GB2130271A

GB2130271A - Vandal-resistant wall-coping

Info

Publication number: GB2130271A
Application number: GB08330708A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Powell; Ian Douglas Cook
Original assignee: BLOCKELYS PUBLIC Ltd COMPA
Current assignee: BLOCKELYS PUBLIC Ltd COMPA
Priority date: 1982-11-20
Filing date: 1983-11-17
Publication date: 1984-05-31
Also published as: GB2130271B; GB8330708D0

Abstract

The coping is formed by placing over the flat damp-proof membrane 5 at the head of the wall two spaced rows of dripstone blocks 6, with a string of bridging blocks 7 in the gap between them, bridging blocks 7 projecting above the level of dripstone blocks 6 so that capping blocks 9 placed over the rows are keyed in place by the engagement of the bridging blocks in recesses 10 in the underside of capping blocks 9. Alternatively capping blocks 9' may be integral with bridging blocks 7'. The wall may be a solid or a cavity wall. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Copings for walls This invention relates to copings for walls, in particular brick walls of both solid and cavity construction. The most common form of capping for a wall comprises a course of frostresistant bricks set on edge and separated from the courses below by a damp-proof membrane. It is also known to make specialpurpose shaped bricks, for example with two corners rounded, for cappings. Depending on the thickness of the wall the capping may or may not overhang the faces of the wall and if it does it is more properly calied a coping.

It has recently been proposed in British Patent Application 2 028 397 to make up a capping of lower blocks spanning the thickness of the wall and having notched upper faces, a longitudinal string of bridging blocks lying in the notch thus defined (but with the damp-proof membrane above or below this string) and a row of upper shaped capping blocks notched on their undersides to key them to the bridging string. The aim is to resist dislodgement by vandals. In one embodiment the capping blocks overhang the faces of the wall and have anti-drip grooves in the undersides of their overhanging portions so they form a coping.

A drawback of this known arrangement is that a given design of lower blocks and coping or capping blocks is only suitable for one thickness of wall; another is that, as the damp-proof membrane is above the lower blocks and almost inevitably forms a line of weakness, there is not a lot of resistance to displacement of the capping or coping blocks.

Moreover the damp-proof membrane, if it is above the longitudinal string, has to follow a tortuous path that may easily lead to its fracture; if it is below this string it is likewise liable to be broken and in addition it forms a trough in which moisture can collect.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a further and more flexible vandalresistant coping structure. According to one aspect of the invention this is achieved by providing a flat damp-proof membrane over the head of the main wall structure and spanning the cavity (if present), placing two separate rows of shaped dripstone blocks along the top of the wall structure over the membrane, the rows being spaced apart to define a gap between them and their outer faces overhanging the respective faces of the wall to provide a dripstone effect, placing a string of bridging blocks in the gap between the above-mentioned two rows, with the upper parts of the bridging blocks projecting above the levels of the upper surfaces of the two rows, and then placing a row of shaped capping blocks, each having a recessed underside, over the bridging blocks and dripstone blocks with the upper parts of the bridging blocks received in the recesses in the capping blocks.

In this construction the damp-proof membrane does not interfere with the keying action. The bridging blocks are firmly trapped between the two rows of dripstone blocks and then the capping blocks are keyed to the bridging blocks by virtue of their shape, so that the overall mass above the damp-proof membrane, with the mortar bonding it together, forms a solid structure resistant to displacement by vandals, and meeting the requirements of BS 3798:1964.

In an alternative version we provide a flat damp-proof membrane over the head of the main wall structure and spanning the cavity (if present), we place two separate rows of shape dripstone blocks along the top of the wall structure over the membrane, the rows being spaced apart to define a gap between them and their outer faces overhanging the respective faces of the wall to provide a dripstone effect, and then we place a row of shaped capping blocks over the dripstone blocks and spanning them, the capping blocks having downwards-projecting tongues on their undersides which enter and substantially fill the gap between the dripstone blocks.

Each of the constructions proposed allows for a certain amount of variation in the width of the wall, either solid or with a cavity of greater or lesser width, whilst still using a similar set of components.

Examples of cavity walls capped in the manner according to the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical sections through two embodiments.

In each case two rows of brick courses 1 and 2, separated by a cavity 3, form the main part of the wall. A strip 4 of suitable thin material, e.g. slate or metal, bridges the cavity to support a damp proof membrane 5 which extends over the full width of the wall. Above this, on a bed of mortar, we place two rows of special bricks 6 separated by a gap which, in the version shown in Fig. 1, is filled by a row or string of bridging bricks 7 on edge, for example facing bricks or pavers rejected on appearance grounds. These bridging bricks are staggered longitudinally in relation to the special bricks 6 to form a bond. It will be understood that the order in which the courses 6 and 7 is laid is not important.

The special bricks 6 project beyond the faces of the wall to form dripstones keeping moisture clear of the faces below the damp proof membrane and have the usual grooves 8 or 'throating' on the undersides of the overhanging portions.

It will be appreciated that the same bricks 6 can be used in a range of thicknesses of wall by adjusting the width of the gap between them and using an appropriate thickness of bridging string between them. Where there is no cavity the strip 4 can, of course, be omitted It is essential that the top edge of the bridging string projects above the upper faces of the blocks 6, so that the recessed capping blocks, shown at 9, are positively keyed to them by the bridging blocks entering recesses 10 provided in the undersides of the capping blocks 9.

It will be understood that, where we have spoken of bricks, any suitable form of masonry may be used, made from clay, concrete, reconstituted stone or any other suitable material.

In the alternative version, illustrated in Fig.

2, components which are the same as in Fig.

1 have been given the same reference numerals, but instead of using the separate string of bridging blocks 7, we make these integral with the capping blocks above, employing therefore a different shape of capping block 9', having no recess but instead of tongue 7' on its underside, projecting downwards to fill the gap between the special bricks 6. Where a wall of greater or lesser thickness is required, blocks 9' having tongues 7' of appropriate thickness are used, without having to change the dimensions of the special bricks 6.

Claims

1. A method of forming a coping on top of a brick or masonry wall structure comprising the steps of providing a fiat damp-proof membrane over the head of the main wall structure and spanning the cavity (if present), placing two separate rows of shaped dripstone blocks along the top of the wall structure over the membrane, the rows being spaced apart to define a gap between them and their outer faces overhanging the respective faces of the wall to provide a dripstone effect, placing a string of bridging blocks in the gap between the above-mentioned two rows, with the upper parts of the bridging blocks projecting above the levels of the upper surfaces of the two rows, and then placing a row of shaped capping blocks, each having a recessed underside, over the bridging blocks, and dripstone blocks, with the upper parts of the bridging blocks received in the recesses in the capping blocks.

2. A method of forming a coping on top of a brick or masonry wall structure comprising the steps providing a flat damp-proof membrane over the head of the main wall structure and spanning the cavity (if present), placing two separate rows of shape dripstone blocks along the top of the wall structure over the membrane, the rows being spaced apart to define a gap between them and their outer faces overhanging the respective faces of the wall to provide a dripstone effect, and then placing a row of shaped capping blocks over the dripstone blocks and spanning them, the capping blocks having downwards-projecting tongues on their undersides which enter and substantially fill the gap between the dripstone blocks.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, in which the wall is a cavity wall, and in which the damp-proof membrane spans the cavity.

4. A method of forming a coping on top of a brick or masonry wall, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

5. A brick or masonry wall having a coping formed by the method of any one of the preceding claims.