Preserving heritage values, improving thermal comfort and reducing heat loss are a trio of challenges that many historic building owners and managers face daily. Yasser Battikha, Energy Retrofit Specialist at Edinburgh World Heritage, has a deep understanding of this interrelation. In the newest FuturHist video, Yasser explains how he deals with retrofitting historic sash and case windows in Edinburgh, particularly our demo case, a terraced classical tenement from the 19th century (≈1819). It is a B-listed building owned by Lister Cooperative and part of Edinburgh’s Old & New Town World Heritage Site and Old Town Conservation Area. It represents many similar buildings in New Town.
In the video, Yasser explains the construction of the windows, which traditionally contain two vertically sliding timber sashes within a timber case with shutters. Windows are often single-glazed; some also have the original panes.
Among the challenges, expert lists the thermal comfort issues. In winter, draughty single glazing leads to discomfort and heat loss. Overheating in the summertime is a more frequent issue in Edinburgh, especially in the south-facing rooms. To preserve the historic character of the windows, the original panes and high-quality timber must be protected. Retrofitting historic windows must also be combined with a well-thought-out strategy towards ventilation to ensure good indoor air quality.
Watch the video to learn more about historic sash and case windows in Edinburgh.
Thanks to Yasser Battikha, Yann Grandgirard, and Jen MacNeill from the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust for contributing to this video!
We also recommend the guideline Retrofitting Historic Sash & Case Windows: A Quick Start Guide for Homeowners published by The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh World Heritage.