Attenuation for historic pitched roofs

 Adapting heritage pitched roofs to accommodate rainwater attenuation presented a significant technical challenge, as conventional blue and green roof systems were generally unsuitable for structures with limited load capacity and strict conservation requirements. The project explored how temporary water storage and controlled discharge could be incorporated without compromising historic building fabric, with particular uncertainty around water behaviour, structural loading and long-term moisture exposure. The research established a potential route towards a replicable attenuation solution for constrained heritage buildings, supporting the R&D claim. 

Fire protection for jack arch flooring

 Historic Roebling jack arch floors often lack the certified fire performance required under modern standards, while conventional upgrade methods can be heavy, rigid and difficult to reverse. The project therefore investigated a new hybrid protection build-up incorporating plywood, mineral fibre board, mesh and intumescent sealant, with testing and analysis used to understand its behaviour during fire conditions. Particular challenges arose from the irregular geometry of the historic arches and the need to protect existing structural elements without compromising their integrity.