Retrofitting is the act of “putting a new piece of equipment into an old machine”. This equipment, which the machine did not have when it was built is meant to increase its efficiently and lifespan. Simply put, retrofitting is to provide a machine with a new part in order to boost its performance.
Retrofitting in construction industry
In an ever-progressing construction industry, which sees tremendous changes in construction technologies each year, the concept of retrofitting is highly applicable, too. Retrofitting in fact is particularly beneficial for the construction industry since all buildings are made to have a large time span, but unless they are retrofitted with the latest technological advancement knowhow, they might not be as efficient or long lasting.
Retrofitting in the construction industry helps revive old structures and buildings by the insertion on equipment or machines that could potentially prolong its lifespan and make the structure safer for residency.
A cost-effective approach, retrofitting of a building also eliminates the need to redevelop the entire structure. Redevelopment is more expensive and require a lot of time, energy and resources.
Types of retrofitting in construction industry
There are various ways in which a building could be retrofitted to improve its overall performance and safety. These types of retrofitting of structure broadly include:
- Retrofitting of concrete structure: Using various technologies, changes are made in the concrete structure of a building.
- Retrofitting of masonry structure: Similarly, alterations are made in the masonry work in a building to make it perform better.
- Retrofitting of floors
- Retrofitting of roofs
- Retrofitting of tanks and pipes
- Retrofitting of lighting
- Retrofitting of air conditioning
- Retrofitting of windows and doors
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Benefits of retrofitting
Retrofitting of buildings is beneficial is more ways than one.
- Retrofitting is a comparatively cost-effective method to make a building safer and better and have a longer life span.
- Retrofitting can increase the energy efficiency in a structure by a huge margin.
- Retrofitting can help a structure incorporate green practices, resulting in low carbon emission.
- With an increase in its efficiency, a retrofitted structure will become low on maintenance.
- Retrofitting is basically an opportunity to upgrade a building without having to work on it from the ground up.
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Problems with retrofitting
Retrofitting of buildings could be a tricky affair unless:
- You have the know-how, the right team and the right tools to carry out the task.
- You are willing to spend the money. Even though retrofitting is comparatively more cost effective than redevelopment of a building, it is by no means cheap, especially because of speaking of incorporating up-and-coming technologies in an existing structure.
- For the time during which the retrofitting process is on, it would cause inconvenience to the occupants.
- If not done property by a skilled and trained team of engineers, retrofitting can also go wrong.
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