Techniques for the safe, cost-effective, restoration and repair of structural timber are essential to maintain and improve the built environment of European cities. Such techniques embrace repair strengthening and stiffening of building elements. The needs arise from a large ageing infrastructure and the desire to conserve, wherever possible on a like-for-like basis, with minimal loss of historic fabric. The elimination and repair of decay, strengthening to ensure compliance with modern building standards, addressing changes in use (e.g. leading to heavier floor loading), and making alterations for mobility needs are all examples of where LICONS technologies are potentially beneficial.

Conservation of the built heritage demands low-intrusion methods to achieve results with minimum impact. Problems are experienced currently through occupancy disturbance, involving a loss of clients' revenue, and through the absence of validated, quality-assured, systems-based restoration techniques.

The purpose of the project is to develop, validate and provide the design tools for restoration systems. These combine structural adhesives and FRPs (fibre reinforced plastics/polymers). Such restoration systems may be applied both to existing timber elements, and to prefabricated timber replacement and strengthening components. The motivations for using modern materials are to provide systems with the following attributes:

• low mass;
• ease and speed of installation with minimum personnel and plant requirements;
• versatility to suit the unique situation of every repair;
• the potential for introducing 'like-for-like' timber species and grades;
• completed work that is structurally efficient, conservationally acceptable and aesthetically pleasing.