The International Association for Science and Technology of Building Maintenance and Monuments Preservation e.V.  annually awards the WTA-Prize for outstanding achievements in the fields of research and practice of building preservation and monument conservation.

This year's WTA Young Professionals Award in the cathegory 'Educational' was awarded to

                              Mrs Hanna Eggers B.Eng. for her Bachelor thesis
       'Study and evaluation of certification as quality assurance of thatched roofs'.

In a short presentation, Mrs Eggers presented the main aspects of her work.
You can find the complete work here.

Abstract

As an important element of the cultural landscape in Northern Germany, thatched roofs must be protected. Therefore, the recent trend of thatched roofs showing severe damage at earlier stages has unsettled, among others, the Lower Saxony Office for the Preservation of Monuments (NLD). This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of the certification-system, that has been developed by the NLD to ensure the quality of thatched roofs. The certification involves testing the thatch based on various criteria before it is used for roofing.
The findings of this thesis indicate that certified thatch generally has better stem properties and that roofs constructed with this thatch are less prone to damages at earlier stages. While the certification is beneficial as a quality assurance measure, it is only effective when combined with other measures, such as maintenance and proper construction practices.