Why Choose This Course?

Older and traditional buildings form a substantial part of the UK’s built environment and demand specialist expertise when considering energy-efficiency upgrades. Applying modern materials or standard retrofit techniques without understanding traditional construction and moisture behaviour can lead to costly, damaging and sometimes irreversible outcomes.

This course provides the knowledge and confidence needed to make informed, fabric-sensitive decisions. Whether you work in housing, construction, surveying, retrofit or building conservation, it equips you to improve energy performance while safeguarding the integrity, character and heritage value of older structures. It also supports compliance with recognised best practice and industry standards for traditional buildings.

Who Should Attend

This course is suitable for professionals involved in the assessment, care or improvement of older buildings, including retrofit coordinators, surveyors, designers, contractors, housing officers and conservation practitioners. It is also relevant for organisations managing traditional or pre-1919 building stock.

Content Overview

This course delivers the essential principles, risks and best-practice methods for improving energy efficiency in older and traditional buildings, including:

• The construction, materials and characteristics of traditional buildings
• Moisture movement, breathability and building physics in older structures
• Risks and limitations of applying modern retrofit methods to heritage buildings
• Assessing building condition and suitability prior to energy-efficiency interventions
• Selection and application of appropriate fabric-first retrofit measures
• Internal and external wall insulation considerations
• Upgrades to windows, doors, roofs and floors in heritage contexts
• Regulatory frameworks, conservation principles and planning constraints
• Producing clear, justified recommendations in line with NOCN requirements
• Assessment is carried out through a combination of practical application and underpinning knowledge, fully aligned with NOCN’s qualification standards.
• Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, learners will be able to:

• Identify the key characteristics and construction methods of older and traditional buildings
• Assess building condition and suitability for energy-efficiency measures
• Recognise risks associated with inappropriate retrofit approaches
• Select and justify suitable fabric-first options
• Provide clear, evidence-based recommendations aligned with best practice

Entry Requirements

There are no formal prerequisites. The course is most suitable for individuals with an interest or background in construction, retrofit, building maintenance or heritage conservation. It is ideal for professionals such as retrofit coordinators, surveyors, project managers, contractors and housing officers. A basic understanding of building performance or retrofit principles will be helpful.

Certification

Upon successful completion, learners will receive a nationally recognised qualification awarded by NOCN. This certification confirms specialist expertise in appropriate energy-efficiency measures for older and traditional buildings and supports ongoing professional development across retrofit, conservation, housing and construction sectors.

Delivery Options

Open Courses at Apex Training Centre

Learners can join scheduled open courses delivered at our Apex Training Centre within the Built Environment – Smarter Transformation facility:
Unit 3B, 3 Watt Place, Hamilton International Technology Park, G72 0AH.

On-Site Delivery for Teams

For groups of six or more, we can deliver this qualification at your premises. This option offers convenience, reduces travel time and allows examples and discussions to be tailored to your organisation’s building types and priorities.