GB2164678A - Collapsible building - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of erecting a tall building i.e. more than 3 metres high, includes the steps of transporting components from which the building is to be erected to an erection site in the form of at least one collapsed pack (10) having a first unit (11) comprising a roof part (13) and at least one composite upright member comprising a first upright member (16) permanently and fixedly secured to the roof part (13) to depend downwardly therefrom, a second upright member (24) hingedly connected thereto and disposed in a transport position in which the second member (24) extends in a direction inclined to the first member (16) and, at the site, lifting the first unit (11) until the roof part (13) is at a predetermined height above a base level and then fastening the first (16) and second (24) upright members together so that the roof part (13) is supported on the first and second upright members (16, 24) which extend for the whole or substantially the whole of the height between the roof part and the base level. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to buildings This invention relates to buildings and more particularly, but not exclusively, to relatively tall buildings such as a factory, workshop or warehouse.

The invention also relates to a method of erecting such a building. By tall, we mean having an external height dimension of not less than 3 metres.

Typically such buildings have an external height dimension of between 5.0 and 7.5 metres and an internal height dimension of 4.5 to 7 metres when the building is erected.

Traditionally, such buildings have been built from a large number of relatively small basic components such as bricks, steel reinforcement, steel columns, roofing panels and the like. These basic components have all been transported to the site individually and the buildings have been erected from the basic components on site in conventional manner. It will be appreciated that this technique has the disadvantages normally associated with conventional building techniques such as reliance upon weather conditions and the limitations upon speed of erection imposed by the technique, together with the fact that the building once erected is not movable to a different location without complete dismantling and reassembly at the new location.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method of erection of a building, particularly a relatively tall building, together with other objects ancilliary thereto, which overcome or reduce the shortcomings of tradition.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a method of erecting a building, including the steps of transporting components from which the building is to be erected to an erection site in the form of at least one collapsed pack having a first unit comprising a roof part and at least one composite upright member comprising a first upright member permanently and fixedly secured to the roof part to depend downwardly therefrom, the or each first upright member, having a second upright member hingedly connected thereto and disposed in a transport position in which the second member extends in a direction inclined to the first member and, at the site, lifting the first unit until the roof part is at a predetermined height above a base level and then fastening the first and second upright members together so that the roof part is supported on the first and second upright members which extend for the whole or substantially the whole of the height between the roof part and the base level.

The method may include the further step of transporting further components from which the building is to be erected to the erection site in the form of at least one further collapsed pack, the or each further pack having a first unit comprising a roof part and at least one composite upright member comprising a first upright member permanently and fixedly secured thereto to depend downwardly therefrom, the or each first upright member having a second upright member hingedly connected thereto and disposed in a transport position in which the second member extends in a direction inclined to the first member, and at the site, lifting the first unit of the or each further pack until the roof part is at a predetermined height above a base level and then fastening the first and second upright members together so that the roof part is supported on the first and second upright members which extend for the whole or substantially the whole of the height between the roof part and the base level, and connecting at least one component of the or each further pack to at least one component of the first pack.

The roof part may be at a height above the bottom of the pack approximating to the length of the, or the longest, first upright member.

In the or each pack, the second upright member may be disposed in a transport position in which the second member extends in a direction inclined at, or substantially at, 90 to the first member.

The or each pack may include a second unit comprising a floor part having means to permit of the second upright member to be fastened thereto to extend upwardly therefrom.

The first unit, and second unit where provided, of the or each further pack may be positioned immediately adjacent the first unit, and second unit where provided, of the first pack and connected directly thereto or may be positioned spaced from the first unit, and second unit where provided, of the first pack and connected thereto by intermediate members, such as additional roof or floor components.

The packs may be disposed so that the units of the further pack or packs are disposed in end-toend/or side-by-side relationship with the first unit, and second unit where provided, of the first pack.

Thus the unit or units of each pack may provide a building section.

As a result of the present invention, a complete building such as a factory can be erected from units which can be manufactured to a finished state in a factory where the units are made. The units can thus be provided with internal and external decoration as well as having all services, such as heating, ventilation and electric power distribution, as required, installed therein in the factory prior to delivery to the erection site. Moreover, because the units can be made in factory conditions, quality control can be maintained and the speed of construction of the units can be that which is normally associated with factory conditions.

Because the first upright members are permanently and fixedly secured to the roof part in the factory, the need to effect such securement on site at a considerable height above the ground, i.e.

substantially the final height of the building, is avoided. Therefore, the structural and weathertight integrity of the joints of the units can be ensured in factory conditions. The fastening of the first and second upright members together so that the roof part is secured thereon is effected at a relatively short height above the ground, usually at about half the height of the building. Because the first and second upright members are already hingedly connected together, the fastening operation for fastening the first and second upright members together is considerably simplified.

Where the building sections are rectangular in plan view, and provided with four walls, two of said walls may be provided at opposite ends of the building and may be formed to provide the first and second upright members. The remaining two side walls of the building section may extend along the remaining two opposite sides and may be provided in upper and lower side wall parts, in the pack the upper part being fastened to the first unit so as to extend between the first upright members at opposite ends thereof, and the lower part being removably fastened to the first unit in side-by-side relationship with the upper wall part and being moved downwardly relative to the first unit when the first unit is raised and then inwardly relative to the first unit when the first unit is fully raised and fastened to the second upright members.

Because the invention is primarily intended for relatively tall buildings, a problem would arise with the transport to site of units which extended over the full height of the building since for example it is necessary for the units to be able to pass under road and/or rail bridges.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention this problem is avoided by providing a pack for erection to provide a building or a building section by the method of the first aspect of the invention, the pack having a first unit comprising a roof part and at least one composite upright member, comprising a first upright member permanently and fixedly secured thereto to depend downwardly therefrom, the or each first upright member having a second upright member hingedly connected thereto and disposed in a transport position in which the second member extends in a direction inwardly of the first member, and means to connect the first and second upright members together when the pack is erected, so that they extend for the whole or substantially the whole of the overall height of the building when erected, and the pack being of less overall height than the overall height of the building when erected.

The roof may be at a height above the bottom of the pack approximating to the length of the or the longest first upright member.

The first upright member, or the longest upright member may have a length of at least one third, and preferably one half of the total height of the building or building section when erected.

When in said transport position, the second member may extend in a direction inclined at, or substantially at, 90" to the first member.

The pack may include a second unit comprising a floor part having means to permit of the second upright member being fastened thereto to extend upwardly therefrom.

In the pack, the first upright member of the first unit may extend perpendicularly away from the roof part and the second upright members may extend perpendicularly from the first upright members and extend parallel and between the roof and floor parts adjacent to the floor part.

The second unit may have an upper surface defined by the floor part, there being no part of the second unit extending above or substantially above the surface defined by the floor part at or adjacent the position of fastening to the upright members.

The second unit may be provided with receiving means to receive fastening means to fasten the second upright member thereto when the pack is erected, and to receive fastening means to permit of the first upright member being fastened thereto when the pack is collapsed.

Where the second unit is provided with portions extending above the surface defined by said floor part, at or adjacent the position of fastening to the upright members, said portions are positioned in the pack beneath the upright members and are not disposed outside or within the peripheral envelope of the upright members of the first unit.

The building or building section may be erected on a foundation provided on site. In this case, the lower end of the second upright member is fastened to the foundation and the pack does not include a second unit, there being provided alternatively "shoe" beams which are fastened to the lower ends of the first upright members and are provided with skids extending between the beams or other members adapted to engage a transport means, such as a lorry.

Whilst the first and second upright members of each composite upright member may be of equal length, they may be of unequal length.

Each first unit may have a single composite upright member in the form of a column or in the form of a wall and the column or wall may be located at any suitable position on the roof part. Of course, where only a single wall or column is provided, a plurality of such building sections must be assembled together in side by side and/or end-toend relation-ship to provide the complete building.

Alternatively, each first unit may be provided with at least two composite upright members comprising walls or at least four composite upright members comprising columns whereby the units are self-supporting.

Where, as will be the general case, the first units are rectangular in plan view then four walls may be provided which extend along the sides of their respective unit, or alternatively four columns may be provided on each unit, one at or adjacent each corner of the associated roof part.

Where the building section is rectangular in plan view and provided with four walls, two of said walls are provided at opposite ends of the building and are formed to provide the first and second upright members. The remaining two side walls of the building section may extend along the remaining two opposite sides and are provided in upper and lower side wall parts, in the pack the upper part being fastened to the first unit so as to extend between the first upright members at opposite ends thereof, and the lower part being removably fastened to the first unit in side-side-by-side relationship with the upper wall part and being movable, when the building is erected, so as to be disposed beneath the upper side wall part and fastened to the second upright members.

According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a building or building section erected by a method according to the first aspect of the invention and/or from a pack according to the second aspect of the invention.

Thus, a building embodying the invention, whilst being of a relatively great height, can be transported to a site by road or rail either in a complete state, or as building sections, since it can pass under bridges or other height restricted places by virtue of the hinged connection between the first and second upright members since this enables the overall height of the building to be reduced for transport as a pack according to the second aspect of the invention.

It will be appreciated that a building embodying the present invention can be transported and erected on site with the minimum of site preparation and labour and that if it is desired to re-locate the building, this is a relatively simple operation merely requiring disconnection of the building sections where appropriate, disconnection of the connection between the end of the first and second upright members followed by lowering of the first unit or units and transport of the thus formed pack or packs to the other site and re-erection of the building thereon.

Examples of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a collapsed pack embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation, similar to that of Figure 1, but showing the pack during erection; Figure 3 is a side elevation, similar to that of Figure 1, but showing the pack erected; Figures 4 to 6 are end elevations of the pack in the conditions shown in Figures 2 to 4 respectively; and Figure 7 is a cross-section on the line 7-7 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevation showing the connection between fastening means of first and second upright members.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a modified arrangement.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated a factory assembled pack for erection on site to provide a building having an external height dimension of about 7 metres and an internal height dimension of about 5.6 metres, although the invention is applicable to any tall building having an external height dimension of at least 3 metres. Typically such buildings have an external height dimension of between 5.0 and 7.5 metres and an internal height dimension of 4.5 to 7 metres when the building is erected.

The pack is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a first unit 11 and a second unit 12. The first unit 11 comprises a roof part 13 of conventional construction comprising roof beams 14 and suitable cladding 15. The roof part 13 is rectangular in plan view and at each corner are provided composite upright members each comprising first upright members 16 which depend downwardly from the roof part 13. The connection between the first upright members 16 and roof part 13 is such as to permanently and fixedly secure the first upright member 16 to the roof part 13 and to make the connection therebetween weathertight.

Because the connection is made in factory conditions, then the structural and weathertight integrity of the connection can be ensured.

If required, struts may be provided, as indicated in dotted lines at SI which struts may extend between the lower end of the first upright members 16 and the roof part 13, to strengthen the connection. These struts SI may remain in place both in the pack, and in the finally erected building.

The two upright members 16 at each of the ends A of the rectangular roof part 13 carry an upper wall panel 17 which may be of any desired construction but is preferably of sandwich construction comprising an outer face of coated steel with a rigid plastics material insulating core and an inner lining of gypsum plasterboard or coated steel.

Thus, as best shown in Figure 4, the first upright members 16 at each of the ends of the roof part, one of which is indicated at A in the drawings, are connected togther by the clad wall panel 17, or a plurality of such panels where the distance between the first upright members 16 is greater than the width of an individual panel.

Adjacent their lower ends, the first upright members 16 are provided with fastening means 18 to enable the lower end of the first upright members 16 to be fastened to the second unit 12. The second unit 12 comprises a rectangular framework comprising longitudinally extending beams 20 and transversely extending beams 21 which support a floor part 22 which defines a horizontally extending surface to provide the floor of the building and defining a base level of the building.

The longitudinally extending beams 20 have further fastening means 19 to which the fastening means 18 of the members 16 are connected. Thus, in the pack, the first and second units 11, 12 are rigidly and releasably connected together thereby avoiding any need to brace the pack.

Each composite upright member of the first unit 11 further comprises a second upright member 24 hingedly connected by a pivot pin 25 to each first upright member 16. Each second upright member 24 is provided, adjacent the upper end, with still further fastening means 26 which may be engaged with fastening means 18 of the first upright members 16, when the fastening means 18 are released from engagement with fastening means 19 of the second unit 12, to enable the first 16 and second upright 24 members to be releasably fastened together when the building is erected, as hereinafter to be further described.

Referring now to figure 8, the fastening means 18, 26, of one first and second upright member 16, 24, are shown. Fastening means 18 comprises a flange fl welded or otherwise permanently connected to the lower end of the first upright member 16. The flange f, has a plurality of apertures a1 which may receive fasteners (not shown) to enable the flange f, to be connected to a flange f2 with corresponding apertures a2 provided at the upper end of the second upright member 24. The second upright member 24 also has secured thereto, a plate P1 which extends upwardly and flange f2 and has a slot S which receives a pivot pin P which extends through the first upright member 16.

Because of the slot S and pin P arrangement, it will be appreciated that the second upright member 24 can pivot relative to the first upright member 16, by first releasing the fasteners which secure flanges f., f2 together, and separating the upright members 16, 24, longitudinally, until the flanges fr, f2 are clear of one another. An opposite operation is required to secure the upright members 16, 24, together on erection of the building.

In the pack, the flange f1, is secured via the fasteners to the fastening means 19 of the second unit which may comprise threaded apertures a3 in the floor beams 20 or 21 or in a plate, flange or the like secured to the floor part 22.

The first upright members 16 have brackets b to which the struts SI, where provided, are permanently connected.

The two second upright members 24 at each end of the rectangular roof part 13 carry a lower wail panel(s) 27 of similar configuration to the panel(s) 17 carried by the first upright members 16. In the pack, the second upright members 24 and their associated wall panel 27 extend perpendicular to the first upright members 16 and parallel to the roof part 13 and floor part 22 and adjacent the latter.

Because the pack, in plan view, is longer than twice the height of the second upright members 24, then the second upright members at each of the opposite ends of the roof part can be pivoted to the transport position shown in Figure 1.

In the pack, further struts S2 are provided which extend from the free ends of the second upright parts 24 to the roof part 13. These struts S2 again give rigidity to the pack, but need to be released before the building section can be erected. The struts S2 may then be disposed of.

The wall panels to provide the side walls of the building are provided as best shown in Figure 4.

Wall panels to provide an upper part 30 of the side walls, i.e. to extend between the first upright members 16, are attached to the first upright members 16 in the factory.

Wall panels to provide a lower part 31 of the side walls, i.e. to extend between the second upright members 24, are releasably carried, in the pack, outside the panels 30. This is achieved by means of guide/transit brackets 32 which, as best shown in Figure 7, are releasably attached to the first upright members 16 externally of the panels 17 carried thereby, and are of generally L-configuration, a shorter limb 32a of the L carrying a packing piece 33 preferably made of a generally soft resilient material to hold the panels 31 in place without damage thereto. Suitable means (not shown) are provided to ensure that the panels 31 do not move downwardly during transport.

When the pack arrives on site, the first unit 11 is lifted by means of a crane or other suitable lifting means to the desired height above the base level defined by the upper surface of the floor part 22, after release of the fastening means 18, 19. As the first unit 11 is thus lifted, the second upright members 24 and the panels 27 carried thereon hinge downwardly about the pivot pin P, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, and the lower side wall panels 31 are also permitted to move downwardly, as shown in Figure 5. One of the two upper and lower side wall panels 30, 31 are omitted from Figures 1 to 3 for clarity.

When the first unit 11 has been raised to its final height, the first and second upright members 16, 24 are disposed one above the other and fastening means 18, 26, are engaged as shown in figure 8 to releasably fasten the first and second upright members 16, 24 in load carrying aligned relationship. In addition, the free ends of the second upright members 24, which each have a flange f3 secured thereto, are fastened to fastening means 19 of the floor part 22 to releasabiy fasten the second upright members 24 to the second unit 12.

A skid 36 is provided at the free lower end of each second upright member 24 to provide a bearing for engagement with the floor part 22 during raising of the first unit 11. The skids 36 are positioned so as to ensure that there is no contact between the floor part 22 and the wall panels 27.

Also, as the first unit 11 is raised to its final position, the lower side wall panels 31 remain stationary relative to the base level and when the first unit 11 is at its final position, the panels 31 are moved inwardly into engagement with the second upright members 24 and are secured thereto by fasteners 37 received in pre-prepared apertures 38 in the second upright members.

Suitable means may be provided to support the panels during the first stage of movement of the first unit 11 to its final position, for example by having a removable guide to depend downwardly from the lower brackets 32 or flexible links to support the panels 31 after their upper ends have moved out of engagement with the lower brackets 32.

Thereafter, the brackets 32 are removed and the building is ready for finishing operations.

Because the connection between the first upright members 16 and roof part 13 is effected in the factory, it can be ensured that the connected is adequately strong and weathertight without the problem of trying to achieve this on site at a considerable elevation above the ground. The fastening between the first and second upright members 16, 14, is simple and is achieved at a relatively small height above the ground, for example approximately 3 metres, which is a height which can be relatively easily accessed.

Although in the present example, a complete building is made solely from the first 11 and second 12 units in the pack described hereinbefore and illustrated, if desired, a complete building may be made up from a plurality of similar packs, each pack being erected to produce a building section.

Generally, packs may be provided which when erected form end or middle building sections, each end section having one long wall and two shorter walls, which may provide the uprights and each middle section having two short walls only, which again may provide the uprights. Thus the units of the building sections may be connected to provide multi-span configurations.

Where a plurality of building sections are connected together to provide a complete building, adjacent composite upright members of adjacent units from other packs, or the other pack may be fastened together, for example by passing fasteners through the apertures 38 used to fasten the wall panels 31 in position. In such cases, the cladding panels would generally be omitted or if internal partitioning is required, would be replaced by suitable internal partitioning members. Alternatively, internal partitioning members may be secured in position by other means and in other means and in other positions as necessary to suit the building concerned.

Further, a complete building erected from one or more packs according to the present invention may be assembled in association with other buildings which may be of the same or lower overall height.

For example, a building construction erected by the method of the present invention may be associated with a building as described in GB-A2,084,213.

In the present example, the cladding panels on the first and second upright members are each 2.5 metres high and the height of the building from the base level defined by the surface of the floor 22 to the underside of the roof beams 14 is 5.6 metres whilst the overall height of the building from the top of the roof part 13 to the underside of the second unit 12 is about 7 metres. The pack, and hence the building, is 3 metres wide but could be up to 4 metres or more wide, and about 10 metres long, although could be up to 12 metres along, and is preferably at least 7 metres long.

Thus the pack can be transported conveniently by road where a practical upper limit to the height of a load is 4.5 metres.

In certain cases, instead of providing a suspended floor, such as the floor part 22, on a second unit transported in the pack, the building may be erected on a foundation formed in situ on site in which case no suspended floor and hence no second unit is required to be transported. In this case, instead of the lower ends of the first upright members 16 being secured to the second unit, they are secured to temporary "slave" transport beams fastened to fastening means 18 of the first upright members. The "slave" beams may extend beneath a short wall of the pack across the lorry bed on which the pack is transported, the packs being sufficiently rigid lengthwise to withstand the forces to which the pack is subjected during transportation.

Alternatively the pack may be provided with skids or the like to engage the load carrying surface of a lorry or other transport means. On site, the tempo rary "slave" transport beams are unfastened from the lower ends of the first upright members 16 and erection continues as described herein before, ex cept that the lower ends of the second upright members are attached to suitable anchorage means provided on the in situ foundation, such as a member provided with apertures to receive fasteners passing through apertures a3 in the flange f2.

Figure 9 illustrates diagrammatically a modification of the invention applicable either when provided with or when not provided with a second unit. In Figure 9, the same reference numerals have been used as were used in the preceding figures for corresponding parts but with the addition of a prime sign. In this modification, the second upright members 24' are themselves of composite construction comprising two hinged together parts 24'a, 24'b provided with hinge means i.e. a plate pl' and pivot pin b' and fastening means 18'a, 26'a, similar to the fastening means 18, 26 of the figure 1 to 8 embodiment. Fastening means 19'a are provided between the parts 24'a, 24'b as well as fastening means 18', 19' which are provided to fasten the second upright members 24' to the second unit 12' or the anchorage means.This modification enables the second upright members 24' to adopt their transport position even when the length of the pack is less than twice the height of the second upright members. If desired, the second upright members 24' may each have more than two parts with similar hinge and fastening means if desired therebetween as described above.

It can be seen from figure 9 that the first upright member 16' is about one third of the total height of the building when erected.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed results, or the class or group of substances or compositions, as appro-priate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilized for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (28)

1. A method of erecting a building, including the steps of transporting components from which the building is to be erected to an erection site in the form of at least one collapsed pack having a first unit comprising a roof part and at least one composite upright member comprising a first upright member permanently and fixedly secured to the roof part to depend downwardly therefrom the or each first upright member, having a second upright member hingedly connected thereto and disposed in a transport position in which the second member extends in a direction inclined to the first member and, at the site, lifting the first unit until the roof part is at a predetermined height above a base level and then fastening the first and second upright members together so that the roof part is supported on the base level.

2. A method according to Claim 1 including the further step of transporting further components from which the building is to be erected to the erection site in the form of at least one further collapsed pack, the or each further pack having a first unit comprising a roof part and at least one composite upright member comprising a first upright member permanently and fixedly secured thereto to depend downwardly therefrom, the or each first upright member having a second upright member hingedly connected thereto and disposed in a transport position in which the second member extends in a direction inclined to the first member and, at the site, lifting the first unit of the or each further pack until the roof part is at a predetermined height above a base level and then fastening the first and second upright members together so that the roof part is supported on the first and second upright members which extend for the whole or substantially the whole of the height between the roof part and the base level, and connecting at least one component of the or each further pack to at least one component of the first pack.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the roof part is at a height above the bottom of the pack approximating to the length of the, or the longest, first upright member.

4. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein in the or each pack, the second upright member is disposed in a transport position in which the second member extends in a direction inclined at, or substantially at, 90" to the first member.

5. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the or each pack includes a second unit comprising a floor part having means to permit of the second upright member to be fastened thereto to extend upwardly therefrom.

6. A method according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 where appendant to Claim 2 wherein the first unit, and second unit, where provided, of the or each further pack is positioned immediately adjacent the first unit, and second unit of the first pack and is connected directly thereto.

7. A method according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 where appendant to Claim 2 wherein the first unit, and second unit, where provided of the or each further pack is positioned spaced from the first unit, and second unit where provided, of the first pack and connected thereto by intermediate members.

8. A method according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the packs are disposed so that the units of the further pack or packs are disposed in end-toend/or side-by-side relationship with the first unit, and second unit where provided, of the first pack to each pack providing a building section.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each unit is provided with internal and external decoration as well as having all heating, ventilation and electric power distribution services installed therein in the factory prior to delivery to the erection site.

10. A method according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 where appendant to Claim 2 wherein the building sections are rectangular in plan view, and provided with four walls, two of said walls being provided at opposite ends of the building and being formed to provide the first and second upright members.

11. A method according to Claim 10 wherein the remaining two side walls of the building section extend along the remaining two opposite sides and are provided in upper and lower side wall parts, in the pack the upper part being fastened to the first unit so as to extend between the first upright members at opposite ends thereof, and the lower part being removably fastened to the first unit in side-by-side relationship with the upper wall part and being moved downwardly relative to the first unit when the first unit is raised and then inwardly relative to the first unit when the first unit is fully raised and fastened to the second upright members.

12. A method of erecting a building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. A pack for erection to provide a building or a building section by the method according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, the pack having a first unit comprising a roof part and at least one composite upright member, comprising a first upright member permanently and fixedly secured thereto to depend downwardly therefrom, the or each first upright member having a second upright member hingedly connected threto and disposed in a transport position in which the second member extends in a direction inwardly of the first member, and means to connect the first and second upright members together when the pack is erected, so that they extend for the whole or substantially the whole of the overall height of the building when erected, and the pack being of less overall height than the overall height of the building when erected.

14. A pack according to Claim 13 wherein the roof is at a height above the bottom of the pack approximating to the length of the or the longest first upright member.

15. A pack according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the first upright member, or the longest first upright member, has a length of at least one third of the total height of the building or building section when erected.

16. A pack according to claim 15 wherein the first upright member, or the longest first upright member, has a length of at least one half of the total height of the building or building section when erected.

17. A pack according to Claims 13 to 16 wherein when in said transport position, the second member extends in a direction inclined at, or substantially at, 90" to the first member.

18. A pack according to any one of Claims 13 to 17 wherein the pack includes a second unit comprising a floor part having means to permit of the second upright member being fastened thereto to extend upwardly therefrom.

19. A pack according to Claim 18 wherein the pack, the first upright member of the first unit extends generally perpendi-cularly away from the roof part and the second upright member extends generally perpendicularly from the first upright members and extends parallel and between the roof and floor parts adjacent to the floor part.

20. A pack according to Claim 19 wherein the second unit has an upper surface defined by the floor part, there being no part of the second unit extending above or substantially above the surface defined by the floor part at or adjacent the position of fastening to the upright members.

21. A pack according to any one of Claims 18 to 20 wherein the second unit is provided with receiving means to receive fastening means to fasten the second upright member thereto when the pack is erected, and to receive fastening means to permit of the first upright member being fastened thereto when the pack is collapsed.

22. A pack according to Claim 19 wherein the second unit is provided with portions extending above the surface defined by said floor part, at or adjacent the position of fastening to the upright members, said portions being positioned in the pack beneath the upright members and are not disposed outside or within the peripheral envelope of the upright members of the first unit.

23. A pack according to any one of Claims 13 to 22 wherein each first unit is provided with at least two composite upright members comprising walls or at least four composite upright members comprising columns.

24. A pack according to Claim 23 wherein the first unit is rectangular in plan view, the four walls extending along the sides of the unit, or alternatively the four columns being provided at or adjacent each corner of the associated roof part.

25. A pack according to Claim 24 wherein where the building section erected from the pack is rectangular in plan view and provided with four walls, two of said walls are provided at opposite ends of the building section and are formed to provide the first and second upright members.

26. A pack according to Claim 25 wherein the remaining two side walls of the building section extend along the remaining two opposite sides and are provided in upper and lower side wall parts in the pack, the upper part being fastened to the first unit so as to extend between the first upright members at opposite ends thereof, and the lower part being removably fastened to the first unit in side-by-side relationship with the upper wall part and being movable, when the building is erected, so as to be disposed beneath the upper side wall part and fastened to the second upright members.

27. A pack for erection to provide a building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

28. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.