Retrofit Evidence Urged as UK Buildings Face Overheating Risk

What happened

Industry voices have called for a more evidence-based approach to the retrofit of UK buildings as the country faces rising risks of overheating associated with climate change. Craig Wheatley, chief commercial officer at Integrated Environmental Solutions, said that contractors must take on greater responsibility in gathering real-world data and robustly analysing retrofit decisions. This demand comes as higher temperatures are predicted to become more common and many buildings are likely to experience conditions they were not designed to handle, according to a column in Construction News.

Wheatley argued that relying on mechanical solutions like increased air conditioning is not sustainable or practical. Instead, he said that construction teams must use data and performance modelling technology to understand how different retrofit measures will work for each building. This evidence should then guide choices to address overheating, improve energy efficiency, and support climate resilience.

The background

The UK’s Climate Change Committee has warned that around 90% of homes could overheat by the middle of this century if current trends continue. The problem is not limited to residential buildings: offices, schools, healthcare facilities, and transport networks are also at risk. According to Wheatley, about 80% of buildings standing today are expected still to be in use by 2050, while almost three-quarters of that stock is not energy efficient.

Concerns over the suitability of buildings have arisen in part because of the 2022 extreme temperatures, which are expected to become more frequent. Urban areas, where dense building and infrastructure exacerbate heat, are especially vulnerable. Wheatley highlighted that fit-out and retrofit work will play an increasingly central role in ensuring buildings remain usable, safe, and affordable as climate conditions worsen.

Efforts to address building performance are being signalled in changes to regulations and rating schemes. The UK government’s proposal to raise Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) to Energy Performance Certificate B for larger privately rented commercial properties in England and Wales by 2031 reflects this shift. Additionally, the BREEAM New Construction v7.1 sustainability assessment places more emphasis on measuring operational energy, whole-life carbon, and climate resilience.

Building regulations guidance, set for an update in 2027, is expected to raise requirements for sustainability, covering shell-and-core handovers, initial fit-outs, and substantial services work. These changes will set higher expectations around the retrofitting and refurbishment process and the evidence needed to prove energy performance.

What people are saying

Wheatley said that a clear understanding of each building’s current condition is essential for effective retrofit. This involves reviewing services, occupancy, overheating risks, and energy data, then using modelling to predict how improvement measures will interact in real-world use. He warned that applying energy efficiency measures without such analysis can worsen problems. For example, upgraded glazing might reduce heat loss in one setting but increase overheating risks in another.

He also stated that measures such as heat pumps can be effective only when the performance data of the existing building are properly considered. Key decisions should be based on clear evidence, not default choices. Wheatley described installing more air conditioning as an inadequate default solution, leading to increased cost, maintenance concerns, and masking of deeper problems with building design.

Wheatley encouraged retrofit and facilities management teams to build performance evidence into project planning and delivery. Proper sequencing of fabric, services, and controls should be designed to support each other, which means commissioning and handover must be more thorough. Facilities teams should receive clear data at handover to better manage changing occupancy patterns, weather, and building use, reducing the risk of performance drift over time.

What happens next

Contractors are likely to face more demanding clients as regulation and climate adaptation requirements become stricter. Those who ignore resilience and efficiency in their solutions may encounter increased future costs, rework, or potential penalties as climate regulations tighten. The use of performance-modelling technology and evidence-based planning will be increasingly expected on retrofit and refurbishment jobs.

With proposals such as the MEES uplift to EPC B for commercial buildings coming into effect by 2031, as well as new guidance due in 2027, contractors must adapt their processes to meet higher sustainability standards. There is a move towards documenting energy usage and resilience from the outset of projects rather than addressing performance issues after completion.

Wheatley suggested that contractors who take a proactive stance on evidence gathering, analysis, and integrated delivery are likely to better protect their project margins and reduce rework, and to achieve handovers of buildings that are fit for future climate realities. In his view, failing to do so will expose contractors to greater commercial and operational risks as Britain’s building stock continues to age in a climate with rising temperatures.