Who we are

The Building Limes Forum (BLF) is a charitable organisation founded in 1992 to promote the development of expertise and understanding in the use of lime in building. The BLF aims to achieve this by:

• exchanging, collating and disseminating information, through publication of a regular journal and by holding meetings and conferences;
• encouraging practical research and development through field studies, trials, monitoring and analysis;
• encouraging development of appropriate industrial and craft skills and techniques;
• educating building professionals, builders, conservators, craftsmen and -women and property owners in the appropriate use of lime in building through demonstrations, publications and courses;
• developing contacts with institutions and individuals outside the forum and in other countries who have relevant experience or knowledge;

The principal activities employed to achieve the Forum's objectives are:

• the membership list, issued once a year with regular updates, which creates a network for all members to share their knowledge, experience and expertise;
• the website, which provides basic information for the public at large, a list of publications on the use of lime in building and links to other sources of information;
• the annual Journal with articles about the latest research, historical reviews and case studies of new build and conservation projects;
• regular newsletters with shorter articles and information about people and events;
• the annual conference, seminars and training days, all of which cover aspects of the use of lime in building; and
• consultations with governmental and non-governmental organisations and individuals about Standards and Codes of Practice, training in building skills, etc.

The Building Limes Forum is an unincorporated body managed by a committee of up to fifteen members, who are elected from the membership at the Annual General Meeting. The AGM is held during the annual Conference. The BLF is registered as a charity in Scotland with Scottish Charity No SC033659.

Extract from 2007 Annual Report

During 2007, the Forum continued its important work on Standards relevant to the aims of the Forum. Stafford Holmes was on the BSI committee on Building Limes (BS B/516/11) and Steve Foster on the European Limes Committee (CEN TC51/WG11) where they were jointly successful in adding feebly hydraulic limes to the Standards. Paul Livesey was appointed to represent the Forum on the BSI committee on building sands (BSI B/502) successfully arguing that removal of the British Standard on building sands (BS 1199/1200) was premature.

The National Heritage Training Group’s dialogue with the Forum on education and training continued and at the end of the year the Forum had been invited to contribute to the NHTG’s proposals for a curriculum for craft skills training.

The Greenwich conference was a success. The setting of the Old Royal Naval College, a World Heritage Site, alone made it special. The theme was Lime for London and one day was devoted to these feebly hydraulic, grey chalk limes, used for most of London’s historic buildings. Other topics covered included hemp-lime, Roman cement and carbon footprints. The Baker Memorial Lecture was given by Professor Tom Woolley in the splendid surroundings of the Painted Hall. The conference was preceded by a one-day seminar for designers and specifiers which aimed to demystify lime mortars and renders for conservation and new build. Alongside the seminar and conference was a Lime Fair, open to the public, with exhibition stands, displays and practical demonstrations by lime manufacturers, suppliers and craftspeople.

The planned good site practice guide was subsumed into the proposed annex to BS5628 to be published by the Building Research Establishment. The draft was tabled at the Greenwich conference for BLF members to comment.

Volume 14 of the Journal of the Building Limes Forum was published in September 2007 to favourable reviews. The BLF circulated four newsletters to its members during the year. The website promoted the ‘lime message’ and generated about one query a week ranging from general enquiries to specific technical questions. When possible, advice was given or sources of advice were recommended.

International links with other Forums were strong – as evidenced by the presence of the Nordic Lime Forum at the Greenwich conference. The Building Limes Forum Ireland was maintaining interest, especially through its collaboration with local authorities. The Forum in America was still active and debating lime and natural cements. A lime forum in Italy was started and an organisation with complementary objectives created in France. Finally, there was an active group in Australia, as yet informal.

Plans for 2008 and Beyond

The 16th annual conference and gathering is planned for the Isle of Man with the theme of Maritime Lime. It is planned to repeat the seminar on the specification of lime mortars and renders in Dublin in 2008 under the auspices of the Office of Public Works and again in Scotland at a later date. Volume 15 of the Journal is already being planned and there will be the usual newsletters and updates of the membership list to keep members in contact with each other about the use of lime in building.

The Forum looks forward to working with the National Heritage Training Board on the development of a curriculum for craft skills training. The Forum also looks forward to the revised European Standard EN459 which it is hoped will be a considerable improvement on the present. The BRE Site Practice Guide (annex to BS5628) will be published which should lead to better specification, preparation, and application of lime in building.

The Forum hopes to see other lime forums progressing and to build on the existing links with these and other bodies to promulgate the ‘lime message’, especially in a time when sustainability and green issues have come to the fore politically.

Building Limes Forum Constitution