The skills and knowledge of design professionals working in the energy retrofit of external wall insulation in Ireland

In this paper, we examine the challenges associated with External Wall Insulation (EWI) as a key component of energy retrofits, currently being implemented in Ireland under the government’s initiative to upgrade 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 (or equivalent in cost optimality or carbon emissions) by 2030. Drawing parallels with documented cases of EWI failure in the UK, where issues such as moisture ingress, inadequate detailing, cold bridging, and insufficient ventilation have been cited, we aim to investigate how such issues can be addressed in the Irish context. Our research includes a review of existing literature on design failures, a document analysis focusing on the EU PROF/TRAC project’s knowledge and skills framework, and qualitative data collection through interviews with design professionals. The findings highlight that technical competency in energy analysis, heat loss calculations, moisture risk assessment, and airtightness design are essential for successful EWI retrofits. However, the interviews revealed that soft skills, including communication and coordination, are also required. A key finding from the interviews is that many design professionals considered themselves generalists rather than specialists. While they acknowledged the importance of understanding risks, they often relied on specialists for technical assessments. This reflects a broader question in the construction industry, about the role of design professionals working in energy retrofit and whether their skills align with the generalist role of coordinator or the more specialist technical roles.