A guideline to support the use of off-site solutions for façade retrofitting through BIM-enabled processes

Abstract

The Architecture, Engineering and Construction sector requires an intense innovation process to reduce costs, intervention times, and improve energy performance. This is particularly true to increase the rate of deep renovations of the existing European building stock and therefore support the EU’s 2050 decarbonisation targets.
In this scenario, prefabrication can be considered a game-changer for the construction industry: on the one hand, it enables the adoption of an industrial mindset to the design, manufacturing, and installation of façade components, with the related advantages in terms of time, cost and quality; on the other, it allows for the customisation of components thanks to digital, BIM-based design and fabrication tools. However, its adoption in retrofit operations is still limited due, among other factors, to a lack of practical experience and a limited number of actual demonstration cases.
This paper introduces an operative guideline to support a more widespread use of prefabricated thermal insulation components for the energy retrofit of existing buildings in the framework of a BIMenabled design and construction process. The guideline highlights the information flow and the role of each actor at every stage of the design and delivery process.
The proposed guideline is finally tested through its application to a case study to show the feasibility of the process and the advantages deriving from the adoption of an industrialised approach to façade retrofit in terms of faster installation times.