Hygrothermal monitoring of timber-frame replacement infill panels: Material testing and extended monitoring

Whitman, Chris ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7779-6930, Maddalena, Riccardo ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6251-3782 and Alhamdan, Ahmad 2026. Hygrothermal monitoring of timber-frame replacement infill panels: Material testing and extended monitoring. [Project Report]. Historic England. Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/research/results/re...

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Abstract

Inappropriate energy retrofits of traditionally constructed buildings may lead to unintended consequences, including moisture accumulation. To date, research on this topic has focused primarily on solid masonry construction. Largely ignoring the approximately 68,000 historic timber-framed buildings in the UK. With previous guidance lacking scientific analysis. To address this, the research detailed in this report has monitored, over a six-year period, the hygrothermal performance of four types of infill material with two types of finishes to identify the potential harm to the surrounding historic fabric. Hygrothermal testing, material testing and durability testing were all carried out to provide substantial measured data. This report does not advocate the destruction of historic infill panels. However, where the original infill materials are beyond repair or have already been replaced with modern materials, there may exist the opportunity to replace them with materials with a higher thermal performance.

Item Type:	Report (Project Report)
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Architecture Schools > Engineering
Publisher:	Historic England
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	21 April 2026
Date of Acceptance:	9 January 2026
Last Modified:	21 Apr 2026 13:44
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/186548

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