EP0537277B1

EP0537277B1 - Wall element system

Info

Publication number: EP0537277B1
Application number: EP91913475A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Harold Johannes Theodorus Vonken
Original assignee: REWA BUDEL BV
Current assignee: REWA BUDEL BV
Priority date: 1990-07-03
Filing date: 1991-07-03
Publication date: 1994-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-03
Also published as: WO1992001124A1; DE69104205D1; NL9001513A; EP0537277A1; AU8191491A; ATE112002T1; DE69104205T2

Abstract

Wall element system comprising construction components (1) to be used in semi-permanent construction. Each of these construction components (1) is composed of concrete slabs (2) with insulating material (3) between them. A profile (4) is fitted around each construction component (1) so that they can be linked together. These profiles (4) are placed between the concrete slabs (2) and do not protrude from them. The wall component system includes coupling elements (7) to be placed in the profiles (4) to link construction components (1) vertically.

Description

The invention concerns a wall element system as outlined in claim 1. The invention also relates to a construction component suited for use in the wall element system.
Such a system and component are known from GB 454,323.
The known system uses a spline as coupling element between horizontally adjacent components and the seam formed between the components is preferably to be filled up with a hardening substance such as cement. The filled seam is however visible and therefore needs to be finished, which increases the total costs of the known system. Furthermore the seam which will at least partly be filled with air forms a relatively easy to cross path for sound going from one side of the component to the other side.
Since the mixing and application of the hardening substance calls for the use of a wet construction method, walls built in this way cannot be dismantled non-destructively. Furthermore, relatively expensive labour is needed for mixing and application of the hardening substance.
Since the weather, an important influence on a wet construction method, needs to meet a number of specific requirements, the construction personnel will not be able to work continuously.
The purpose of the invention is to provide a light-weight component system specially aimed at the semi-permanent construction market, such as pavilion construction. It should be possible to assemble this system quickly by someone without any special training. The system should guarantee sufficient stability and vandal resistance, and it should be able to be dismantled.
For these reasons, the wall component system according to the invention has characterizing features outlined in claim 1.
It is to be noted that WO 88/08472 discloses prefabricated panels with flat edges of insulating material in between polyconcrete slabs having correspondingly bevelled contact surfaces at the top and bottom respectively of the slab.
The advantage of the wall elementsystem according to the invention is that it is less vulnerable to shocks during loading, transport, storage on construction sites and during the actual process of building the wall. In practice it has proved impossible to pound the profile sunk between the concrete slabs.
It will be possible to link horizontally construction components by means of the profiles fitted on the sides of the construction component. The corresponding profiles of, for example, a vertical coupling column, a standard or a corner column fit into these profiles. The components can be linked vertically using coupling elements which fit into the profiles at the top or bottom of the construction components.
The invention also concerns a construction component to be used in the wall component system according to the invention. The internal and external walls of the wall component system are formed by the surfaces of the concrete slabs concerned. Especially for use in semi-permanent construction, they are finished on both sides during manufacture, rendering additional plastering, white-washing, painting and/or wall-papering unnecessary. This is one of the essential differences between the construction component as outlined in the invention, and rough concrete construction, or construction using bricks or concrete blocks.
The construction component as described in the invention is on the one hand strong and resilient, and on the other hand, light and easy to handle. This is due to the use of polymer concrete which contains polyester. From an environmental point of view, the use of fibrous concrete and gypsum concrete is preferable to the use of pure polymer concrete, as the former generally contain fewer polymers.
The hard polymer concrete used in the construction component as described in the invention, will absorb forces sufficiently to be able to guarantee the solidity of the system. Furthermore, the sandwich-like construction of the component, in combination with the relatively high density of the polymer concrete, forms the basis for meeting the soundinsulation criteria which are particularly important in semi-permanent construction such as for classrooms or offices.
Not only is fibrous concrete highly shock-resistant but, similar to gypsum concrete, it is also fire-proof and absorbs very little liquid, so that the insulating materials remain dry and the insulating qualities are retained longer. It can be manufactured with small tolerances, guaranteeing exact dimensions. The positive shrinking and expanding features of fibrous and gypsum concrete allow the construction components to be connected virtually without seams, guaranteeing exact dimensions over a longer period of time, and minimizing the risk of draught.
Due to their relatively light weight and force resistance, various kinds of polymer concrete, including the very strong polyester concrete, are ideal for use in the construction component as described in the invention. Fibrous concrete and the recently developed gypsum concrete are especially suitable. These kinds of concrete will enable a 50% weight reduction compared to standard construction components with stone-like finish.
The further advantage of the wall component system as described in the invention is that both the coupling elements and the standards are fully embedded in insulating material and out of contact with the concrete slabs. This prevents the occurrence of a cold bridge inside the wall and reduces the risk of local condensation.
The advantage of this latter version of the wall component system as described in the invention is that pointing is no longer necessary to obtain sufficient cross stability of the wall. Now a dry building method can be used and weather influences are not important anymore. Therefore erection of the wall is no longer influenced by prevailing weather conditions.
The corresponding bevelled contact surfaces resting on top of each other, possibly in combination with force absorbing vertical standards, are capable of absorbing bearing forces from, for example, roof panels or roof frames. In this way it will even be possible to erect a storey on the pavilion without problems.
The invention will hereinafter be explained in more detail on the basis of the drawing in which identical elements bear identical numbers of reference.

Fig. 1a, 1b and 1c show respectively a top view, a front view and a side view of a construction component as described in the invention for use in the wall component system according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a cross-section of two construction components as described in the invention to be connected to a standard by means of profiled ends; and
Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the profiled ends of construction components as described in the invention which are to be mounted on each other, to be linked by means of a coupling element.

Figures 1a, 1b and 1c show respectively a top view, a front view and a side view of a construction component 1. Construction component 1 is composed of two parallel concrete slabs 2 between which a layer 3 of insulating material is poured. A somewhat H-formed or crenellated profile 4 as indicated in Fig. 1a is placed in the insulating material 3.
Fig. 2 shows in retail how the corresponding ends of neighbouring construction components are linked horizontally by means of profile 4. Especially between adjoining concrete slabs of construction components, there will be a seam to allow the material to respond to temperature changes without giving rise to negative effects. In general, profile 4 will be shaped so that the dividing surface between two adjoining construction components staggers as much as possible. Thus the distance to be covered by sound-waves going form one side of the construction component to the other side is lengthened, ensuring the optimum sound resisting properties of such a staggered profile. A standard 5, whether bearing or not, is situated between the profiled ends of the neighbouring construction components 1. This standard is fitted with profiles 6 which correspond with profiles 4. Fig. 2 clearly shows that standard 5 is covered with the insulating material 3. This results in the important physical advantage that there is no cold bridge at the dividing surface between two construction components.
Fig. 3 is cross-section showing how two construction components 1, to be placed on each other, are linked by means of a coupling element 7. Coupling element 7 fits in the profiled ends 8 of the construction components. The coupling element shown has a very simple rectangular cross-section. The profiled end 8 is again staggered in order to lenghten the distance. Concrete slabs 2 are fitted with corresponding contact surfaces 9 and 10 which have been bevelled slightly. This makes them more watertight and gives better cross stability. Furthermore, pointing is no longer necessary. A dry building method can be used for constructing a wall.
Polyurethane foam could be used as insulating material. Lightweight polymer concrete containing polyester, fibrous concrete or gypsum concrete is best used for manufacturing concrete slabs 2. Such synthetic concrete slabs can be thin without reducing stability and shock resistance. The contact surfaces or profiles concerned can be glued for the construction of a so-called windbracing. However, the wall component system can no longer be easily dismantled.
The construction components are manufactured preferably with polymer concrete slabs ranging in thickness from one to several centimeters. The slabs may be placed 6-10 cm apart. Elements with a profile that is complementary to or that forms the counterpart of the profile to be placed near the edges of the slabs. The space which has now been created is filled with an appropriate hardening insulating liquid. Before filling this space with the insulating material, glue can be applied on the sides of the fibrous concrete slabs facing this space.

Claims

Wall element system, comprising prefabricated construction components (1) consisting of concrete slabs (2) with insulating material (3) in between the slabs (2), whereby each construction component (1) is provided with profiled edges (4, 8) all round allowing mutual coupling with neighbouring components, said profiled edges (4, 8) being formed within the insulating material (3) between the concrete slabs (2) and not protruding beyond the edge of said slabs (2) and whereby the wall element system includes coupling elements (5, 7) to be placed in the profiled edges(4, 8) for linking the construction components (1), characterized in that the profiled edges (4) for linking neighbouring construction components (1) horizontally are formed as a generally rectangular groove with a plurality of smaller grooves at the bottom of said generally rectangular groove, that the concrete slabs (2) contain polymer concrete and that the polymer concrete slabs (2) have correspondingly bevelled contact surfaces (10, 9) at the top (10) and bottom (9) edges respectively of the slab (2) for linking neighbouring construction components (1) vertically.
Construction component consisting of concrete slabs (2) with insulating material (3) in between the slabs (2), whereby said construction component (1) is provided with profiled edges (4, 8) all round allowing mutual coupling with neighbouring components, said profiled edges (4, 8) being formed within the insulating material (3) between the concrete slabs (2) and not protruding beyond the edge of said slabs (2), characterized in that the profiled edges (4) for linking neighbouring construction components (1) horizontally are formed as a generally rectangular groove with a plurality of smaller grooves at the bottom of said generally rectangular groove, that the concrete slabs (2) contain polymer concrete and that the polymer concrete slabs (2) have correspondingly bevelled contact surfaces (10, 9) at the top (10) and bottom (9) edges respectively of the slab (2) for linking neighbouring construction components (1) vertically, whereby the polymer concrete slabs (2) contain polyester.
Construction component according to claim 2, whereby the polymer concrete slabs (2) contain fibrous concrete and/or gypsum concrete.