EA039260B1 - Wall construction for a building and method for manufacturing same - Google Patents

Abstract

A wall construction (1) for a building and a method for manufacturing same are described, the wall construction (1) comprising a wooden structural frame (3), the structural frame (3) comprising at least vertical studs (5) which are fixed, at their end portions, to plates (7) at the top and bottom, and the structural frame (3) constituting at least a portion of a wall that has an external side and an internal side, the external side of the structural frame (3) being provided with a vapour barrier (9). The wall construction (1) may be manufactured by means of at least one module element (10).

Description

The field of technology to which the invention belongs

The present invention relates to a wall structure for a building containing a timber frame structure, as well as to a method for manufacturing said wall structure. More specifically, the invention relates to a wall structure in which the frame structure includes a vapor barrier.

Background Art Information

In order to reduce heat transfer between the inside and outside of a building, guidelines in some countries contain rules for insulating walls, floors, and roofs. The following description will mainly refer to the outer wall of the building.

In order to reduce energy consumption in order to ensure the proper thermal management of buildings, the requirements for insulation have increased significantly over the past 20 years. The insulation is usually installed in a timber frame structure which includes vertical studs spaced apart and attached to the bottom and top rails.

One skilled in the art would be aware that the purpose of a vapor barrier is to prevent moist air from reaching the dew point in the wall structure. Thus, one of the purposes of vapor barrier is to prevent the formation of moisture in the wall. This moisture build-up can lead to an increase in the heat transfer coefficient (so-called U-value) of the wall structure, which in itself is highly undesirable for energy saving reasons. However, the formation of moisture in the frame structure creates a more serious problem, namely fungus and decay.

The risk of such condensation depends on many factors, but in the construction industry in Norway it is considered a real problem if the insulation thickness exceeds 200 mm.

A vapor barrier that is properly installed on the so-called warm side of the framing, i.e. the inward side of the outer wall of the framing, can prevent air from moving from the warm side into the insulation where the air will condense if cooled to the dew point. However, experience shows that it is difficult to achieve a completely tight vapor barrier, i.e. a vapor barrier without any permeable openings. This is due, among other things, to the difficulty of sealing pipes, cables, junction boxes, etc. passing through the vapor barrier. or with perforation of the vapor barrier due to damage occurring during the construction period before the vapor barrier is protected by the internal wall cladding. According to the prior art, the vapor barrier is interrupted by floor beams or floors.

To reduce these problems, today the vapor barrier is usually installed indented in the wall structure, usually ^1/4 from the warm side _of the wall. This is achieved by installing a vapor barrier on the inside of the frame structure as before, and by installing a batten or sheathing on the outside of the frame structure so that the vapor barrier is between the frame structure and the skin. Among specialists, this crate is also called a box. In this way, a space is provided between the vapor barrier and the inner wall cladding, which is suitable, for example, for accommodating pipes, cables and junction boxes.

Another difficulty with today's construction method is that a wall structure with a properly installed vapor barrier will be very tight. The sealed wall, which also has a thick layer of insulation, can be more than 300 mm thick, which leads to stagnation of air in the frame structure. Of course, it is preferable that the frame structure is dry during construction. However, a large number of wall structures are erected on site and are thus exposed to precipitation during the construction period. Studies show that a damp frame structure with insulation and vapor barrier can remain damp for several years after construction is completed. Therefore, the risk of fungal attack and rotting in the frame structure is high. This problem can be reduced by leaving the wall structure open for as long as possible during the construction period, after the outside of the building has been covered with a roof and external cladding. In addition, so-called construction dryers can be used to facilitate or accelerate drying. However, such a drying period can slow down the construction process, and the construction dryer requires a lot of energy.

From JP H1030281 A, a wall structure is known in which a conventional vapor barrier between an inner wall cladding and a frame structure has been replaced by a plate member made of a moisture-absorbing and moisture-releasing soundproofing material. The plate material is adjacent to the insulating material in the frame structure. On the outer side of the frame structure, a diffusion-open waterproof fabric is installed, which is attached to the frame structure using rails that serve as a support for the outer cladding of the wall structure. Thus, the wall structure known from JP H1030281 A is open to diffusion.

Due to the large temperature difference between indoor and outdoor air, such a diffusion-open wall structure can cause condensation in the insulation, especially if the insulation thickness exceeds 200 mm. Thus, the diffusion-open solution disclosed in JP H1030281 is not suitable when an insulation thickness of more than 200 mm is required to meet existing requirements.

- 1 039260 for thermal insulation in buildings.

From publications JP H11293801 A and JP H08260586 A, wall structures are known for providing ventilation to the rear part of the outer wall cladding. In JP H11293801, the waterproof barrier is sandwiched between the back of the cladding and the studs of the wall structure frame. Air passes between the waterproofing and the insulation installed between the posts. In JP H08260586, the waterproof but diffusion-open fabric is installed on the outside of the frame structure.

The aim of the invention is to eliminate or reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative to the prior art.

Disclosure of the essence of the invention

This object is achieved due to the features disclosed in the following description and in the following claims.

The inventor unexpectedly found that moisture problems in the frame structure caused by leakage in the vapor barrier or moisture during the construction period can be easily solved by placing the frame structure in heat; that is, the frame structure is exposed to the microclimate in the room, limited among other things by the wall structure.

The invention is defined by independent claims. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the invention.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a wall structure for a building comprising a timber frame structure comprising at least vertical studs which are attached at their end portions to the bracings at the top and bottom, the frame structure forming at least a portion of the wall which has outer side and inner side. A distinctive feature of the invention is that the outer side of the frame structure is provided with a vapor barrier.

The term outside as used herein refers to the side of the frame structure that is predominantly exposed to the lowest temperature of the wall structure, typically the outside temperature. In this document, the outside side is also referred to as the cold side.

The term vapor barrier as used herein refers to a material that is diffusion-tight or vapor-tight in at least one direction, with at least one direction from the warm side to the cold side. A common type of vapor barrier used in the construction industry is made from an aging-resistant plastic material that is diffusion-tight in both directions.

When installing a vapor barrier on the outside or cold side of a wall, the frame structure will be exposed to the building's internal environment. Thus, any moisture in the supporting frame will be removed to the internal environment. In addition, the risk of damage to the vapor barrier resulting from the installation of hidden systems such as pipes and cables will be greatly reduced. The above trim or box is also not needed.

The wall structure may further comprise a frame protruding at a substantially right angle from the outer or cold side of the frame structure.

The frame may comprise a plurality of frame elements, such as wood, spaced along the longitudinal direction of the wall structure. Each of the framing elements can typically be attached to the studs of the framing of the wall structure.

In one embodiment, each of the frame members comprises a first rail attached to the frame structure and a second rail spaced from the first rail by a spacer.

One of the purposes of the frame is the possibility of placing an insulating agent, such as mineral wool. The person skilled in the art should be aware that the purpose of such an insulating means is to prevent air movement as much as possible, and therefore it is very important to prevent the occurrence of open air channels, for example, between what is referred to in this document as a frame and insulating agent. The person skilled in the art will also recognize that, although the insulating means is relatively flexible, it has a minimum bending radius, so that these air channels can occur if the insulation is pressed against elements whose size causes the insulation to compress and which have sharper edges, than the minimum bending radius of the insulation. In order to reduce the risk of these air passages, a very precise cutting of the insulating means to be installed close to the element is required. Such cutting is time consuming and can be difficult to obtain sufficiently accurate results.

As mentioned above, one of the purposes of the frame is to accommodate the insulating means. Another purpose is to hold the outer cladding of the wall structure. Thus, it should be understood that the frame should only be designed to withstand relatively small loads. However, the strut used in the frame must have a certain strength to, among other things, transfer the load from the outer part of the frame, which can

- 2 039260 be the specified second rail, to the inside of the frame, which may be the specified first rail.

The person skilled in the art will be aware that wood has a much higher thermal conductivity than a known type of insulating agent such as mineral wool. The wood that passes through the insulating means can thus create a cold bridge.

In order to reduce the cross-sectional area of the spacer, in order to thus also achieve a reduction in thermal bridges, the spacer in the installation position can have a height in vertical section greater than the width of the spacer. Width here refers to the extent parallel to the horizontal extent of the wall structure. Thus, the spacer can be a plate-shaped element whose height in the installation position exceeds the thickness of the plate.

An insulating means of the above type, which is installed between spaced frame members of the frame, is forced to press against the struts. In one embodiment, the side surface of the insulating means can be installed with tight pressure against the first side surface of the spacer. However, any additional insulating means that can be pressed against the second side surface opposite the first side surface must also cover the side surfaces defining the width or thickness of the strut. In order to at least reduce the problem of said air passages, it may be expedient to provide a spacer with a first side surface and a second side surface, the length of the first side surface being different from the length of the second side surface. Thus, the first side, for example, can be straight, while at least part of the second side surface can be made with a concave section or a polygonal section. Regardless of the design, the aim is to produce a brace in which the side (or sides) of the brace against which the insulating means is pressed has (s) a design adapted to the minimum bending radius of the insulating means in order to avoid, to the greatest extent possible, the occurrence of these air channels.

It will be understood that even if the wall structure is insulated with an insulating means installed in the frame as discussed above, it is possible to install additional insulating means in the space formed between each stud of frame studs and the top rail and bottom rail of the frame structure. Thus, additional insulation means will improve the heat transfer coefficient of the wall structure and at the same time have a favorable soundproofing effect. Additional insulation will be separated from the interior of the room by means of a cladding such as paneling or building board, as is known per se.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a modular system is provided comprising at least two wooden modular elements for providing a portion of a wall structure that has an outer or cold side and an inner or warm side, each of the modular elements comprising a frame structure with a peripheral surface, said the frame structure contains at least two vertical posts, which are attached with their end parts to the horizontal strapping, and the modular elements can be attached to each other, while the frame structure of each of the modular elements is provided with a vapor barrier installed adjacent to the outer side of the frame structure.

In an alternative embodiment, a modular system is provided comprising one wooden modular element to provide a wall structure having an outer or cold side and an inner or warm side, the modular element comprising a frame structure with a peripheral surface, said frame structure comprising at least two vertical posts , which are attached with their end parts to horizontal strapping, while the modular element is configured to be attached to the modular elements of adjacent wall parts, and the frame structure of the modular element is provided with a vapor barrier installed adjacent to the outer side of the frame structure.

The modular element or modular elements can usually be manufactured in a factory building. Thus, measures can be taken for efficient production in a controlled and predictable microclimate. This will eliminate the problems due to precipitation and wind associated with the manufacture of modular elements.

To obtain a wall structure, two or more modular elements can be located side by side or at least partially above each other.

In an embodiment of a modular system in which it comprises only a frame structure, before the two modular elements are connected to each other, it may be preferable that the size of the vapor barrier of at least one of the modular elements exceeds the size of the modular element. Thus, the vapor barrier of the first modular element will overlap the second modular element after they are connected to each other side by side or on top of each other. Tem

- 3 039260 this provides an effective vapor barrier at the junction between two modular elements connected to each other.

As will be explained below, in the preferred embodiment of the modular system in accordance with the present invention, it will be necessary to make the modular elements as ready as possible before they are connected to each other. In such an embodiment, the advantage is that the edge area of the vapor barrier is installed adjacent to the peripheral surface of the frame structure. Peripheral surface here refers to the boundary surfaces of the modular element, which define the limits of the modular element. Thus, in the position of use, the peripheral surface may be the side surfaces of the posts and straps, facing away from the center of the modular element.

The vapor barrier may be attached to the peripheral surface with staples and/or adhesive. In order to provide the best possible seal between the vapor barrier and the periphery of the modular element, the distance between the brackets should be as small as possible, for example 10 cm or less. The attachment of the vapor barrier to the peripheral surface of the modular element will thus be permanent. The use of a curable adhesive can be difficult and time consuming to apply. In addition, such an adhesive may take a certain amount of time to achieve the desired effect, namely, until the vapor barrier is bonded to the peripheral surface of the modular element. The adhesive means in the form of an adhesive tape is applied relatively quickly and easily; while it performs its function immediately.

Regardless of which of the above fasteners is used, sealing the joint between two adjacent modular elements will be a problem.

In order to achieve a substantially complete seal between the vapor barrier and the periphery of the modular element, and at the same time a seal between two adjacent modular elements, it is preferable if the vapor barrier by means of a vapor barrier is wedged into the groove made in the peripheral surface. The bar is complementary adapted to the width of the groove, but exceeds the depth of the groove, so that in the position of use the bar protrudes a small distance from the peripheral surface. The small distance may be, for example, 1-5 mm. Thus, the peripheral surface of the frame structure of the modular element can be provided with grooves to receive the edge region of the vapor barrier and a complementary adapted sealing strip capable of wedging the vapor barrier into the groove.

As will become clear from the description below, such a groove and such a sealing strip can also be used to fasten the windscreen to the peripheral surface of the modular element.

As an alternative to a groove in the periphery of the frame structure, the vapor barrier (and possibly the windscreen) can be adhered to the periphery of the frame structure by adhesive means. In one embodiment, the adhesive means contains a diffusion-tight sealing strip, at least one of the surfaces of which contains adhesive.

The modular system preferably includes a frame of the type as discussed in connection with the first aspect of the invention.

In one embodiment, each of the at least two modular elements of the modular system may be provided with said frame.

The frame, whether installed in a modular system after the modular elements have been joined into a complete wall structure, or into a part of a wall structure, or whether each of the modular elements is made with a frame, can be provided with an insulating means to obtain at least least in part, the required heat transfer coefficient of the structure.

In order to be able to make the modular element as ready as possible, it is preferable that the modular element is provided with a waterproof but diffusion-open windscreen. The person skilled in the art should be aware that the purpose of such a windscreen is to provide a barrier to prevent as much as possible the penetration of air into the insulating means, and thereby reduce the insulating properties of the insulation means, while at the same time, through the windscreen it is possible to remove any or moist air in the insulation. Another important purpose of the windscreen is to prevent water, such as rain, from entering through the windscreen and thereby dampening the insulation, for example, before the outer skin is attached to the wall structure.

The insulating means installed in the frame of the modular element in accordance with the invention can be exposed to the external environment from the outside of the modular element, as well as on the side surfaces of the modular element. In order to also protect the insulation of the modular element from water, before at least two modular elements are assembled together to form a portion of the wall structure, it is preferred that the windscreen also surround the insulation on the side surfaces of the modular element. According to the invention, each of the modular elements can be provided with a wind shield, which is installed adjacent to the frame and surfaces of the insulating means exposed to the external environment during the manufacture of the modular element. The edge area of the wind protection can be installed adjacent to the peripheral surface of the car.

- 4 039260 frame construction.

It is also preferable that the edge area of the windscreen is attached to the peripheral surface of the frame structure. Such attachment of the edge area of the wind protection can be provided with nails or a suitable adhesive. However, attaching the windscreen to the frame structure of the modular element has a number of disadvantages, as discussed above in connection with attaching the vapor barrier to the frame structure of the modular element.

In order to provide as complete an environment as possible for the insulating means, it is preferable that the wind protection be implemented as a single element. In one embodiment, the windscreen is in the form of a bag or pouch sewn in a shape to slide over the frame and insulation. Such a bag-like windscreen can be slid over the outside of the modular element and over part of the peripheral surface of the frame structure.

The inventor has surprisingly found that the windscreen can be attached to the frame structure in a manner corresponding to the attachment of a vapor barrier, namely using a groove and a complementary adapted sealing strip. Thus, the peripheral surface of the frame structure of the modular element can be provided with a groove capable of receiving the edge region of the wind protection and a complementary adapted strap adapted to wedging the wind protection into the groove.

In one embodiment, the edge area of the wind protection can be placed in a separate groove and fixed in it with a complementary adapted sealing strip. Such a solution would require that the peripheral surfaces of the frame structure be provided with two grooves: one for vapor barrier and one for wind protection. In such a solution, a sealing strip made with two grooved sections connected by a spacer can be used, or two separate sealing strips can be used. The advantage of using two separate grooves, and in particular two separate sealing strips, is that the vapor barrier and the wind protection can be attached to the frame structure independently of each other. However, this solution with two separate slots can be more labor intensive, especially if the slots need to be milled in two separate operations.

In the prototype of the modular element, the edge area of the wind protection and the edge area of the vapor barrier are placed in a common groove and secured with a single sealing strip. It turned out that this solution works great. Thus, in one embodiment, the vapor barrier and the wind barrier may be wedged into the same common slot.

From the above explanation, it is clear that the frame and insulation will be protected from water during storage, transportation and installation.

The modular elements can be designed in such a way that the frameworks of two adjacent modular elements can be adjacent to each other. In cases where the modular elements are provided with insulation means, and especially if the insulation means have been protected by a windscreen before the modular elements have been fitted to each other, it may be preferable that the sides of two adjacent frames are provided with receiving means for receiving complementarily adapted coupling means. so that two adjacent frames can be fastened together.

In an alternative embodiment, two adjacent sides of the two frames may be provided with complementary adapted engagement means that are configured to mutually engage and provide a locking engagement when the modular elements are in a stationary state. Such complementarily adapted coupling means may, for example, be of the type known in the furniture industry for use in connecting elements that form part of a modular sofa, ie tenon-and-groove coupling means.

In an alternative embodiment, some of the features of the modular system disclosed above may be used in the manufacture of a modular system containing only one modular element. Such a one-module system would be particularly appropriate if the wall structure is of such a size that it can be transported by public road from the manufacturing site to the construction site.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a part of a wall structure for a building, comprising the following steps:

a load-bearing wall structure is made of wood, having an outer or cold side and an inner or warm side; and install a vapor barrier on the outside of the supporting wall structure.

The load-bearing wall structure can typically be a frame structure of the type as disclosed above in connection with the first and second aspects of the invention.

The method may further include the following:

a frame is installed protruding to the outer side of the wall structure, and the frame contains a plurality of frame elements spaced apart from each other;

installing an insulating means inside the frame elements of the frame and between them; and

- 5 039260 install wind protection adjacent to at least part of the frame.

In one embodiment, the windscreen is installed only on that side of the frame that faces away from the load-bearing wall structure, ie adjacent to the outward-facing side of the wall structure. In another embodiment, the wind barrier is also positioned at least over the top edge of the frame and terminates at a portion of the load-bearing wall structure such that the insulation means is at least partially surrounded by the wind barrier.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the load-bearing wall structure can be made in situ or as a prefabricated modular element. Alternatively, the load-bearing wall structure can be made as a modular system containing at least two modular elements that can be attached to each other to provide part of the wall structure. Such an alternative method may further include providing a frame protruding from the outside of each of the modular elements, and the frame contains a plurality of frame elements spaced from each other. Frame elements can be made of wood.

The method may further include placing an insulating means within and between the frame members of said frame such that the space defined by the frame is substantially filled with the insulating means. After installing the insulation means inside and between the frame members of the frame, it is possible to install a windscreen adjacent to the frame part. In one embodiment, the windscreen is installed adjacent to the side of the frame facing away from the load-bearing wall structure of the modular element. In order to provide a joint overlap between two adjacent modular elements, it is preferable that the wind protection in this embodiment has an extension on its two side parts that exceeds the extension of the modular element. In one embodiment, the windscreen is installed only after at least two modular elements are connected to each other side by side or at least partially above each other.

As discussed above in connection with the second aspect of the invention, it is preferred that the windscreen be installed adjacent to the frame and surfaces of the insulating means which are exposed to the outside environment during manufacture of the modular element. It is also preferable that the edge region of the vapor barrier and the edge region of the wind protection are inserted into a groove located on the peripheral surface of the frame structure and wedged into the groove by means of a sealing strip complementarily adapted to the groove. In one embodiment, each of the edge region of the vapor barrier and the edge region of the windbreak are wedged into a separate slot in the peripheral surface of the frame structure. In an alternative embodiment, each of said edge regions may be wedged into one common slot in the peripheral surface of the frame structure.

As an alternative to a groove in the peripheral surface of the frame structure, at least one of the vapor barrier and the windscreen may be attached to the peripheral surface of the frame structure with an adhesive. In one embodiment, the adhesive means contains a diffusion-tight sealing strip, at least one of the surfaces of which contains adhesive. At least one side of the sealing strip, which includes adhesive, is the side that attaches the vapor barrier and/or wind barrier to the periphery of the frame structure.

To provide a stable connection between two adjacent frames, the method may further include attaching the frame portion of the first modular element to the frame portion of the adjacent second modular element. Such attachment may be provided before or after the installation of the wind protection on the modular elements, depending on whether the wind protection is installed after the connection of the modular elements to each other or before the connection of the modular elements to each other.

The method may further include installing a batten adjacent to the windscreen. The purpose of the crate is to provide an air gap between the windscreen and the outer cladding. The crate is usually slats that are attached to the outside of the frame. Thus, the windscreen will be sandwiched between the crate and the specified outer part of the frame. The outer cladding is preferably installed after connecting at least two modular elements to each other, which is also possible, for example, in cases where the cladding consists of vertical cladding panels that are at least part of the surface of the modular element, which in the application position exposed to the external environment and provided with an external cladding.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a frame is provided for placing an insulating means on the outside of a load-bearing wall structure, the frame comprising an inner frame element for fastening to the load-bearing wall structure, an outer frame element for supporting the outer skin, and a spacer for connecting the outer frame element to the inner frame element, while the spacer in the position of use has a vertical section, which has a height exceeding the width of the spacer. The width here is understood as the early

- 6 039260 she, the length parallel to the horizontal length of the wall structure. Thus, the spacer may be a plate element. The spacer can be made as discussed in connection with the first aspect of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

The following are examples of preferred embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a part of a wall structure viewed from the outside or from the cold side, the wall structure comprising a frame structure with an outer side provided with a vapor barrier, a frame with insulation, a windbreak and an outer cladding;

in fig. 2a shows a perspective view of a frame structure made in the form of a modular element;

in fig. 2b is an enlarged view of part of the frame structure shown in FIG. 2a, in side view;

in fig. 3a shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a frame mounted on and attached to the frame structure of FIG. 2a;

in fig. 3b shows an enlarged second embodiment of the frame after it has been attached to the frame structure of FIG. 2a;

in fig. 4a shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a finished modular element viewed from the outside;

in fig. 4b shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the completed modular element;

in fig. 5a shows the modular element of FIG. 4a viewed from the inside; and in FIG. 5b shows the modular element of FIG. 4b viewed from the inside.

Information confirming the possibility of carrying out the invention

In the description, position symbols such as top, bottom, right, and left refer to the positions shown in the drawings.

The same or corresponding elements are substantially designated by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings.

For illustrative reasons, the relative proportions of individual elements may be somewhat distorted.

In some of the drawings, some of the elements shown are not identified by reference numerals, and for the sake of clarity, some elements may be omitted from some of the drawings.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes the wall structure of the building, which includes a frame structure 3. The frame structure 3 includes vertical posts 5, which are attached to the strappings 7 at their end parts (see, for example, Fig. 2a), which in exemplary embodiments are shown as horizontal beams of the same size as the studs 5. It should be emphasized that one or both of the braces 7 may be located non-perpendicular to the studs 5 and that the braces 7 may have different dimensions than the studs 5.

In FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a part of the wall structure 1 viewed from the outside or cold side. The wall structure 1 includes a frame structure 3, a frame 20 and an outer cladding 40.

The vapor barrier 9 is sandwiched between the outer side of the frame structure 3 and the frame 20 due to the fact that the frame 20 is attached to the frame structure 3 by mechanical fasteners of a known type. The frame 20 includes a plurality of frame members 22 spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the wall structure 1. The frame members 22 are typically made of wood, but at least some of the frame members 22 are also made of synthetic material. The vapor barrier 9 shown in FIG. 1 is placed adjacent to the frame structure 3 after its execution, but before the frame elements 22 are attached to the frame structure 3.

The main purpose of the frame 20 is to accommodate the insulating means 30, whereby the insulating means 30 is installed outside the vapor barrier 9 and therefore also on the outer or cold side of the frame structure 3. As will be explained below, the insulating means can be additionally installed in the spaces formed between racks 5 and strappings 7 frame structure 3.

In FIG. 1 also shows a diffusion-open windscreen 35 attached to the frame 20, for example with nails. For clarity, only the upper left portion of the windscreen 35 is shaded. The purpose of the windscreen 35 is to provide a barrier to prevent air from entering the insulation means 30 as much as possible. , the windscreen 35 is diffusion-open. The outer cladding 40, shown here as vertical cladding boards, is installed with purlin battens 42 and support battens 44 installed outside the windscreen 35 and attached to the frame 20.

- 7 039260

For illustrative reasons, only parts of the insulation means 30, the windscreen 35 and the outer cladding 40 of the wall structure 1 are shown.

In FIG. 1 also shows the foundation F supporting the wall structure 1 and the floor beams B which are attached to and extend from the uprights 5 of the frame structure 3 at right angles. Thus, it should be understood that in the embodiment shown, the frame structure 3 of the wall structure 1 is a load-transmitting, ie a so-called bearing wall. Due to the fact that the vapor barrier 9 is adjacent to the outer side of the frame structure 3, said vapor barrier 9 extends continuously behind the floor beams B. If a vapor barrier is installed on the inside or warm side of a frame structure, as is done in accordance with the state of the art, the beams B will have to pass through the vapor barrier and therefore pierce it.

In FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of a frame structure 3 intended to provide a load-transmitting element in a modular element 10 forming part of a modular system. The frame structure 3 includes upright posts 5 (three shown), which are attached at their ends to the straps 7. In the embodiment shown, the straps are the same size as the posts 5. However, it will be understood that the straps 7 and the posts 5 may have different sizes, which will be well known to a person skilled in the art. The frame structure 3 shown in FIG. 2a is in principle identical to the frame structure 3 of the on-site wall structure 1 shown in FIG. 1, but built as a modular element 10.

In the manufacture of a wall structure made using the modular system in accordance with the present invention, at least two modular elements 10 are placed side by side or on top of each other. When two modular elements are stacked on top of each other, they will typically be transversely offset from each other. Two adjacent parts of the modular elements 10 (only one modular element is shown in exemplary embodiments) are attached to each other by any one or combination of mechanical fasteners, such as a plurality of bolts, and adhesive. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a, the frame structure 3 is provided with a plurality of bolt holes 12 spaced apart from each other along the periphery of the frame structure.

According to the present invention, the outer side of the frame structure 3 is provided with a vapor barrier 9, which in FIG. 2a is shown by oblique shading areas. The objective of the wall structure made with the modular elements 10 is to prevent leakage between the vapor barrier and the frame structure 3 as much as possible. A possible way to achieve this is to attach the vapor barrier 9 to the outer surface of the frame structure 3 with a suitable adhesive. Under the outer surface in this connection means the surface of the frame structure 3 intended to receive the frame 20, as will be explained below. A disadvantage of this possible method is that the joint between two adjacent modular elements 10 (only one of them is shown in the drawings) can be a potential leak site unless a curable sealant is applied to the joint. Applying a curable sealant, such as a silicone or acrylic based sealant, around the periphery of the modular element 10 is time consuming and can be difficult.

To ensure that the vapor barrier 9 is wedged onto the frame structure 3, the peripheral surfaces of the frame structure 3 are provided with a groove 14, as best seen in FIG. 2b. The groove runs continuously in the peripheral surfaces of the harness 7 and the extreme outer racks 5.

The groove 14 is configured to receive an edge portion or edge region of the vapor barrier 9. The vapor barrier 9 is wedged into the groove 14 by means of a sealing strip 16 complementary adapted to the groove 14 to achieve a snug fit. The sealing strip 16 is shown in FIG. 3b5b.

The sealing strip 16 is preferably made of a diffusion-tight elastic material, such as, but not limited to, a rubber-based material or a synthetic material. The sealing strip 16 is designed in such a way that in the position of use it protrudes slightly, for example by 1-5 mm, beyond the peripheral surfaces of the frame structure 3. In this way, it is possible to achieve sealing of the joint between two adjacent modular elements 10 and, possibly, between a modular element 10 and foundation F (see FIG. 1).

A vapor barrier 9 attached to a groove 14 in the frame structure 3 of the modular element 10 by means of a sealing strip 16 is shown in FIG. 3b.

Consider Fig. 3a and 3b showing two different embodiments of a frame 20 according to the invention, the frame 20 being composed of a plurality of spaced frame members 22 (three shown). In FIG. 3b shows only the upper part of the frame 20, which is attached to the post 3.

Each of the frame elements 20 includes a first or inner rail 24, a second or outer rail 26, which is installed at a distance from the inner rail 24 using a spacer 28. The outer rails 26 of the frame elements 22 are connected from above and below to the frame strapping 27. In this

- 8 039260 connection, it should be noted that the frame elements 22 shown in FIG. 1 are provided with a corresponding frame harness, which is not shown.

As shown, in the position of use, the brace 28 has a vertical section having a height that is greater than the width or thickness of the brace. Thus, the spacer 28 can be made in the form of a plate spacer 28, as shown in the drawings. The purpose of this implementation is twofold. First, the plate strut 28 can exhibit relatively good vertical force transfer properties between the second rail 26 and the first rail 24. Secondly, the cross-sectional area of the strut 28 that faces the cold side of the wall structure 1 or modular member 10 will be small. with respect to the load transfer property of the strut 28. Thus, the cold bridge, which the strut 28 will necessarily be, will be as small as possible.

As mentioned above, the purpose of the frame 20 is to provide space for the insulating means 30, as shown in FIG. 1, 5a and 5b. The insulating means 30 can typically be mineral wool made from glass or stone.

As mentioned at the outset, such an insulating means has a minimum bending radius. To avoid or at least reduce the possibility of leakage channels between the spacers 28 and the insulating means 30, which in the position of use abuts against the spacers 28. Said spacers 28 have a first side surface, the length of which is different from the length of the second side surface. The term length refers to the circumferential length of the spacer 28 measured from top to bottom. In FIG. 3a and 3b, the first side surface abutting against the rails 24, 26 of the frame member 22 is straight, while the second side surface includes an upper beveled portion 29, a lower beveled portion 29' and a flat surface 29 between said beveled portions 29, 29' . Thus, the second side surface is longer than the first side surface, which, in the position of use, rests against and is attached to the rails 24, 26. The transitions between said inclined parts 29, 29' and the intermediate flat surface 29 are preferably rounded.

In order to be able to take advantage of the benefits of prefabricated modular elements, it is preferable that the modular element 10 be made as ready as possible. In practice, this means a modular element 10 with a frame structure 3, vapor barrier 9, frame 20, insulation 30 and wind protection 35. Such a finished modular element 10 is shown in FIG. 4a and 4b. For clarity of the drawings, the insulating means 30 is not shown in FIG. 4a and 4b.

The very fact that the frame structure 3 has access to connect two adjacent modular elements 10 allows for a relatively simple fixed connection between the frame structures 3 of the modular elements. However, it is preferred that the outer rail 26 and/or frame rail 27 of the frame 20 of the first modular element 10 be connected to the outer rail 26 and/or frame rail 27 of the frame 20 of the second (not shown) modular element. Such a connection according to the invention is provided by two different methods, which, however, have similarities.

Both methods are based on the provision of at least an outer rail 26 and/or a frame strap 27 of the frame 20 of each of the modular elements 10 to be attached to each other by receiving means.

In FIG. 4a, a plurality of receiving means 50a (sixteen shown, four on each side surface) are spaced apart around the periphery of the frame 20. In the embodiment shown, the receiving means 50a consist of profiles with a C-shaped cross section. The C-profiles 50a are made of metal or a suitable plastic material and are attached, for example by means of screws, to recesses 27a (best seen in Fig. 3a) located in the outer rails 26 and frame straps 27. The C-shaped openings of the profiles 50a facing away from the outer rails 26 or frame straps 27 to which the profiles are attached. After the two modular elements 10 are installed adjacent to each other, the coupling means (not shown) complementarily adapted to the two receiving means 50a located next to each other is inserted into the receiving means 50a. Said coupling means, for example, will have an H-profile which is simultaneously wedged in two adjacent receiving means 50a. The coupling means may, for example, be made of wood material, or preferably of a suitable plastic material, but other materials with suitable strength are also possible.

In FIG. 4b shows an alternative embodiment of the receiving means 50a shown in FIG. 4a. In FIG. 4b shows receiving means 50b in the form of rails with C-shaped cross-sections, mounted around the periphery of the frame 20. C-shaped rails 50b are made of metal or a suitable plastic material and are attached, for example, by means of screws, to a ledge 27b (see Fig. 3b ) provided in the outer rails 26 and frame straps 27. Thus, the longitudinal axes of the rails 50b run parallel to the longitudinal axes of the rails 26 or frame straps 27. The C-shaped holes of the guides 50b face away from the outer rails 26 or frame straps 27, to which rails attached. After placing the two modular elements 10 adjacent to each other, an elongated coupling means (not shown) is inserted into the receiving means 50b, which is

- 9 039260 mentally adapted to two receiving means 50b located next to each other. Said coupling means will have a profile capable of simultaneously wedging in two adjacent receiving means 50b and ensuring their interconnection. The coupling means is usually made of a suitable plastic material, but other materials with suitable strength are also acceptable. An example of such another material is an H-shaped aluminum rail. Such a rail 50b may be composed of several individual elements, i. e. be composite.

In the embodiments shown in FIG. 4a and 4b, the windscreen 35 extends beyond the bottom frame rail 27 and over the left rail 26 of the modular element 10. The windscreen 35 is indicated by mesh shading at the two corner portions of the modular element 10, but it should be understood that the windscreen 35 extends over or covers the entire outer side of the modular element. 10. The very fact that the windscreen 35 extends beyond the modular element 10 may provide overlap with the modular element 10 which is positioned below or to the left of the modular elements 10 shown in FIG. 4a and 4b. However, it should be understood that said overlap is not strictly necessary. This is because the windscreen 35 in the embodiment shown is in the form of a pouch or sack that is stretched over the frame 20 (and insulation—not shown—in the frame 20). The windscreen 35 has been slid over the outside of the modular element 10 and over the part of the frame structure 3 of the modular element 10. This is shown in FIG. 4a by the hatched area (indicating part of the windscreen 35) at the top left side of the modular element 10. The corresponding solution is illustrated on the right side of the modular element 10 shown in FIG. 4b, 5a and 5b.

The part of the windscreen 35 which is shown as extending from the outside of the modular element can usually be made from separate pieces of the windscreen sewn to said bag.

In FIG. 5a and 5b show the modular elements 10 of FIG. 4a and 4b, respectively, when viewed from the inside or warm side. The space formed between the vapor barrier 9 and the frame structure 3 can be filled at least partially with an insulating means, which is not shown. Such an insulating means can enhance both the heat-insulating properties of the modular element 10 and its sound-insulating properties. Such insulation is particularly effective in reducing resonance in the modular element 10 after the inner lining (not shown) has been attached to the frame structure 3.

Even though it is not clearly seen from FIG. 4a and 5a, it should be understood that the windscreen 35 is installed in the recesses 27a before the receiving means 50a are installed in said recesses 27a. In FIG. 4b and 5b show that the windscreen 35 was installed in the modular element 10 prior to the installation of the receiving means 50b (conforming rails) on the frame 20.

In the embodiments shown in FIG. 4a-5b, the edge region of the wind protection 35 is placed in the same groove 14 as the edge region of the vapor barrier 9 and is wedged into the groove by means of a sealing strip 16. In this way, a complete seal against the frame structure 3 of the modular element 10 is achieved.

It is also possible to use a groove 14 of the type disclosed in connection with FIG. 2a-2b, 3b-5b, at least in part of the peripheral surface of a wall of the type shown in FIG. 1 built on site.

The wall structure 1 can be prefabricated as a modular element, especially if the dimensions of the wall structure allow it to be transported on a public road.

In doing so, it will be understood that the present invention solves the known problems associated with the necessary and/or undesirable perforations of the vapor barrier 9, since it will provide easy access to the frame structure 3 pipes and cables to be connected, even after installing the vapor barrier on the frame structure 3 In the present invention, there is also no need for a so-called box, which will reduce the available area of the room defined by the wall structure 1 according to the present invention.

It should be noted that all of the above embodiments are illustrative of the invention, but do not limit it, and many alternative embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The use of the verb contain and its various forms does not preclude the presence of elements or steps that are not mentioned in the claims. Specifying an element in the singular does not exclude the presence of several such elements.

The fact that certain features are indicated in mutually different dependent claims does not mean that the combination of these features cannot be used to advantage.

Claims (18)

1. A wall structure (1) for a building, containing a load-bearing wooden frame structure (3), containing at least vertical posts (5), which are attached with their end parts to the strappings (7) from above and below, while the frame structure ( 3) forms at least - 10 039260 part of the wall, which has an outer side and an inner side, and the outer side of the frame structure (3) is equipped with a vapor barrier (9), characterized in that the wall structure (1) additionally contains a frame (20) containing a plurality of frame elements (22 ) spaced from each other, with each frame element (22) containing the first rail (24) attached to the corresponding vertical post (5) of the frame structure (3), and the second rail (26) connected to the first rail (24) on distance from it by spacers (28) configured to transfer loads from the second rail (26) to the first rail (24), wherein the frame (20) protrudes substantially at a right angle from the outside of the frame structure (3) so that the vapor barrier (9) is sandwiched between the frame structure (3) and the first frame rails (20). 2. Wall structure (1) according to claim 1, in which in the position of use the spacer (28) has a vertical section having a height greater than the width of the spacer (28). 3. Wall structure (1) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the spacer (28) has a first side surface and a second side surface, the length of the first side surface being different from the length of the second side surface. 4. Wall structure (1) according to claim 1, in which the supporting frame structure (3) contains at least two wooden modular elements (10), while each of the modular elements (10) contains a peripheral surface, at least two vertical racks (5), which are attached with their end parts to horizontal strappings (7), moreover, modular elements (10) are made with the possibility of attaching to each other with the formation of a modular system, each modular element (10) is equipped with a vapor barrier (9) and each of at least two modular elements (10) is provided with a frame (20) attached to the outer side of the modular elements (10) and protruding essentially at right angles from the outer side of the modular elements (10). 5. Wall structure (1) according to claim 4, in which the edge region of the vapor barrier (9) is installed adjacent to the peripheral surface of each of at least two modular elements (10) of the frame structure (3). 6. Wall structure (1) according to claim 5, in which the peripheral surface of the frame structure (3) of each of at least two modular elements (10) is provided with a groove (14) configured to receive the edge area of the vapor barrier (9) and complementary adapted sealing strip (16) made with the possibility of wedging the vapor barrier (9) in the groove (14). 7. Wall structure (1) according to claim 4, in which the frame (20) is additionally provided with an insulating means (30). 8. Wall structure (1) according to claim 7, in which each of the modular elements (10) is provided with a wind shield (35) installed adjacent to the frame (20) and the surfaces of the insulating means (30) exposed to the external environment during the manufacture of the modular element (ten). 9. Wall structure (1) according to claim 8, in which the edge wind protection zone (35) is installed adjacent to the peripheral surface of each of at least two modular elements (10) of the frame structure (3). 10. Wall structure (1) according to claim 8 or 9, in which the wind protection (35) is made in the form of a single element corresponding to the dimensions of the modular element (10). 11. Wall structure (1) according to claim 9 or 10, in which the peripheral surface of each of the at least two modular elements (10) is provided with a groove (14) configured to receive the edge area of the wind protection (35) and a complementary adapted sealing strip (16), made with the possibility of jamming the windshield (35) in the groove (14). 12. Wall structure (1) according to claim 6 or 11, in which the vapor barrier (9) and wind protection (35) are wedged in a common groove (14). 13. Wall structure (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 12, in which each of the side parts of two adjacent frames (20) is provided with receiving means (50a, 50b) for receiving complementary adapted coupling means to allow two adjacent frames to be fastened together (20) with each other. 14. A method for manufacturing at least a part of a wall structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which includes the steps at which a load-bearing wall structure (1) is made of wood, containing a load-bearing frame structure (3) having an outer side and the inside; and install a vapor barrier (9) on the outer side of the supporting frame structure (3), characterized in that the method additionally includes the steps of providing a frame (20) containing a plurality of frame elements (22), each of which contains the first rail (24 ) and a second rail (26) connected to the first rail (24) at a distance from it using spacers (28) configured to transfer loads from the second rail (26) to the first rail (24); the first rail (24) of each frame element (22) of the frame (20) is attached to the corresponding vertical post (5) of the frame structure (3), ensuring that the vapor barrier (9) is clamped between the first rails (24) and the vertical posts (5) of the frame structure ( 3) so that the frame (20) - 11 039260 protruded from the outside of the frame structure (3); install insulating means (30) inside the frame elements (22) of the frame (20) and between them; and install windshield (35) adjacent to at least part of the frame (20). 15. The method according to claim 14, in which the load-bearing wall structure (1) is made in the form of a modular system containing at least two modular elements (10) made with the possibility of fastening to each other to provide part of the wall structure (1), and each of the modular elements (10) is provided with a frame (20). 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising placing a windscreen (35) adjacent to the surfaces of the insulating means (30) exposed to the external environment during the manufacture of the modular element (10). 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising placing the edge area of the vapor barrier (9) and the edge area of the wind protection in the groove (14) located on the peripheral surface of each of at least two modular elements (10) of the frame structure (3), and wedging each of said edge regions in the groove (14) by means of a sealing strip (16) complementary adapted to the groove (14). 18. The method according to any one of claims 15 and 17, further comprising attaching a frame part (20) of the first modular element (10) to a frame part (20) of an adjacent, second modular element (10).