AU637912B2 - Construction methods - Google Patents

Description

1 "CONSTRUCTION METHODS" This application is associated with our previous Provisional Application No. PK0513. This invention relates to construction methods and in particular it relates to construction methods for vermin-proofing buildings clad with ribbed sheeting.

Many commercial, domestic and industrial buildings are built upon a concrete slab on the ground and utilise ribbed metal cladding on the exterior of the building. The sheeting is mostly arranged with the ribs running vertically and thus at positions S where the sheeting overlaps the side walls of the concrete slab, vertical passages are formed between the ribs and the side walls.

These passages must be sealed to prevent vermin from entering the building through the passages. At present this is achieved by utilising a flashing around the side wall, the flashing having a flange which extends outwardly across the lower open ends of the passages formed between the ribs and the side wall. This flashing 5. 0 is expensive to instal and is prone to damage in use.

o•Oe This invention aims to alleviate the abovementioned disadvantage and to provide an improved building system which will 4 0 4 be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect, resides broadly in a construction method for vermin-proofing buildings clad with ribbed sheeting, the method including erecting the external wall of the building with the external cladding extending downwardly across the side wall of the slab, arranging retaining means in the passages formed between the 2 side wall and the ribs and filling the passages with a suitable filler. Preferably the filler is concrete, however it may be a pre-shaped solid insert placed into the passage or it may be a foamed plastics material foamed in situ in the passages. The ribbed sheeting may include corrugated sheeting as well as sheeting having flat tray portions between ribs.

The retaining means is preferably associated with the lower overlapping potions of the cladding or it may be a member such as a wedge adapted to fit securely between the cladding and the side .10 wall. Preferably the retaining means is a spigot or socket part about which or into which filler may extend so as to retain the S filler in the passages. Each passage may be formed with retaining 6S5 means and the filler may finish flush with the upper surface of the slab or the filler may be adapted to span several recesses :15 whereby each passage would not require retaining means.

S" In the preferred form, the construction method includes arranging a temporary batten along the side wall of the concrete *Gee slab beneath the cladding so as to close the open ends of the passages formed between the ribs and the side wall to permit the passages to be filled with a settable material inserted in a flowable state. The temporary batten may be removed after the material in the passages has set.

Suitably, the retaining means is disposed adjacent the lower edge of the sheeting and preferably the retaining means is constituted by a projection which extends inwardly from the wall of the rib. The projection may be in the form of an inward displacement of a side wall of the rib, formed either during 3 manufacture or on site or it may be in the form of an internal projection welded or fastened to the rib to extend inwardly towards the side wall. In the preferred form, the projection is in the form of a tab, formed by bending inwardly a tab portion formed from the lower edge of the rib walls.

Suitably, the tab portion is a rectangular portion which is formed in the outer face of the ribbed wall and preferably by utilizing a tool which ILay be engaged in the lower end of the cladding and actuated to press a portion of the side wall inwardly to form the retaining tab. The sides of the retaining tabs may be 99 S severed from the side walls of the ribs such that each tab may be encapsulated within the material used to fill the passages.

Alternatively, the side edges of the tab mays remain integral with the side walls of the sheeting and if desired each tab may be :15 apertured to permit the encapsulating material to interlock with S the tabs.

In another aspect, this invention resides broadly in ribbed cladding having tabs formed in at least one end of the cladding.

The tab may be formed in sheeting during the manufacturing process '"920 and may remain in a non-operative position, co-planar with the adjacent sheeting from which it may be bent when required.

Preferably the tab is defined by a score line or lines in one end of the sheeting and along which the sheeting may be readily torn to permit the tab to be bent therefrom. For example the tab may be constituted by two spaced score lines or weakening lines or the like extending along the sheet from one end thereof and terminating at spaced locations adjacent the end of the sheet.

4 In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein, FIG. 1 is an underneath perspective view of wall cladding formed with retaining tabs, and FIG. 2 is a typical cross-sectional view and illustrated with the rib passage filled with concrete.

As shown in the drawings, a building may include a ground 0 slab 10, wall frames 11 extending upwardly with their outer edges 12 flush with the side wall 13 of the floor slab 10 and wall cladding 14 secured to the wall frames 11 and extending downwardly to overlap the side wall 13 of the concrete slab 10. After the wall cladding 14 has been secured in position a tab 15 is cut into :15 the lower edge of the outer face 16 of each rib 17 and bent inwardly into the respective passages 18 formed between the ribs 17 and the side wall 13.

Subsequently, a temporary batten 19 is secured to the side wall 13 so as to close the lower open ends of the passages 18 to 20 enable a flowable material such as concrete to be inserted into the passages to fill them and encapsulate the rib 15. When set, the concrete infill is positively located in the passages 18 by the tab 15. The batten 19 may be removed after the concrete infill has set.

It will be seen in Fig. 2 that during this procedure excess concrete may flow through the aperture 20 formed by the slot 22.

The resultant nib 21 of concrete extending through the slot 22 may be easily removed after the battens 19 have been removed to form a concrete surface which is flush with the outer face of the outer side wall 16 and the lower edges of the ribs 15. This may be painted or left as desired to substantially conceal the slot 22 caused by the formation of the tab Preferably the tab 15 is formed by utilising a lever action hand tool which has a mandrel which may be inserted in the passage and a complementary plunger actuated by operation of the levers.

03 S The plunger is suitably tapered to sever the outer wall 16 from 10 the lower edge upwardly, and simultaneously force the formed tab 33 15 inwardly. Of course, the tab may be curved or coiled or

S..

twisted as desired.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all :15 such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. A method of vermin-proofing buildings built upon a concrete slab on the ground and clad on the exterior with ribbed metal cladding, the method including erecting the external wall of the building with the external cladding extending downwardly across the side wall of the slab, arranging retaining means in the passages formed between the side wall and the cladding ribs and filling the passages with a suitable filler.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filler is settable material which sets from a flowable state.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said filler is concrete.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wnerein said filler is a foamed plastics material.

A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a temporary batten is provided beneath said cladding so as to close the open ends of said passages. 9

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said retaining means is disposed adjacent the lower edge of said 9* 99 sheeting and is constituted by an inward projection. *to* o

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein 9 9*9* *oo each said retaining means is in the form of a tab which is so formed whereby each tab is substantially encapsulated within the filler.

8. Ribbed cladding for carrying out the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said ribbed cladding having tabs formed in the ribs at one end of said ribbed cladding.

9. Ribbed cladding as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tabs are so formed that said tabs remains in a non-operative position substantially co-planar with the adjacent sheeting and from which non-operative position said tabs may be readily displaced to their retaining position.

Ribbed cladding as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tabs are defined by a score line or lines in one end of the cladding and along which the cladding mEy be readily torn to permit said tab to be displaced to their retaining position.

11. Ribbed cladding substantially as hereinbefore described o with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of vermin-proofing buildings substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 0 DATED THIS Second DAY OF April, 1993 LIONEL DESMOND HILL by ABSTRACT A method of vermin-proofing buildings clad with ribbed cladding, the method including erecting the external wall of the building with external cladding [14] extending downwardly across the side wall [13] of a slab arranging retaining means in the passages [18] formed between the side wall [13] and the cladding ribs [17] and filling the passages [18] with a suitable filler which preferably is a settable material which sets from a flowable state such as concrete, foamed plastic material. The retaining means may be formed by folding a tab [15] cut into the lower edge of the outer face [16] of each rib [17] or alternatively a temporary batten [19] may be provided. V. 4 a 9. 4