What Are The Air Conditioning Solutions & Regulations For Listed Buildings

Installing air conditioning is usually a straightforward process, with many different types of air conditioning units available to choose from based on your building type, system preference and budget. 

However, when it comes to listed buildings special consideration needs to be given to adhering to Historic England’s regulations. That’s because, as with any building work or changes to a listed building, the building has historic importance that needs to be preserved as much as is feasibly possible.

In today’s post, we will cover what you need to know about installing air conditioning in listed buildings to guide you. 

What is a listed building?

A listed building refers to a building, domestic, commercial or otherwise that has been deemed of special architectural or historic interest. In summary, this means that the building in question may have been chosen to be protected because it has characteristics that make it a place of interest.

There are 3 types of listing grades:

• Grade 1 - buildings that are of exceptional interest. Only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade 1.
• Grade 2* - buildings that are particularly important and are of more than special interest 5.8% of listed building are deemed grade 2*.
• Grade 2 - buildings are of special interest; 91.7% of all listed buildings.

The most likely listing for a home/inhabited building is grade 2 which makes it a bit easier to get repairs and additions accepted.

Can I Install Air Conditioning In A Listed Building?

The short answer is yes. However, consideration must be made to the type of air conditioning system chosen, so that it that will cause minimal disruption to the original features of the home, meaning not every type of air conditioning system will get approval. That’s why it’s essential to work with a trusted, knowledgeable air conditioning installer such as ourselves who can advise on the type of system that will be approved. 

Furthermore, Historic England's official word states: "Air conditioning and electrical comfort cooling are likely to affect special interest and thus need LBC", with LBC standing for listed building consent. This means you will need to gain listed building consent before installing air conditioning to a listed building property. 

How do I install air conditioning in a listed building?

The first thing that you need to do is find out what type of listed building you have. Depending on the type of listed building you have there may be different options to choose from, more importantly, there may be more strict regulations.

Most of the time, especially with modern buildings you don't need to get planning permission to install air conditioning, however, this differs a lot when you start the process for a listed building. You're likely to need full planning permission to install or even replace an existing air conditioning unit.

You'll also need to apply for a Listed Building Consent as mentioned above.

Air Conditioning Solution For Listed Buildings

The air conditioning system for a listed building will involve a solution that doesn’t require an external unit. Instead, we will use a discreet solution that does not significantly alter the interior or exterior appearance of the property. 

In addition, water-cooled internal condenser systems are often sought for listed building projects. That’s because this type of system involves plumbing into the existing water supply. Also, the unit’s condensing box can be concealed out of view in a store cupboard or even by placing it under a sink, depending on which would be the more practical option.

The Key Benefit Of Air Con In Listed Buildings

If you're unsure about whether or not air conditioning is worth the investment in a listed building there are a few things that you should consider. The main thing being the fact that air conditioning helps to reduce humidity within a room or building.

This is great for a few reasons, for example, humidity often causes moisture in the air which can be harmful. Moisture often leads to mould and mildew and older building can be notorious for letting moisture in. With that in mind, air conditioning can help to reduce the amount of moisture in the air, therefore reducing the chances of mould which can be hard and expensive to get rid of in a listed building.

Whatsmore, many listed buildings house valuable artefacts, antiques, and important documents. Air conditioning systems help protect these items by controlling temperature and humidity, reducing the risk of deterioration, warping, mould growth, or insect infestations.