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Simply put, retrofitting of buildings is the introduction of new or modified parts or equipment not available at time of build. Contrast this with repair, which is only to restore something broken or damaged to a good condition or working order. Also, contrast it with renovation and renewal, which restores to a new or fresh condition and often includes a measure of improvement.

Retrofitting has different angles, for example, the driver for the Technology Strategy Board’s publication Retrofit for the Future is the need to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. Others use sustainability, which is much wider, as the driver. Sustainability embraces the concept of retaining buildings and their repurposing through adaptive reuse. Where appropriate it adapts existing buildings, rather than demolish and rebuild them. Other key retrofit drivers are the improvement of living and working conditions or of operational aspects within organisations. Retrofitting plays a large part in residential buildings but is also relevant to other buildings.

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