EP3529444A1

EP3529444A1 - Burglary resistant room partitioning structure and method associated therewith

Info

Publication number: EP3529444A1
Application number: EP17862953.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Patrick Johansson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Atricon AB
Priority date: 2016-10-23
Filing date: 2017-10-23
Publication date: 2019-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-23
Also published as: EP3529444B1; WO2018074974A1; DK3529444T3; SE1651384A1; SE540466C2; EP3529444A4; PL3529444T3

Abstract

A burglary resistant room partitioning structure comprising a framework (1) of profile rails and panel-shaped building components (2), which are attached on each side of the framework, said framework comprising an elongated first profile rail (3), an elongated second profile rail (4), which is disposed substantially in parallel with the first profile rail, and a plurality of elongated third profile rails (5a-5e), which extend between and are disposed substantially orthogonally to the first and the second profile rail at a predetermined spacing, said third profile rails being disposed in the first and the second profile rail and supporting the panel-shaped building components. The room partitioning structure further comprises a mesh panel (13a-13d), which is disposed between two adjoining third profile rails, which secure the mesh panel between them and fix the mesh panel in its position in the room partitioning structure. The invention also pertains to a method of forming such a burglary resistant room partitioning structure.

Description

Burglary resistant room partitioning structure and method associated therewith

The present invention relates to a burglary resistant room partitioning structure comprising a framework of framing members and panel-shaped building components, which are attached on each side of the framework, said framework comprising an elongated first framing member, an elongated second framing member, which is disposed substantially in parallel with the first framing member, and a plurality of elongated third framing members, which extend between and are disposed substantially orthogonally to the first and the second framing member at a predetermined spacing, said third framing members being attached to the first and the second framing member and supporting the panel-shaped building components, said room partitioning structure further comprising at least one mesh panel, which is disposed between two adjoining third framing members and comprises mesh members forming a mesh structure.

The framing members can comprise profile rails, e.g. metal profile rails, or timber studs and rails. The present invention also relates to a method of forming such a burglary resistant room partitioning structure.

The room partitioning structure can, for example, form a wall, a ceiling, or a floor, which partitions a room or a portion thereof.

As used herein, burglary resistant structure means a structure that is resistant to break-ins.

The present invention especially relates to a burglary resistant room partitioning structure which is constructed using so-called lightweight construction technology. In such a structure, a framework of metal profile rails forms a structural support or a frame which is then covered with panel-shaped building boards. In a lightweight construction wall, the frame normally comprises a horizontal top framing member and a horizontal bottom framing member, which normally have a U-shaped cross-section and are usually called tracks. Vertical profile rails are mounted in the tracks at a predetermined spacing, e.g. in the range of 450-600 mm, onto which vertical profile rails the building boards are mounted. The vertical profile rails normally have a C- or Z- shaped cross-section in order to resist vertical pressure forces and to comply with the fire and acoustic requirements placed on the wall structure. Typically, each vertical profile rail exhibits two parallel flange portions which interact with and support one or several building boards, and a web portion interconnecting the flange portions. The flange portions may typically have a width of 70 mm, and the web portion may typically have a width of 95 mm. In order to comply with fire and acoustic requirements, the framework should normally have a thickness of at least 70 mm.

Lightweight construction floor and ceiling structures can be configured in a similar manner. Common materials for the building boards are gypsum, MDF (Medium Density Fiber), OSB (Orientated Strand Board), wood shaving, wood chip, magnesium oxide, calcium silicate, fiber cement, fiber-gypsum and composite boards.

These building boards have in common that they, from a burglary point of view, provide a very limited protection. A common way of increasing the capacity of the structure to resist break-ins is to combine the layer of building boards with one or several layers of steel sheet, which are mechanically mounted between the frame and the layer of building boards and thereby forms a mechanical protection against break-ins. How this is accomplished may vary, but the following requirements and classification usually govern the design.

In general, the mechanical protection is regarded as the basic protection against break-ins. Making the walls, floor and roof of a building so strong that they are difficult to force entry through can either delay a break-in to such an extent that the perpetrator is forced to abandon the break-in attempt, or force the perpetrator to use methods causing so much noise that the break-in attempt is discovered.

Normally, the mechanical burglary protection is adapted to the value and theft attractiveness of the property stored in the building or premises. In Sweden, specifiers, such as e.g. insurance companies, refer to requirements specified in the standard SSF 200 Regler for mekaniskt inbrottsskydd (Regulations for mechanical burglary protection). According to SSF 200, the mechanical protection for an object is divided into three different levels called Protection class 1, 2 and 3, where Protection class 3 means the highest level. Insurance companies and other specifiers follow this classification, and in broad outline the classification has been done according to the following principles:

Protection class 1 is applicable to buildings or premises where no or only a small amount of desirable property is stored.

Protection class 2 is applicable to buildings or premises where a larger amount of desirable property is stored.

Protection class 3 is applicable to buildings or premises which are primarily intended for storage of desirable property. In connection with mechanical protection, the requirements applying to the so- called 'enclosing surface' of a room are usually discussed. The enclosing surface is the room's separation from other rooms in the building and/or the outside environment, e.g. wall, floor, ceiling, door and window units, and the requirements placed thereon usually apply up to 4 meters above the ground or standing surface plane.

One acceptable way of reinforcing a less strong wall made of, for example, wood paneling, corrugated sheet metal, plasterboard or wood chip board is to mount a so called anti-burglar plate between two inner layers of building boards, which plate has a thickness according to the following table:

Protection class 1, anti-burglar plate t=0.8 mm.

Protection class 2, anti-burglar plate t= 1.0 mm.

Protection class 3, anti-burglar plate t=2.0 mm.

Panels of anti-burglar plate should be joined with at least 50 mm of overlap and be attached to each other with a center-to-center distance between attachment points which does not exceed 100 mm. Furthermore, the panels of anti-burglar plate should be attached to the framing members of the frame. The process of building a burglary resistant structure in this way is very time- consuming and laborious for the installers. Furthermore, the overlap of the anti-burglar plates when joining results in troublesome irregularities, which makes it difficult to achieve a smooth and level wall surface. Furthermore, it is costly to install wall to wall and floor to ceiling anti-burglar plates, since it requires a large consumption of the limited resource of steel.

Another method of forming a burglary resistant structure is disclosed in GB 2283256A. This document describes a break-in resistant structure consisting of expanded metal panels mounted between vertical sheet metal framing members in a wall structure so that framing bays are formed. Each framing bay is delimited laterally by two sheet metal framing members of C-shaped cross- section facing each other so that their grooves are facing each other. The expanded metal panel has a width corresponding to the width of the framing bay and extends into the groove formed by the cross-sectional shape of the sheet metal framing members at each sheet metal framing member. In order to prevent the expanded metal panel from being slid out from the grooves of the sheet metal framing members, the structure has clips securing the expanded metal panel to the steel framing members.

It has been found, however, that installation of the described structure is cumbersome and time-consuming. Especially the use of clips adds to the time consumption. Furthermore, it has been found that the clips do not sufficiently ensure securing of the expanded metal panel in the wall structure.

One object of the present invention to at least partially mitigate these problems and provide a burglary resistant room partitioning structure, e.g. a wall, ceiling or floor structure, which is easy and quick to install and provides reliable burglary protection.

Another object of the present invention to provide a burglary resistant room partitioning structure, which is inexpensive, but at the same times provides an acceptable burglary protection. A further object of the present invention to provide a burglary resistant room partitioning structure, which can supplement conventional lightweight construction, and can easily be integrated into a room partitioning structure constructed using lightweight construction technology. The burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to the invention is characterized in that said adjoining third framing members exhibit openings through which free ends of the mesh members extend, so that the adjoining third framing members secure the mesh panel between them, wherein said free ends, at at least one of said two adjoining third framing members, extend a predetermined distance (L) into adjacent framing bays, which distance is at least 5%, more preferably at least 10% and most preferably at least 20% of the width of the framing bay.

Said first framing member, said second framing member and said third framing members can comprise profile rails, e.g. metal profile rails, or timber studs and rails. The method according to the invention is characterized by the steps of:

arranging the first and second framing members in parallel with each other;

disposing a first framing member of said third framing members between the first and second parallel framing members;

- inserting the mesh panel between the first and second parallel framing members and bringing it into engagement with the first one of said third framing members by inserting and passing first free ends of the mesh panel into and through the openings in the first one of said third framing members; inserting a second framing member of said third framing members between the first and second parallel framing members and bringing it into engagement with the mesh panel by inserting and passing second free ends of the mesh panel into and through the openings in the second one of said third framing members, wherein the mesh panel is secured in the burglary resistant room partitioning structure between the first and the second third framing member; and

attaching panel-shaped building components to said third framing members,

wherein said free ends, at at least one of said two adjoining third framing members, are caused to extend a predetermined distance into adjacent framing bays, which distance is at least 5%, more preferably at least 10% and most preferably at least 20% of the width of the framing bay. Thus, according to the invention, mesh panels are placed inside the framework between adjoining third framing members and are secured to the framework by means of these framing members, whereby the mesh panels cannot be removed from the structure without having to first remove or deform one of the third framing members adjacent to the mesh panel. Causing at least one of said two adjoining third framing members to extend a predetermined distance into adjacent framing bays ensures that the mesh panel cannot be removed by breaking or bending it out of its plane. A number of advantages are obtained by disposing the mesh panels in the framing bays. The mesh panel can easily be integrated into the lightweight construction technology, where the framing members consist of metal profile rails, which means that the burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to the invention can be quickly and easily constructed. Furthermore, the installation of the mesh panel in the room partitioning structure requires no hot works, e.g. welding. Furthermore, the fire and acoustic characteristics of the room partitioning structure are not compromised by the integration of the mesh panel. Still another advantage is that the positioning of the mesh panel inside the framework means that the external dimensions of the room partitioning structure do not differ from corresponding dimensions of room partitioning structures constructed using conventional lightweight construction.

Preferably, said mesh panel is substantially planar and rigid, and has a width which exceeds the distance between said two adjoining third framing members.

In order to make sawing into the mesh panel more difficult, it may be advantageous to design it with a grid size which, in the plane of the mesh panel, exhibits a maximum opening dimension which does not exceed approx. 150 mm, and which preferably does not exceed approx. 100 mm. If the mesh panel, for example, exhibits a rectangular grid pattern, it may thus be advantageous if the rectangular openings in the mesh panel exhibit a width or length which does not exceed approx. 150 mm, and which preferably does not exceed approx. 100 mm. Said first framing member, said second framing member and said plurality of third framing members can be profile rails, e.g. metal profile rails. Alternatively, said first framing member, said second framing member and said plurality of third framing members can be timber studs or rails. Preferably, the mesh panel is connected to at least one of:

- the first framing member;

- the second framing member;

- at least one of the adjoining third framing members; and

- at least one adjacent mesh panel.

If said two adjoining third framing members are profile rails, said two adjoining third profile rails preferably each comprises:

- a first flange portion;

a second flange portion opposing the first flange portion; and

a web portion interconnecting the flange portions, which extends between the flange portions, wherein said flange portions support the building components and said web portions are in locking engagement with said mesh panels in the installed structure.

It may also be advantageous that said web portions are planar and that said third profile rails are oriented so that their web portions are facing each other, i.e. are parallel, and that said mesh panel comprises a plurality of elongated and substantially parallel first mesh members and a plurality of elongated second mesh members, wherein said second mesh members are connected to the first mesh members so that the first and second mesh members together form a mesh structure, wherein said first mesh members each comprises a first free end, which passes through an opening in the web portion of a first one of said two adjoining third profile rails, and a second free end, which passes through an opening in the web portion of a second one of said two adjoining third profile rails.

Preferably, the burglary resistant room partitioning structure comprises at least two adjacent mesh panels, which are connected to each other on each side of a web portion.

The mesh panels can advantageously comprise reinforcement mesh. In connection with the installation of the burglary resistant room partitioning structure, it may be advantageous to attach the third framing members to the first and second framing members. In the following, the invention will be described more closely with reference to attached patent drawings.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of a burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to the invention in the form of a wall structure.

Figure 2 shows a side view of a framing member in the wall structure of Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a top view of the wall structure of Figure 1 in cross-section.

Figure 4 shows a top view of a second embodiment of a burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to the invention in the form of a wall structure. In the following, a first embodiment of a burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to the invention in the form of a wall structure will be described more closely with reference to Figures 1-3.

The wall structure comprises a support frame in the form of a framework 1 of metal profile rails. The framework 1 forms a support for mounting of panel- shaped building components 2 in the form of building boards, which in this case are wall boards, on each side of the support frame.

The framework 1 comprises a first, substantially horizontally oriented lower profile rail 3 and a second, substantially horizontally oriented upper profile rail 4, which is disposed in parallel with and above the lower profile rail 3. The lower profile rail 3 has a U-shaped cross-section and is oriented so that the opening of the cross-section is facing upward. Also the upper profile rail 4 has a U-shaped cross-section, but is oriented so that the opening of the cross-section is facing downward.

The framework 1 also comprises a plurality of substantially vertically oriented third profile rails 5a-5e, out of which three profile rails 5c-5e are shown completely or partially hidden behind the wall boards 2 in Figure 1. The vertical profile rails 5a-5e have in a known way a C-shaped cross-section (see also Figure 3) and are oriented so that their lower ends connect to the lower profile rail 3, and so that their upper ends connect to the upper profile rail 4. More specifically, the vertical profile rails 5a-5e are disposed in the valleys formed by the U-shaped cross-sections of the horizontal profile rails 3, 4. The vertical profile rails 5a-5c are mutually parallel and disposed at a predetermined spacing, e.g. with a center-to-center distance (etc distance) in the range of 450-600 mm, so that they define framing bays 9a-9d between them.

Accordingly, the profile rails 3, 4, 5a-5e form a framework 1 for mounting of the wall boards 2, out of which only two are shown in Figure 1. In some connections, profile rails having a U-shaped cross-section, which are normally intended for horizontal mounting, are called tracks, whereas profile rails having a C-shaped cross-section, which are normally intended for vertical mounting, are called studs.

Each vertical profile rail 5a-5e comprises a first flange portion 6, a second flange portion 7 and a web portion 8 interconnecting the flange portions 6, 7. The flange portions 6, 7 are substantially planar and preferably mutually parallel. The web portion 8 is substantially planar and extends substantially orthogonally between the flange portions 6, 7. At the respective free edge of the flange portions 6, 7, the profile rail exhibits a folded or angled reinforcement portion 11, 12, which extends back toward the opposing flange portion and is substantially parallel with the web portion 8. The reinforcement portions 11, 12, which contribute to giving the profile rail 5a-5e its C-shaped cross-section, are in a known way arranged to increase the vertical load resistance capacity of the profile rail 5a-5e. If the profile rail 5a-5e is formed from sheet steel, the profile rail 5a-5e can in a known way be folded or bent along parallel folding or bending lines so as to form the flange, web and reinforcement portions.

The wall structure further comprises a plurality of mesh panels 13a-13d, out of which two are shown hidden behind the wall boards 2 in Figure 1. More specifically, one mesh panel 13a-13d is arranged in each framing bay 9a-9d, i.e. between each pair of adjoining vertical profile rails 5a, 5b; 5b, 5c; 5c, 5d; 5d, 5e. Each mesh panel 13a-13e comprises a plurality of elongated and substantially parallel first mesh members 14a-14d and a plurality of elongated second mesh members 15a-15d, which are connected to the first mesh members 14a-14d so that the first and second mesh members 14a-14d, 15a- 15d together form a mesh structure. In the shown embodiment, the first mesh members 14a-14d have a substantially horizontal orientation, while the second mesh members 15a-15d have a substantially vertical orientation, but it is appreciated that the mesh members can extend in other directions, for instance it is not necessary that the first and second mesh members intersect each other at right angles. The first mesh members 14a-14d each comprises a first free end 16 and an opposing second free end 17 (see Figure 3).

Each mesh panel 13a-13d extends in a vertical direction between the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4. Accordingly, the second mesh members 15a-15d have a length which is substantially the same as the length of the vertical profile rails 5a-5e. The first mesh members 14a-14d, on the other hand, have a length which is greater than the distance between two adjoining vertical profile rails 5a, 5b; 5b, 5c; 5c, 5d; 5d, 5e, or more specifically, which is greater than the distance between the web portions 8 of two adjoining vertical profile rails 5a, 5b; 5b, 5c; 5c, 5d; 5d, 5e, i.e. greater than the width of the framing bay. Preferably, each mesh panel 13a-13d has a width which is at least 10%-20% greater than the center-to-center distance between two adjoining vertical profile rails 5a, 5b; 5b, 5c; 5c, 5d; 5d, 5e. The web portions 8 of each vertical profile rail 5a-5e exhibit a plurality of through-openings 18a, 18b (see Figure 2) for receiving the mesh panels 13a- 13d. In the shown embodiment, the openings are disposed at a spacing which corresponds to the distance between adjoining mesh members 14a-14d in the length direction of the profile rail 5a-5e. In the length direction of the profile rail 5a-5e, each opening 18a, 18b exhibits a dimension allowing first mesh members from adjacent mesh panels, e.g. a first mesh member 14a from the first mesh panel 13a and a second mesh member 14b from the adjacent second mesh panel 13b, to fit in a single opening 18a, 18b - one mesh member above the other - as shown in Figure 2. Alternatively, each mesh member can be disposed in a respective opening. In the transverse direction of the profile rail 5a-5e, the openings 18, 18b are preferably positioned along the center line of the web portion 8, i.e. centrally between the flange portions 6 and 7.

When forming the wall structure of Figure 1, the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4 are first mounted to a floor section and a ceiling section, respectively, whereupon the first vertical profile rail 5a is preferably attached to the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4 at one end of the wall structure. Thereafter, the first mesh panel 13a is placed between the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4 and is inserted into the first vertical profile rail 5a, so that the free ends 16 of the mesh members 14a of the first mesh panel 13a are pushed into and through the openings 18a, 18b in the web portion 8 of the first vertical profile rail 5a so that the free ends 16 are caused to protrude a predetermined distance L on the other side of the web portion 8.

Thereafter, the second vertical profile rail 5b is placed between the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4, and is moved toward the first mesh panel 13a so that the free ends 17 of the mesh members 14a of the first mesh panel 13a are pushed into and through the openings 18a, 18b in the web portion 8 of the second vertical profile rail 5b, so that the free ends 17 are caused to protrude a predetermined distance L' on the other side of the web portion 8, i.e. into the space which later forms an adjacent framing bay 9b. Thereafter, the second vertical profile rail 5b is preferably attached to the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4, wherein the profile rails 5a and 5b fix the first mesh panel 13a in its position in the wall structure.

Thereafter, the second mesh panel 13b is placed between the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4 and is inserted into the second vertical profile rail 5b so that the free ends 16 of the mesh members 14b of the second mesh panel 13b are pushed into and through the openings 18a, 18b in the web portion 8 of the second vertical profile rail 5b, so that the free ends 16 are caused to protrude a predetermined distance on the other side of the web portion 8, e.g. into adjacent framing bay 9a. In order to enable this, the second mesh panel 13b is displaced slightly vertically relative to the first mesh panel 13a, so that, in each opening 18a, 18b, the free end 16 belonging to the second mesh panel 13b gets positioned under the free end 17 belonging to the first mesh panel 13a, as shown in Figure 2.

Thereafter, the third vertical profile rail 5c is placed between the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4 and is moved toward the second mesh panel 13b, so that the free ends 17 of the mesh members 14b of the second mesh panel 13b are pushed into and through the openings 18a, 18b in the web portion 8 of the third vertical profile rail 5c and are caused to protrude a predetermined distance on the other side of the web portion 8. Thereafter, the third vertical profile rail 5c is preferably attached to the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4, whereby the profile rails 5b and 5c fix the second mesh panel 13b in its position in the wall structure.

The mounting steps described in connection with the second mesh panel 13b are then repeated for the third mesh panel 13c and the fourth mesh panel 13d, whereby these mesh panels 13c, 13d are secured in the wall structure between the profile rails 5c and 5d, and between 5d and 5e, respectively, as shown in Figure 1. Preferably, the predetermined distance L, L', L" that the free ends extend into adjacent framing bays is at least approx. 5-20% of the width of the framing bays, i.e. at least approx. 5-20% of the etc distance between two adjoining third profile rails. More specifically, the predetermined distance is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 10%, even more preferably at least 15% and most preferably at least 20% of the width of the framing bay. At the ends of the wall structure, where adjacent framing bays are absent, it is preferred that the free ends protrude as far as allowed by the wall structure while taking into account any adjacent wall or opening in the wall structure. The preferred attachment of the vertical profile rails 5a-5e to the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4 can advantageously be realized with screwed, glued or nailed joints. Alternatively, the attachment can be done with clamps.

When the mesh panels 13a-13d and the vertical profile rails 5a-5e have been disposed in the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4 in the way specified above, the wall boards 2 are mounted onto the profile rails 3, 4 and 5a-5e in a conventional manner, e.g. by using nailed, glued or screwed joints, or a combination of these. The mounting of wall boards 2 can be done on one side of the framework 1, or on both sides thereof, as shown in Figure 3.

Thus, according to the invention, the mesh panels 13a-13d are secured in the wall structure by means of the vertical profile rails 5a-5e, which provides a simple and stable burglary resistant wall structure, which can be quickly installed, and which furthermore provides planar wall sections without any need for the subsequent filling and smoothing work associated with previously known burglary resistant room partitioning structures. Here it is appreciated that, from a burglary protection standpoint, it is not necessary that the vertical profile rails 5a-5e are attached to the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4, since the wall boards 2, and also the mesh panels 13a- 13d, prevent the vertical profile rails 5a-5e from moving to any great extent in the longitudinal direction of the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4. However, such an attachment may be preferred, since it improves the securing of the mesh panels 13a-13d in the wall structure.

It may be advantageous to attach adjacent mesh panels to each other on each side of the web portions 8, e.g. by attaching adjacent mesh panels to each other by means of lashing wire or by welding the mesh panels to each other, whereby a removal of the mesh panels from the wall structure is made even more difficult. It may also be advantageous to attach the mesh panels to at least one of the horizontal profile rails 3 and 4.

It may be advantageous to design the mesh members 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d in hardened steel. In some applications, it may be sufficient that only some of the mesh members 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, for example each second, each third or each fourth mesh member 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d and/or 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d are designed in hardened steel.

In order to increase the burglary protection capacity of the mesh panels 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, it may be advantageous to connect the mesh members 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d to the mesh members 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d where they intersect each other, for example by welding at the intersection points, e.g. induction welding the horizontal mesh members 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d to the vertical mesh members 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d.

In order to make sawing into the mesh panels 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d with a hacksaw more difficult, it may be advantageous to design them with a grid size which, in the plane of the mesh panel, exhibits a maximum opening dimension which does not exceed approx. 150 mm, and which preferably does not exceed approx. 100 mm. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, where the openings defined by the mesh members are rectangular, said maximum opening dimension is formed by the diagonals of the openings. In order to make sawing into the mesh panels 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d with a hacksaw even more difficult, it may be advantageous that the panel-shaped building components 2 on at least one side of the framework 1 are formed from rigid fiber boards, e.g. plywood boards, MDF boards or wood chip boards. Sawing is not prevented to any great extent if the panel-shaped building components 2 are formed from plasterboards.

It is also appreciated that, within the scope of the invention, it is possible to place several mesh panels in each framing bay, so that these mesh panels form several layers, which would additionally increase the burglary protection capacity of the structure.

It may be advantageous to use conventional reinforcement mesh, which, on the one hand, is relatively inexpensive and, on the other hand, is available in an array of dimensions, as mesh panels, whereby a suitable dimension can be selected so as to match the desired burglary protection. Reinforcement meshes are normally available with a material thickness in the range of 5-20 mm and a grid size between 100*100 mm and 200*200 mm. Furthermore, reinforcement meshes can easily be adapted to the desired center-to-center distance between the vertical profile rails. It is appreciated, however, that other rigid mesh panels can be used, as long as the mesh panel provides the required structural strength and exhibits mesh members with free ends, so that the mesh panel can be secured between adjoining vertical profile rails in the above-described manner. Figure 4 shows a top view of a second embodiment of a burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to the invention in the form of a wall structure. Unlike the above-described first embodiment, the wall structure in this case comprises a support frame in the form of a framework of timber studs and rails. The framework comprises a plurality of substantially vertically oriented third timber studs, out of which two timber studs 5b, 5c are shown in Figure 4. The studs 5b and 5c form a framing bay 9b in which a mesh panel 13b is disposed, wherein said mesh panel 13b, like the above-described mesh panels, comprises mesh members 14b having free ends 16, 17 which, via openings 18a in the studs 5b, 5c, extend a predetermined distance L, L' into adjacent framing bays 9a-9b, which distance is at least approx. 5-20% of the width of the framing bay 9b, i.e. at least approx. 5-20% of the etc distance between the two adjoining studs 5b and 5c. More specifically, the predetermined distance L, L' is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 10%, even more preferably at least 15 % and most preferably at least 20% of the width of the framing bay 9b.

In the foregoing, the invention has been described starting from a number of embodiments. However, the skilled person will appreciate that other embodiments or variations thereof are possible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A burglary resistant room partitioning structure comprising a framework (1) of framing members and panel-shaped building components (2), which are attached on each side of the framework (1), said framework (1) comprising an elongated first framing member (3), an elongated second framing member (4), which is disposed substantially in parallel with the first framing member (3), and a plurality of elongated third framing members (5a-5e), which extend between and are disposed substantially orthogonally to the first and the second framing member (3, 4) at a predetermined spacing, so that framing bays (9a- 9d) are formed between adjoining third framing members, said third framing members (5a-5e) being attached to the first and the second framing member (3, 4) and supporting the panel-shaped building components (2), said room partitioning structure further comprising at least one mesh panel (13a-13d), which is disposed in the framing bay (9a-9d) between two adjoining third framing members (5a-5e) and comprises mesh members (14a-14d, 15a-15d) forming a mesh structure, characterized in that said adjoining third framing members (5a-5e) exhibit openings (18a, 18b) through which free ends (16, 17) of the mesh members (14a-14d, 15a-15d) extend, so that the adjoining third framing members (5a-5e) secure the mesh panel (13a-13d) between them, wherein said free ends (16, 17), at at least one of said two adjoining third framing members (5a-5e), extend a predetermined distance (L, L', L") into adjacent framing bays (9a-9d), which distance is at least 5%, more preferably at least 10% and most preferably at least 20% of the width of the framing bay (9a-9d).

2. The burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said mesh panel (13a-13d) is connected to at least one of:

- the first framing member (3);

- the second framing member (4);

- at least one of the adjoining third framing members (5a-5e); and

- at least one adjacent mesh panel (13a-13d).

3. The burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to any one of preceding claims, characterized in that said mesh panel (13a-13d) is substantially planar and rigid, and has a width which exceeds the distance between said two adjoining third framing members (5a-5e).

4. The burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that said first framing member, said second framing member and said plurality of third framing members are timber studs or rails.

5. The burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that said first framing member, said second framing member and said plurality of third framing members are profile rails.

6. The burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to claim 5, characterized in that said two adjoining third framing members are profile rails (5a-5e) which each comprises:

a first flange portion (6);

a second flange portion (7) opposing the first flange portion (6); and a web portion (8) interconnecting the flange portions (6, 7), which extends between the flange portions (6, 7),

wherein sad flange portions (6, 7) support the building components (2) and said web portions (8) exhibit said openings (18a, 18b).

7. The burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to claim 6, characterized in that said web portions (8) are in locking engagement with said mesh panel (13a-13d).

8. The burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to any one of the claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said web portions (8) are planar, and that said mesh panel (13a-13d) comprises a plurality of elongated and substantially parallel first mesh members (14a-14d) and a plurality of elongated second mesh members (15a-15d), said first and second mesh members (14a-14d, 15a-15d) together forming a mesh structure, wherein said first mesh members (14a-14d) each comprises a first free end (16), which passes through an opening (18a, 18b) in the web portion (8) of a first one of said two adjoining third profile rails (5a-5d), and a second free end (17), which passes through an opening (18a, 18b) in the web portion (8) of a second one of said two adjoining third profile rails (5a-5d).

9. The burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to any one of the claims 6-8, characterized in that it comprises at least two adjacent mesh panels (13a-13d) which are connected to each other on each side of a web portion (8).

10. The burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to any one of preceding claims, characterized in that said mesh panel (13a-13d) comprises a reinforcement mesh.

11. A method of forming a burglary resistant room partitioning structure according to any one of preceding claims, characterized by the steps of:

arranging the first and second framing members (3, 4) in parallel with each other;

disposing a first framing member (5a) of said third framing members (5a- 5e) between the first and second parallel framing members (3, 4);

inserting the mesh panel (13a) between the first and second parallel framing members (3, 4) and bringing it into engagement with the first one of said third framing members (5a) by inserting and passing first free ends (16) of the mesh panel (13a) into and through the openings (18a, 18b) in the first one of said third framing members (5a);

inserting a second framing member (5b) of said third framing members (5a-5e) between the first and second parallel framing members (3, 4) and bringing it into engagement with the mesh panel (13a) by inserting and passing second free ends (17) of the mesh panel (13a) into and through the openings (18a, 18b) in the second one of said third framing members (5a), wherein the mesh panel (13a) is secured in the burglary resistant room partitioning structure between the first (5a) and the second (5b) third framing member; and

attaching panel-shaped building components (2) to said third framing members (5a-5e), wherein said free ends (16, 17), at at least one of said two adjoining third framing members (5a-5e), are caused to extend a predetermined distance (L, L', L") into adjacent framing bays (9a-9d), which distance is at least 5%, more preferably at least 10% and most preferably at least 20% of the width of the framing bay (9a-9d).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized by the step of attaching said first framing member (5a) and said second framing member (5b) of said third framing members (5a-5e) to the first and second parallel framing members (3, 4).