RICS, PCA and Historic England launch project findings on damp management at International Property Care Conference

After three years of development, a joint statement from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Property Care Association and Historic England is set to launch the project findings on damp management at a leading building preservation conference.

Investigation of moisture and its effects on traditional buildings – Principles and Competencies will be presented at the 2022 International Property Care Conference, at The Slate, University of Warwick, on Thursday, September 22.

Senior representatives from each of the principal authors of the document, including Dr. Duncan Philips FRICS, will provide their views on the importance of the work and the likely impacts it will have on their respective communities.

Stephen Hodgson, chief executive of the PCA, said:

“This highly significant and much anticipated joint statement sees industry, surveying and heritage come together to agree on the skills and knowledge that, all parties agree, should be the prerequisite to damp detection in traditional buildings.

“This project promises to be the start of a new era for moisture diagnostics in buildings and the start of important collaboration and joint working into the future.”

Over the years, the PCA’s International Property Care Conference has built up a reputation as a key event for professionals in the public and private sector looking at how to manage moisture issues in buildings.

The event tackles a subject area of increasing relevance, as challenges including the focus on greater airtightness in buildings to meet environmental performance requirements, fuel poverty and a changing climate become more significant in both the public and private sector.

This year’s event will also include guest speakers Professor John Edwards of the University of Wales Trinity St David, Jon Vanstone of the Interim Industry Competence Committee and Rob Dakin of AXA Insurance.

Alan Park of the Housing Ombudsman Service will also discuss the impacts of the Housing Ombudsman’s 2021 Spotlight on Damp and Mould report, which calls for a zero-tolerance approach to mould and damp in social housing.

The full list of speakers at the conference and booking details can be found here.

Stephen Hodgson added:

“The focus on fuel efficiency, safety and comfort is putting incredible pressure on us to adapt existing buildings incredibly rapidly.

“This conference embraces the need to adapt and meet the needs of individual occupants as well as the planet, while recognising the importance of preserving our irreplaceable built heritage assets.

“Through presentation and debate we hope to promote an informed, balanced approach to both.” 

Kindly shared by Property Care Association (PCA)

Main photo courtesy of Pixabay