Building services and adaptive reuse – an overview of the regulations and potential in Swedish context

Adaptive reuse of buildings, repurposing existing structures for new functions, is gaining attention for its potential in sustainable development and optimisation of building materials usage. This practice is particularly relevant in the building sector, where space heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems represent a significant portion of project costs, embodied energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and impact on indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Despite its importance, the scientific literature on converting HVAC systems within adaptive reuse projects remains limited, particularly in distinguishing between adaptive reuse and traditional renovation. To address this gap, this study analyses historical and contemporary Swedish building regulations, focusing on HVAC requirements across various building types and eras. This analysis assesses similarities and differences between building types in different periods. It uncovers that the absence of stringent contemporary regulations offers no formal barriers to converting HVAC systems across different building types. For example, office buildings emerge as strong candidates for conversion into residential apartments due to compatible HVAC requirements. However, buildings constructed before 1968 may necessitate extensive modifications to meet current standards. The findings suggest that post-1968 buildings, particularly apartments, align more closely with modern HVAC norms, facilitating easier renovation. This research contributes to the field by outlining practical boundaries for renovating and converting buildings based on their construction period. It provides insights into the feasibility of repurposing existing buildings in the absence of drawings and other technical details, which is instrumental for sustainable urban planning and efficient resource utilisation.