit] Retrofit designer

A retrofit designer is described by RICS in their ' 'Residential retrofit standard: RICS Professional Standard UK', published in March 2024 as 'The appropriately qualified and competent professional with responsibility for design and specification of a retrofit project, e.g. an architect, chartered building surveyor or similar.'

Retrofit design in PAS 2035:2023 'Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency – Specification and guidance' is described as a 'package of information prepared by a Retrofit Designer that determines the unique combination of EEM systems, products, and materials to be installed in a building, as well as their interrelationships, in order to achieve specified energy efficiency and other outcomes for that building'

Retrofit designers are most likely to; lead a design, co-ordinate information from various packages and ensure theses are well integrated and assume responsibility for the overall design, and in particular any measures that are not covered by specialist design packages.

[edit] Retrofit evaluator

A retrofit evaluator in PAS 2035:2023 'Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency – Specification and guidance' is described as a 'person qualified to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of a retrofit project and provide feedback to the client and/or the project team'.

[edit] Retrofit installer

A retrofit installer is a 'person or organisation responsible for undertaking and supervising the physical placement of an Energy Efficiency Measure (EEM) in an existing building, together with any other associated repairs and other works, usually a building contractor.' As described in the RICS 'Residential retrofit standard: RICS Professional Standard UK, 1st edition in March 2024, effective from 31 October 2024.

PAS 2030 describes this role as a 'person or organisation undertaking the physical placement of one or more EEM(s) in an existing building' It notes that a retrofit installer is usually experienced in the installation of one or more EEMs and can be registered with the relevant certification body for each of those EEMs.

[edit] Retrofit lead professional

A retrofit lead professional is defined by 'Residential retrofit standard: RICS Professional Standard UK' published by RICS in March 2024 as 'The appropriately qualified and competent professional with responsibility for end-to-end coordination of a retrofit project, e.g. a retrofit coordinator, project manager or similar.' PAS 2035:2023 'Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency – Specification and guidance most recently published in 2023 does not mention the term lead professional.

[edit] The Building Safety Act

When considering the roles described above it is important to consider the implications of these under the Building Safety Act, which requires a named Principal Designer and a named Principal Contractor.

The HSE document 'Building safety competence information for principal contractors and principal designers: Competency standard PAS 8671:2022 and Competency standard PAS 8672:2022' published in October 2022 defines a Principal Designer as:

'an individual or an organisation. They are a designer in control of the design work, and can be, for example: an architect, an engineer (structural and others), a surveyor'

It goes on to give a brief summary of competency under PAS 8671 saying:

'The Building Regulations principal designer (PD) must plan, manage monitor design work, and cooperate, coordinate and communicate to ensure the design work, if built, complies with building regulations. It is important that the principal designer is part of the design team and not a third-party without any influence over design decisions. The principal designer should be able to co-ordinate the design team. It may help the principal designer to keep a record of designers and their responsibilities across a project. A principal designer is not expected to be an expert in every design specialism, but they are expected to know enough about the building regulations to assess whether a building design will comply with all relevant regulations. principal designers should support others, for example, in being able to pass on necessary information to contractors and explain to them how to demonstrate that elements are built properly.'