Events

A Conservation conversation – Timber Decay & Moulds and How to Manage Bats in Old Buildings

Location: Riddell Hall, Stranmillis Road, Belfast

Date: 24 October 2019 -

2pm to 4/5pm on Thursday 24 October 2019

RSUA is offering two events back to back in response to feedback from the Conservation Committee: one expert seminar on timber decay and moulds, and a second talk on bats and their protection. Think of it as a turbo Thursday of conservation. You can choose either or both depending on your interest.

Course content

The first event is a multidisciplinary 2 hour seminar covering Dry Rot, Timber Decay & Moulds, Wet Rot, Insect Infestation, Chemical Free Treatments & Environmental Control. The aim of the seminar is to develop an intellectual and practical understanding of the impact of environmental conditions on building components, materials, finishes and fabric & in order to provide recommendations for conservation repairs and environmental control of damp, condensation, mould infestation and decay.

The second event is a 45 minute talk, followed by Q&A, on managing bats in old buildings. Old buildings provide vital roosts for many bat species and their protection requires careful planning of any building maintenance, adaptation or repairs. This talk from the Austin Hopkirk from the NI Bat Group will explain how bats use buildings, what the legal requirements are, and how you can plan your works to the mutual benefit of the bats and the building.

Speaker info

Dr Jagjit Singh BSc, MSc, PhD, CBiol, FIBiol, FRSA, FRSH, is a Director of Environmental Building Solutions Ltd and specialises in building health problems, heritage conservation and environmental issues. He has more than 17 years’ experience as a building pathologist and expertise in heritage conservation, indoor air quality & health in the UK and abroad in both academic and commercial environments.

He has published in excess of 200 technical papers and communications, contributed to books and lectured widely on conservation, building pathology and building health problems. Dr Singh is BBC Expert on matters of dampness and timber decay in buildings.

Austin Hopkirk is from Hopkirk & Russ Bat Ecology. Established in 2001, they provide specialist bat surveys and reporting with other protected mammal species surveys also undertaken for a wide range of clients including local authorities, government departments and private developers.

Key Details

Course duration: 2 or 3 hours

When: 2pm to 4 or 5pm onThursday 24 October 2019

Tea and coffee will be available from 1:30pm

Where: Lecture Room 4, Riddell Hall, Stranmillis Road, Belfast

Directions: Link/map