Healthcare in the UK is a very important sector; it provides state of the art accommodation that meets the need of patients, visitors, medical professionals and other staff. The UK Government is currently cutting costs within the different sectors of the economy, while there are raising figures in UK National Health Service (NHS) spending. These are due to a growing and ageing population, advancement in modern healthcare delivery and special needs for different facility users. There is a UK Government proposal set out that requires the delivery of ??15-20 billion in efficiency savings over the three year period from 2011 (Department of Health, 2010-2015). This study has understood that cost savings can be achieved by adopting and implementing a framework that supports refurbishment, flexibility, standardisation and Building Information Modelling (BIM). These cost savings can be achieved through Mechanical Engineering and Plumbing (MEP) clash detections using (BIM). 65% of hospital designs are centred on MEP services (interviews). The NHS needs to save cost when responding to possible future changes without compromising the quality of standard provided to the public. A change-ready healthcare facility is proposed to address the issue of change and the design of quality spaces that can enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of health and social care. A change-ready healthcare facility can be described as a facility that accommodates known or proposed future changes creating novel pathways to increase the quality and life span of facilities. There is also a large chunk of NHS estates that is underutilised EC Harris, (2013). Therefore, healthcare facilities need to respond to future changes in order to optimise their spaces. To achieve quality and cost efficiency in healthcare buildings, key considerations are refurbishment and reconfiguration, optimisation of flexibility, maximising standardisation and implementation of BIM. This research explores opportunities to save costs, time and improve quality of healthcare facilities by making emphasis on the design delivery process. Therefore, the new RIBA Plan of Work 2013 was used as a mechanism to help translate ideas into physical form and yet has been hindered by lack of development and ability to keep up with technological development such as BIM. This is the rationale for developing a framework. The RIBA Plan of Work is accepted nationally. Due to the UK BIM mandate by 2016, this research is focused on the use of BIM to support both space standardisation and space flexibility within a refurbished or new building. Space is a vital component competent in every healthcare facility. It provides the environment for healthcare services to be performed, and links one functional space to another, it can be designed for multifunctional usage. Healthcare spaces are complex entities due to the range of services and technology they support and the number, variety and quality of requirement combined with a rapidly changing environment. Flexibility enables a facility to easily respond to changes, while the introduction of standardisation supports staff performance by reducing the reliance on memory which will reduce human error. But the main question that emerges from current literature is how healthcare designers and planners manage healthcare spaces that cannot easily be standardised due to the constraints of existing structures, diversity in patient and staff needs? With analysis of different flexibility frameworks in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, there is a need to improve the existing frameworks. Therefore, a framework for designing a change-ready healthcare facility was developed through a sequence of data analysis starting with literature, preliminary data, questionnaire survey and interviews. Three frameworks for designing a change-ready facility were revised, organised and merged to produce a state of the art framework. Three frameworks were revised as different research methods were required. The successful framework can guide the design process of embedding different flexible design options for a defined project brief to save costs and improve design efficiency. The framework was validated with some of the top 100 architectural practices in the UK, NHS Estates, facility managers and the RIBA through an interview process. Further research and development arising from this research focuses on the process of applying BIM to record or identify key decisions taken for each of the different design options generated from a single brief to inform the designers, clients or other stakeholders involved while collaborating. Findings of this research are described in five peer-reviewed papers. The only certainty in healthcare is change Gressel and Hilands, (2008).

A timber-concrete composite (TCC) combines timber and concrete, utilising the complementary properties of each material. The composite is designed in such a way that the timber resists combined tension and bending, whilst the concrete resists combined compression and bending. This construction technique can be used either in new build construction, or in refurbishment, for upgrading existing timber structures. Its use is most prolific in continental Europe, Australasia, and the United States of America but has yet to be widely used in the United Kingdom. To date, the topping upgrades used have been 40mm thick or greater. Depending on the choice of shear connection, this can lead to a four-fold increase in strength and stiffness of the floor. However, in many practical refurbishment situations, such a large increase in stiffness is not required, therefore a thinner topping can suffice. The overarching aim of this study has been to develop a thin (20mm) topping timber-concrete composite upgrade with a view to improving the serviceability performance of existing timber floors. Particular emphasis was given to developing an understanding of how the upgrade changes the stiffness and transient vibration response of a timber floor. Initially, an analytical study was carried out to define an appropriate topping thickness. An experimental testing programme was then completed to: characterise suitable shear connectors under static and cyclic loads, assess the benefit of the upgrade to the short-term bending performance of panels and floors, and evaluate the influence of the upgrade on the transient vibration response of a floor. For refurbishing timber floors, a 20mm thick topping sufficiently increased the bending stiffness and improved the transient vibration response. The stiffness of the screw connectors was influenced by the thickness of the topping and the inclination of the screws. During the short-term bending tests, the gamma method provided a non-conservative prediction of composite bending stiffness. In the majority of cases the modal frequencies of the floors tested increased after upgrade, whilst the damping ratios decreased. The upgrade system was shown to be robust as cracking of the topping did not influence the short-term bending performance of panels. Thin topping TCC upgrades offer a practical and effective solution to building practitioners, for improving the serviceability performance of existing timber floors.

This paper presents and clarifies the academic and industrial terminology used in the area of product recovery. It is concluded that there exist many different concepts and definitions in academia and industry, several of which are unclearly defined. Given this, a new way to define product recovery is presented through the use of a model. This model is based on actual industrial product recovery cases, existing academic product recovery concepts and definitions and product design theory. The presentation contains a holistic model that can be used for describing and analyzing different product recovery scenarios. In addition, several industry cases are presented as a verification of the model.

The research focuses on the evaluation and perception of the residential quality satisfaction and the discussion of the requirement of residential quality and refurbishment of the servicemen¡¦s residential compound in Kaohsiung Tzuoying area. We want to understand the relations of residential quality satisfaction and the requirement of the refurbishment during the different residential backgrounds through the discussion of the literature and the questionnaire. We investigated the adult residents in Tzuoying Community in Mingjian and do the research by the census of 518 households units. Then analyze the data by statistic in SPSS soft ware. After the research, the result of four hypothesis are below: 1.There is obvious relation between residential background and the satisfaction of residential quality. 2.The composed elements are different due to the difference of residential background. 3.The demands of the refurbishment are different due to the difference of residential backgrounds. 4. The demands of the refurbishment for the residents are different due to the difference of residential satisfaction. From the result, there is obvious difference in the demand of refurbishment among the residents. In additional to raise the satisfaction of residential quality,it needs to think about the residential demands for the refurbishment. The search comes up with the related policies and suggestions to look forward helping the implement of refurbishment policy.

Buildings consume 40 % of Europe’s total energy consumption and causes 33 % of the CO2 emissions. (Pol and Lippert, 2010) Existing old buildings, especially those constructed with limited energy standards before 1960, are in need of refurbishment and energy efficiency. (Economidou, 2011) The thesis is a part of the EU project GrowSmarter, where smart solutions for sustainable cities are to be implemented in the lighthouse cities Stockholm, Cologne and Barcelona. (European Commission, 2014) The purpose of this thesis is to look into the experiences, success factors and barriers from the CONCERTO initiative, BEEM-UP project and EPC model, focusing on energy efficient refurbishment. The intent is that e.g. authorities, municipalities, companies and building owners, who are planning on performing energy efficient refurbishment measures, can access identified success factors and barriers in previous projects of different scale and methods. The conclusions of this study are that the communication and cooperation between stakeholders in a project, knowledge transfer and training of installers are important factors for successful projects. Information and involvement of tenants facilitates work execution, improves results after refurbishment and increases energy knowledge and awareness. The data quantity and quality is another influencing factor on building performance and the difference between calculated and measured energy savings. Stakeholder approach, energy performance regulations, ownership structure and financial status/possibilities for the building owner can affect project results. / GrowSmarter

The National Health Service (NHS) is recognised as the largest public sector institution in Europe. This presents significant challenges in regards to operation and maintenance of the diverse built estate, and the ever-evolving clinical models of care. The economic downturn, and strict policy of austerity in the UK, presents limitations and challenges in capital investment. The majority of healthcare facilities which will be used throughout the 21st century, have already been built. This demands that solutions be found in the areas of asset maintenance and refurbishment. These challenges are complicated further, by the institutional and statutory requirements of the NHS to meet demanding sustainability targets. This in turn, is underpinned by exacting assessment methodologies and rating systems, and critically, an institutional ‘duty’ to pursue and evidence that ‘Value for Money’ has been achieved as far as reasonably practicable. The existing estate management tools were assessed by a process of triangulation, and the relevant decisionmakers and stakeholders from both the NHS and the Design Teams and Constructors were identified. The original contribution demonstrates the development of a novel decision support prototype which facilitates and improves the current decision making process. The prototype allows the integrated team to consider, evaluate, and agree, best-fit options in a measured, recordable, and replicable manner. Key to this process, is the ability to compare and rank often competing criteria, and to test the nonfinancial, and financial preferences by means of sensitivity analysis techniques. The research and the developed working prototype, were then tested and validated against an expert panel, on a broad scope of issues, ranging from Graphical User Interface aesthetics and usability, to functionality and applicability to the current standard business case process. The results of the testing and validation excercises were overwhelmingly positive.

It is important to ensure that Transpower is prepared to deliver upcoming transmission tower refurbishment projects that are located on sites with difficult access. This project reviews the availability, capability and cost of utilising alternative construction methods and any associated wider issues. The focus of this report is on how Transpower can more effectively utilise helicopters and gin poles for transmission tower erection and material delivery on remote sites.

The healthcare sector is mainly characterised by changing technologies, increasing market demands, social pressures, and political pressures. A significant amount of money has been invested by the Department of Health through the National Health Services (NHS), Private Finance Initiative (PFI), and Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) to provide healthcare services. This has resulted in development of several new healthcare facilities. Since formation of the NHS in the mid 19th century, significant developments in medical technologies, and increasing health and safety and privacy related concerns almost every decade new approaches towards designing were observed. Thus, modern technologies (interoperable tools) and concepts such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), building simulation, healthy/sustainable facilities, healing environments and so forth have been incorporated and proved to be major catalysts for a change in overall design practices for healthcare. Despite significant investment and advancement in technologies, many existing healthcare facilities, even today remain significantly unimproved or inadequate when energy and overall performance is considered. It is, therefore, important to evaluate existing facilities and, consequently, refurbishment processes and tools for the same. This was the focus of this research. Recently, energy efficiency and carbon emissions are considered major issues by industry and government because of increasing importance of environment and issues related to global warming, climate change. In 2008, existing healthcare facilities were responsible for over £410 million worth of energy consumption and 3.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. Considering the above mentioned issues, the government has imposed following two key targets especially for existing healthcare facilities; to achieve 55-65 GJ/100m3 energy consumption and to reduce the level of primary energy consumption by 15 per cent (0.15 million tonnes carbon from 2000 level) by 2015. Also, the literatures suggest these facilities are energy inefficient because their performance is unsatisfactory and they fail to provide comfortable environment for patients despite significant energy consumption. Thus, these facilities should be considered for refurbishment. Recent developments in the construction sector such as BIM based tools or tools that are interoperable can help the project team involved during a refurbishment of a healthcare facility to take decisions and maintain acceptable environmental quality during and post refurbishment. However, there are many ideas and methodologies proposed for development of new healthcare facilities, but the challenges in using these methodologies, such as BIM, energy simulation for refurbishment of existing healthcare facilities and above mentioned targets provided a base and context for this research. The research used both primary and secondary data collection techniques, such as literature review, case studies and a questionnaire survey. The later phases of the research highlighted a clear need for immediate actions on existing healthcare facilities, if government targets related to energy consumption and overall performance are to be achieved. Thus, redevelopment of existing healthcare facilities to support the 21st century (modern) technologies to reduce environmental impacts and improved users' satisfaction was considered as priority areas. One of the key challenges for existing healthcare facilities is the presence of occupants during refurbishment in adjacent spaces, which may not be a problem for other types of existing buildings; there is also a lack of information on existing healthcare buildings. The research findings revealed that refurbishment lacks broad perspective, for example, issues related to mechanical systems, aesthetic considerations and redesigning facilities have never been given a sufficient importance. A Healthcare Energy and Refurbishment (HEaR) framework and decision making process was developed as part of this research to enable healthcare organisations to adopt modern methods for re-designing of existing facilities, and to exploit refurbishment practices with consideration to energy consumption. The framework was validated by demonstrating it to professionals; experts from the industry. Keywords: Building Information Modelling, energy, existing healthcare facility, framework, refurbishment.

The aim of this Engineering Doctorate is to design, build and test novel environmental retrofit technologies to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings. Three contributions to knowledge are documented. The first contribution is the technical verification of a novel proof-of-principle prototype incorporating translucent silica aerogel granules to improve the thermal performance of existing windows without blocking out all of the useful natural light. The study demonstrates that a 10 mm thick prototype panel can reduce heat loss by 80 %, without detrimental reductions in light transmission. Payback periods of 3.5-9.5 years are predicted if applied as openable shutters or removable secondary glazing. The second contribution is a streamlined life cycle assessment of silica aerogel following the ISO 14000 standards. The study assesses the raw materials and electricity use associated with two of the three known methods of aerogel production. Despite being produced in a laboratory that had not been refined for mass manufacture, the production energy and CO2 burden from aerogel production can be recovered within 0-2 years when applied in a glazing application. The third contribution is the development and verification of a novel solar air heater incorporating granular aerogel, retrofitted to an external south facing wall, preheating the air in a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery on a hard4to4 treat domestic property. During the 7-day in-situ test, peak outlet temperatures up to 45 °C were observed and validated to within 5 % of predictions, preheating the dwelling’s fresh air supply up to 30 °C, facilitating internal temperatures of 21-22 °C without auxiliary heating. The predicted financial and CO2 payback for a range of cover thicknesses is 7-13 years and 0-1 years, respectively. Efficiency up to 60 % and a financial payback of 4.5 years is predicted with an optimised design incorporating a 10 mm thick granular aerogel cover.

This thesis aims to increase understanding and knowledge of issues affecting the redevelopment of older office buildings to housing. The rising demand for housing in recent years has resulted in a need and an increase in cost housing projects. The need has led property owners wanting to build old office buildings to apartments. The case study is carried out in Lycksele town and in close contact with consultancy TM (Technician Mercantile) – consulting, which has operations in the area. Rebuilding usually involves a combination of old and new ideas to satisfy a need. This is a broad topic within building design where the physical building characteristics are of important. This work investigates ways to rebuild and modernize a house from the 1950s with regard to: accessibility, noise, fire and energy. The methodology used in the work consists of scientific literature and a case study that includes interviews and sketch work of an office building in Lycksele. These methods are used to answer to questions that are generally asked and may be used for other office buildings being converted into housing. In the case study are different options presented with possible solutions to the redevelopment of the property Mobacka 2 to residential. The property Mobacka 2 has a character and design typical which are typical of the 1950s, giving the understanding and knowledge of the issues arising from the conversion of older office building to apartment building. It's a big project to convert a former office building into flats and there is much to think about in a reconstruction project, the conclusions of the report is to Internal accessibility of each plan can be managed. Accessibility to the second floor get as a consequence more difficult to handle in terms of placement of the elevator. Technical changes needed to meet today´s building requirements for sound; fire and energy require complementation on the inside and outside of the construction. Complementation for noise, remedy and results are difficult to judge.                   Keywords Fire, energy, noise, refurbishment, accessibility / Detta examensarbete syftar till att öka förståelsen och kunskapen kring frågor som har betydelse vid ombyggnation av äldre kontorsfastigheter till bostäder. Den stigande efterfrågan på bostäder har under de senaste åren resulterat i ett behov och en ökning av kostnadseffektiva bostadsprojekt. Behovet har lett till att fastighetsägare vill bygga om gamla kontorshus till flerbostadshus. Fallstudien i Lycksele genomfördes i nära kontakt med konsultföretaget TM (Teknisk Merkantil)- Konsult, vilka har verksamhet på orten. Ombyggnation innebär vanligtvis en kombination av gamla och nya idéer för att tillfredsställa ett behov och är ett brett ämne inom byggnadsutformning där de fysiska byggnadsegenskaperna är betydelsefulla. Det här arbetet utreder olika möjligheter att bygga om och modernisera hus från 1950-talet med hänsyn till tillgänglighet, ljud, brand och energi. Tillämpade metoder i arbetet utgörs av vetenskapliga litteraturstudier samt en fallstudie som innehåller intervjuer och skissarbete på en kontorsbyggnad i Lycksele. Metoderna används för att svara på frågeställningar som är generellt ställda och kan användas vid andra kontorsfastigheter som byggs om till bostäder. I fallstudien tas olika alternativ fram med möjliga lösningar till ombyggnation av fastigheten Mobacka 2 till bostadshus. Fastigheten Mobacka 2 har en karaktär och konstruktion som är tidstypisk för 1950-talet vilket ger förståelse och kunskap om de frågor som uppstår vid ombyggnad av äldre kontorsfastighet till flerbostadshus. Det är ett stort projekt att omvandla en f.d. kontorsbyggnad till flerbostadshus och det finns mycket att tänka på vid en ombyggnation, slutsatserna av rapporten är att: Den inre tillgängligheten på respektive plan kan hanteras. Tillgänglighet till andra plan får som konsekvens mer svårhanterade åtgärder beträffande hissars placering. De tekniska förändringar, som behövs för att tillgodose dagens krav för ljud, brand och energi kräver kompletteringar i och på konstruktionen. Vid kompletteringar för ljud är åtgärder och resultat svårbedömbara.   Nyckelord Brand, energi, ljud, ombyggnation, tillgänglighet,