Restoration and Conservation of Historic Concrete Buildings & Structures

Although an increasing number of concrete buildings are now listed as monuments, conservation specialists are still becoming familiar with the history and properties of historic concrete. While the structural history of such buildings is often well documented, relatively little is known about the composition and surface finishes of historic concrete. As a result, conservation works frequently apply repair techniques developed for modern concrete. From a technical perspective, these methods do not always perform satisfactorily, as the properties of historic concrete can differ significantly from those of modern materials. From a conservation standpoint, further risks arise when key requirements, such as respecting original materials and heritage values, are not fully considered. The uncritical application of modern repair approaches, combined with limited understanding of historic concrete, can lead to the loss of historic fabric and evidence. This CPD therefore aims to promote an informed conservation-led approach that recognises the unique material characteristics and heritage significance of historic concrete structures.

The presentation, Restoration and Conservation of Historic Concrete Buildings and Structures, will cover the latest British Standard, BS EN 1504 – Products and Systems for the Protection and Repair of Concrete Structures (now mandatory for all contracts involving public funding). It will explain the components of a thorough investigation and condition survey and outline the benefits of undertaking these prior to selecting a repair methodology. The presentation will also discuss the advantages and limitations of various concrete repair techniques, explain corrosion prevention and its appropriate applications, and review a series of case studies and projects undertaken by CRL.