GB2099033A - Partitioning buildings - Google Patents

Abstract

Within an outer building enclosure comprising opposed side walls 11 and a roof 12, a sub-frame is erected consisting of lattice girders 13 supported at an intermediate level on vertical columns 14. Prefabricated panels are then assembled and fixed to the frame members such that the upper surfaces of the panels combine to provide a substantially continuous floor area for the roofspace while the lower surfaces of the panels combine to provide a substantially continuous ceiling area for the space beneath the panels. The space beneath the panels is then partitioned by means of prefabricated wall panels, the columns 14 being concealed in respective gaps between adjacent wall panels. Air conditioning and/or other service ducts 15 are supported by the lattice frame girders, the ducts passing through the lattice and having outlet ports disposed in precut openings in the panels supported by the girders. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to the construction of buildings This invention relates to the construction of buildings.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a building comprising side walls and a roof forming an enclosure, a plurality of transverse structural frame members extending between opposing sidewalls of the enclosure at an intermediate level, and a plurality of prefabricated panels supported by the frame members, the upper surfaces of the panels combining to provide a substantially continuous floor area for the enclosed space above the panels and the lower surfaces of the panels combining to provide a substantially continuous ceiling area for the enclosed space beneath the panels.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of constructing a building, the method comprising erecting a sub-frame within an outer enclosure, the sub-frame consisting of transverse structural frame members supported at an intermediate level on vertical columns and extending between opposed side walls of the enclosure; assembling and fixing a plurality of prefabricated panels to the frame members such that the upper surfaces of the panels combine to provide a substantially continuous floor area for the space above the panels and the lower surfaces of the panels combine to provide a substantially continuous ceiling area for the space beneath the panels; and thereafter subdividing or partitioning the space beneath the panels with one or more internal wails.

Each panel preferably comprises an inner core sandwiched between metal skins faced with a plastics material. The metal skins may be backed by a rigid board or sheet material, such as plywood, for additional strength.

The interior walls in the space beneath the panels are preferably non load-bearing walls erected from prefabricated panels similar or identical to the ceiling panels. The wall panels may then be connected to the ceiling panels by angle brackets, the joints between the wall panels and the ceiling panels being concealed by a trim strip assembly as described, for example, in our copending application No.8112732.

In addition, at least some of the joints between adjacent walls or ceiling panels are preferably concealed by welding together the plastics facing on each panel as described in our co-pending application No. 8112181.

The transverse frame members are preferably supported at spaced intervals by vertical columns, the dimensions of each column being such that, with the columns disposed in respective gaps between adjacent wall panels, the columns are concealed by trim strips bridging the gap between the sandwich panels on each side of the column.

Air conditioning and/or other service ducts are installed above the ceiling panels. The transverse frame members are preferably lattice or openframe girders, the ducts then passing through the open-frame or lattice of the girders and having outlet ports passing through pre-cut openings in the ceiling panels. The ports may terminate in diffusers disposed in the areas being conditioned.

In this manner, there is provided a building system in which a sub-frame is first erected within a previously erected outer dry enclosure and in which prefabricated wall and ceiling panels are then installed to provide a suite within the subframe, the plant for servicing the suite being installed at the same time within the enclosure and being supported by the subframe above the ceiling panels. The outer enclosure may consist of the walls and roof of an existing building, or may be erected for the purpose of housing the airconditioned suite. In either case, the panels can be .prefabricated at a factory remote from the site of the outer enclosure while the site is being prepared and the sub-frame erected. According!y, the time required to complete the final building is minimised.

By way of example only, a building system embodying the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the basic structural members, Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the assembly of prefabricated panels on the girders, Fig. 3 is a detail showing adjacent ceiling panels supported on one form of a girder, Fig. 4 is a detail showing adjacent ceiling panels supported on an alternative form of girder, and Fig. 5 is a detail showing a vertical support column concealed between two adjacent wall panels.

In Fig. 1, a portal frame building has a concrete foundation or base 10, a pair of opposed side walls 11 and a roof 12. The side walls 11 and roof 12 can be formed in any desired manner using either traditional building techniques or prefabricated units, or a combination of both.

A number of lattice girders are then connected between the opposing side walls 11, the girders being parallel with one another and being supported at intervals by vertical columns 14. The general arrangement is shown in Fig. 2. The girders are positioned at an intermediate level so that the space below the girders can be partitioned to provide a suite of rooms while the space above the girders can be used for the plant necessary to service the rooms.

The servicing plant might include, for example, an air-conditioning unit supplying air-conditioning ducts 1 5 (Fig. 1) extending transverse to the girders 1 3 and passing through the lattice framework of the girders. Any such plant would be supported by the girders, and the ducts would include outlet ports piercing the ceiling panels 16 through pre-cut openings and terminating in diffusers.

A number of prefabricated panels 16 are then positioned between, and supported by, the girders; the panels providing a continuous covered area beneath the girders and a continuous floor area above the girders.

Fig. 3 illustrates a method of locating and securing adjacent panels on the qpposing flanges of the bottom rail of a lattice girder, the bottom rail having a "top-hat" section. The edges of the two panels 16 rest on the flanges 17 of the rail 18 and the panels are held in position by a retaining plate 19, the plate being secured to the rail 1 8 by shotfired nails 20. The shot-firing produces a slight bow in the plate 1 9 so that each panel is compressed between the plate and the respective flange of the rail 18.

The girder is concealed by a 0.6mm cover trim 21 mechanically fixed in position and consisting of a plastic faced metal skin folded as shown. The lines of contact 30,31 with the respective ceiling panels are then sealed.

The panels 16 preferably comprise an inner core sandwiched between plastic faced metal skins.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative arrangement in which the bottom rail of the girder has an inverted T-section, the panels 1 6 having rebates to accommodate the opposing flanges 22 of the rail 23. The panels therefore rest on the flanges 22 and a plywood panel 24 with a plastic faced metal skin 33 occupies the remainder of the space provided by the rebates in the panel 1 6 so that it lies flush with the surface of the panels 16. The plastic facing 34 on the metal skin 33 of panel 24 can then be welded to the plastic facings 35 on the metal skins 36 of panel 16 to provide welded seams 37 as described in our co-pending application No. 8112181. Adjacent panels are connected by a plate similar to that of Fig. 3, or the panels may be shot fixed, bolted or screwed to the flange.

The space beneath the girders is divided into rooms by prefabricated wall and door panels which may be substantially identical to the panels 1 6. The joints between the wall panels and the ceiling panels may be concealed by a trim strip assembly as described in our co-pending application No.8112732. The door panels may have a construction as described in our copending application No.8112181.

The vertical steel columns 1 4 are concealed between adjacent wall panels 25 as shown in Fig.

5. A pair of sheet panels or skins 26 bridge the gap between the sandwich panels 25 on either side of the column 14, the panels or skins 26 having a plastic facing which is welded to the plastic facing on the panels 25 by a method as described in our co-pending application No.

8112181.

The wall panels are supported at the top by short aluminium alloy (or other) angles fixed to the ceiling panels or other parts of the mezzanine grid, and are supported at the bottom on a timber sole plate or by fixing to an angle cleat fixed to the floor.

The flooring can be laid at any time during construction of the building, and might for example have a construction such as that described in our co-pending application No.

7939752.

The resulting suite of rooms has no exposed structural members or joints, and therefore provides an ideal environment for medical or scientific research.

Claims (8)

1. A method of constructing a building, the method comprising erecting a sub-frame within an outer enclosure, the sub-frame consisting of transverse structural frame members supported at an intermediate level on vertical columns and extending between opposed side walls of the enclosure; assembling and fixing a plurality of prefabricated panels to the frame members such that the upper surfaces of the panels combine to provide a substantially continuous floor area for the space above the panels and the lower surfaces of the panels combine to provide a substantially continuous ceiling area for the space beneath the panels; and thereafter sub-dividing or partitioning the space beneath the panels with one or more internal walls.

2. A building comprising side walls and a roof forming an enclosure, a plurality of transverse structural frame members extending between opposing side walls of the enclosure at an intermediate level, and a plurality of prefabricated panels supported by the frame members, the upper surfaces of the panels combining to provide a substantially continuous floor area for the enclosed space above the panels and the lower surfaces of the panels combining to provide a substantially continuous ceiling area for the enclosed space beneath the panels.

3. A building according to claim 1 in which the transverse frame members are supported at spaced intervals by vertical columns.

4. A building according to claim 3 in which the enclosed space beneath the panels is partitioned by means of wall panels and in which at least one of the vertical columns is concealed in a respective gap between adjacent wall panels.

5. A building according to any one of the claims 2 to 4 in which the transverse frame members comprise lattice or open-frame girders.

6. A building according to claim 5 further comprising air-conditioning and/or other service ducts installed in the enclosed space above the said floor area, the ducts passing through the open-frame or lattice of the girders and having outlet ports passing through pre-cut openings in the panels supported by the frame members.

7. A method according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A building substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.