GB2024911A

GB2024911A - Buildings

Info

Publication number: GB2024911A
Application number: GB7923843A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PREUDHOMME P
Current assignee: PREUDHOMME P
Priority date: 1978-07-10
Filing date: 1979-07-09
Publication date: 1980-01-16
Also published as: JPS5516197A; LU79952A1; BE877343A; FR2431007B1; OA06291A; IT1122072B; FR2431007A1; IT7924198A0; DE2927744A1

Abstract

A building comprises a metal framework (1) concealed in the thickness of the outer walls (6, 9) of the building which comprise opaque or transparent outer panels (6) fixed to the framework (1) by clamping them on elastic joint members (5) by means of adjustable fasteners (8), and opaque inner panels (9) clamped to the framework (1). The building may also include movable transparent outer panels (7) mounted on the framework (1), and internal cladding frames (10) for the glazed openings, which frames are pressed against the framework by a flexible joint (5) acting on the inner face of the glazing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Building erection method and structure obtained thereby The present invention relates to a method for the erection of variable, extensible buildings by the assembly of juxtaposable, interchangeable modular elements, and also to modular buildings obtained by this method.

It is current practice to construct buildings having carrying facades in accordance with a modular grid, the building being composed of a carrying frame and infill or finishing elements. The framework may be of wood, metal or reinforced concrete. If the structure is of wood, it is fairly vulnerable to climatic or atmospheric variations and also to ageing; furthermore, it offers little security in the event of fire and the superimposition of a plurality of levels or the covering of large spaces is difficult.If the structure is of steel or of reinforced concrete, the layout generally follows the overall shape defined by the main uprights, thus preventing or limiting any variability or the possibility of adaptation to include other configurations; furthermore, the large sections of the uprights or posts make it impossible for them to be incorporated in the thickness of the wall, so that not only are architectural possibilities restricted but thermal bridges are formed and problems can arise over protection against the weather.

The carrying framework is built by joining together the necessary number of frames comprising top and bottom horizontal girders and vertical posts; they may be joined together by various means known perse, for example by means of bolts or keys. After construction of the carrying framework, fixed or movable, opaque or transparent panels must be placed in position, suitable internal cladding must be provided, and as far as possible good sealing must be achieved in relation to outside air and humidity. These operations are complicated and require the use of numerous accessory or intermediate parts, such as outside windowframes, lintels, sills, coping, window returns, window-sashes, and so on, thus entailing the services of numerous tradesmen which can create coordinational and/or organisation problems.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide standardised modular elements which, when combined with one another, offer a very wide range of possibilities for permitting the construction of a very large variety of modular buildings having a metal carrying framework incorporate in the facades, thus making it possible to avoid the various disadvantages mentioned above and to obtain economically a building whose volume and appearance can be modified and which provides a full guarantee of strength, tightness and resistance to deterioration.

To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of this invention, there is provided a building comprising a building assembled from a plurality of modular Darts comprising a) a supporting framework of metal sections, b) at least one opaque impermeable modular outer panel fixed with adjustable fasteners direct to the supporting framework by clamping it on a flexible joint member to provide a tight connection between the or each panel and the framework, c) at least one opaque insulating inner modular panel clamped to the framework in facing relationship with the or each of said outer panels said framework being concealed between the inner and outer panels providing the outer walls of the building.

Preferably at least one transparent outer panel is installed in the framework by clamping it thereto on a one of said flexible jointing members.

Conveniently, at least one transparent outer panel of toughened glass is movably mounted on the framework.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one inner cladding frame for a glazed opening is mounted in the framework, said cladding frame being shaped to conceal the supporting framework and to thermally insulate it when in position thereon, the or each of said inner cladding frames having a one of said flexible joint members around its periphery which is pressed against the inside face of a transparent outer panel on the framework to make a seal therewith.

In a preferred process of erecting a building, a carrying framework of metal sections is erected on which fixed or movable, opaque or transparent interchangeable modular panels are fixed direct, the carrying framework being concealed in the thickness of the outer walls of the building and these outer walls being built with the aid of:: - Impermeable and opaque modular outer panels fixed direct to the carrying framework by clamping, on joints providing a flexible, tight connection between the panels and the support, with the aid of adjustable fasteners; opaque insulating inner panels placed facing the said opaque outer panels and likewise fixed to the framework by clamping; - transparent outer panels which are fixed and installed without frames by clamping on a flexible joint similar to those previously mentioned;; - transparent outer panels which are movable and are composed of hardened glass elements mounted direct by known means on the framework, and - inner cladding frames for the glazed openings, concealing the carrying framework and thermally insulating it, these frames being fixed to the framework so as to apply a constantpressure to the inside face of the glazing by means of a flexible joint provided over the entire periphery.

This process for the construction of buildings which are variable and extensible and consist of one or more storeys make use of the assembly in accordance with a modular grid of facade carrying.

elements produced in the factory. These buildings are consequently composed of carrying elements consisting of metal sections of standardised dimensions and of likewise standardised supported elements which constitute the inside and outside finishing, are opaque or glazed, fixed or movable, interdependent and interchangeable, and are fixed direct to the sections jointed together in the form of juxtaposed and/or superimposed frames. The whole arrangement thus has the appearance of a juxtaposition and/or superimposition of frames of identical dimensions supporting the floor of floors and the roof framework, to which frames the finishing elements are fixed direct.

The mobility of the movable transparent outer elements can be achieved in any known manner, for instance, by sliding with the aid of rollers on top and bottom metal sections fixed direct to the framework; these sections may for example be aluminium rails.

Although the metal sections which constitute the framework may be girders, it is preferred to use tubular steel sections of square or rectangular section.

In order to avoid the risk of condensation in the exterior walls, it is advantageous for the outer elements of the walls, that is to say the opaque panels, to be ventilated.

The joints providing a flexible, tight connection between the panels and the support are preferably of synthetic elastomers treated in order to give them good resistance to weather and to ageing.

Advantageously strips of elastomer of a suitable width are used which are provided, on the side which will face the opposite side to the support, with a series of insulated tongues which flatten out when the panels are clamped against the support.

If the solid outer panels are provided with facing elements, the latter are advantageously clamped against an elastomer section providing a flexible, tight connection.

The inner opaque panels may be composed of any suitable insulating material known per se, such as wood, expanded or non-expanded plastics material, plasterboards, and the like. In order to obtain exceptional insulating properties, it is possible in a known manner to use panels of polyurethane foam of a thickness of at least 4 cm.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is also applicable to cases where on or the other of the various elements forming panels is eliminated.

Thus, for example, the invention is still applicable in cases where the fixed transparent panels or movable transparent panels are not used.

The present invention also covers buildings having a metal framework which are built in accordance with the process described above, in any of the variant embodiments.

Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the invention will now become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, by way of example only, with reference to the single Figure of the accompanying drawing which shows a carrying framework which is first constructed of tubular steel sections welded together so as to form a grip capable of supporting the weight of a roof or of one or more upper storeys and a roof.

This framework comprises a bottom longitudinal member 1 and a top longitudinal member 2 of 80 mm square tubes or possibly 80 mm x 40 mm rectangular tubes to which are welded, in accordance with a modular grid (1200 mm), post members 3 consisting of 100 mm x 50 mm rectangular tubes whose sheet thickness varies between 3 and 8 mm in accordance with the load (number of storeys) to be carried thereby. The bottom member 1 is sealed by means of anchoring lugs 4 to the concrete foundation or it is welded to metal posts resting on foundation rafts.

The end of each tubular section is closed by a flat iron piece welded thereto in order to prevent any entry of air and to provide protection against corrosion. This flat iron piece projects 2-3 mm beyond the front face of each post and serves as a stop for a special joint member 5 of EPT (ethylene propylene terpolymer), which is adhesively bonded to cover the narrow outer face over the entire height of the tube. This joint must be able to withstand wide variations of temperature and to permit the clamping of the opaque or transparent elements, which close the facades, against the supporting tubular section; through its special design (projecting tongues which flatten out when the clamping is effected), this joint provides a good air and water tight seal over the entire height of the panels, while still permitting the free expansion of all the component elements of the building.

Opaque facade panels 6 or glazed facade panels 7 are suspended from the framework by means of adjustable angle brackets 8 of steel which may be galvanised. These are bolted to the top and bottom longitudinal members and are clamped against the EPT joints 5 to enable each panel to be placed at the correct level.

On the inner side, the opaque panels are finished by a plaster panel 9 lined with polyurethane or some other thermal insulation material.

For the glazed panels, a frame 10 of wood, of self coloured PVC, or of anodised aluminium, is slipped between the uprights of the frame, to which uprights it is fixed and clamped by simple pressure against the glazing through the interposition of a flexible seal, also of EPT. This frame 10 provides the opening, ensures double tightness, and protects the framework while providing it with thermal insulation, thereby eliminating all possibility of thermal bridges.

Claims

1. A building assembled from a plurality of modular parts comprising a) a supporting framework of metal sections, b) at least one opaque impermeable modular outer panel fixed with adjustable fasteners direct to the supporting framework by clamping it on a flexible joint member to provide a tight connection between the or each panel of the framework, c) at least one opaque insulating inner modular panel clamped to the framework in facing relationship with the or each of said outer panels said framework being concealed between the inner and outer panels providing the outer walls of the building.

2. A building as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one transparent outer panel is installed in the framework by clamping it thereto on a one of said flexible jointing members.

3. A building as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein at least one transparent outer panel of hardened glass is movably mounted on the framework.

4. A building as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one inner cladding frame for a glazing opening is mounted in the framework, said cladding frame being shaped to conceal the supporting framework and to thermally insulate it when in position thereon, the or each of said inner cladding frames having a one of said flexible joint members around its periphery which is pressed against the inside face of a transparent outer panel on the framework to make a seal therewith.

5. A building as claimed In claim 3 wherein the or each movable panel is movable with the aid of rollers on top and bottom metal sections fixed direct to the framework.

6. A building as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the metal framework consists of tubular steel sections of square or rectangular cross section.

7. A process as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the outer panels are ventilated.

8. A building as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each joint member is made of a synthetic elastomer material treated to give it good resistance to weather and to ageing.

9. A building as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the insulating properties of the inner opaque panels are obtained by using panels of polyurethane foam of a thickness of at least 4 cm.

10. A building as claimed in any preceding claim wherein any facing elements provided on the solid walls are clamped against an elastomer section which provides a flexible, tight connection.

1 1. A process for the erection of variable, extensible industrial buildings comprising a carrying framework of metal sections on which fixed or movable, opaque or transparent interchangeable modular panels are fixed direct, the carrying framework being concealed in the thickness of the outer walls of the building and these outer walls being built with the aid of:: - Impermeable and opaque modular outer panels fixed direct to the carrying framework by clamping, on joints providing a flexible, tight connection between the panels and the support, with the aid of adjustable fasteners; opaque insulating inner panels placed facing the said opaque outer panels and likewise fixed to the framework by clamping; - transparent outer panels which are fixed and installed without frames by clamping on a flexible joint similar to those previously mentioned; ; - transparent outer panels which are movable and are composed of hardened glass elements mounted direct by known means on the framework, and - inner cladding frames for the glazed openings, concealing the carrying framework and thermally insulating it, these frames being fixed to the framework so as to apply a constant pressure to the inside face of the glazing by means of a flexible joint provided over the entire periphery.