GB2172620A - Roofing systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A roof has a tiled outer surface in which the tiles (15) are supported on a plurality of generally horizontal battens (14), the upper part of each tile being supported on a batten and connected thereto by means of a resilient holding member (16) engaging with the tile and the batten so as to permit displacement of the lower part of the tile in a direction normal to the plane of the roof at the lower end of the tile. The battens are preferably supported on joists (3) running generally at right angles to the battens and supported a roof decking 1 [having a waterproof layer of plastics material (2)] by means of joists-supporting member comprising a pair of cooperating parts (4, 5), the lower parts (5) of which are connected to the roof decking by means of screws (6), a gasket of elastomeric material (8) being interposed between the waterproof layer and the base of the lower parts of the joist-supporting members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Roofing systems This invention is concerned with improvement in and relating to roofing systems, particularly tiled roofing systems.

Tiled roofing systems are, of course, very well known. Conventional tiled roofing systems have served their purpose for many years, indeed many centuries. However, they suffer from a number of disadvantages; for example it is generally desirable that the pitch of the roofing surface to be tiled is at least 45" to the horizontal and it is difficult to tile roofs of curved configuration, particularly complex curved configuration.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tiled roofing system.

According to the invention, there is provided a roof having a tiled outer surface in which the tiles are supported on a plurality of generally horizontal battens, the upper part of each tile being supported on a batten and connected thereto by means of a resilient holding member engaging with the tile and the batten so as to permit displacement of the lower part of the tile in a direction normal to the plane of the roof at the lower end of the tile. As will be appreciated, the tiles are arranged in a conventional manner, that is in rows along each batten with the lower ends of the tiles of one row overlapping, to a greater or lesser extent, the upper ends of the tiles in the next adjacent lower row.

The resilient holding members securing the tiles to the batten conveniently take the form of clips comprising a tile engaging limb or limbs resiliently connected to a batten-engaging limb or limbs.

Preferably, the tile engaging limbs are provided with downwardly extending portions for engaging in holes or depressions in the tile. The batten-engaging limb may partially wrap round the batten to secure the limb in place. Alternatively the battenengaging limb of the clip may be afixed to the batten by a screw or like fastening means. Whilst the holding member or clip may comprise a single tileengaging limb, in which case the tile is preferably provided with a limb-engaging hole or depression on its vertical longitudinal axis, it is preferred that the holding members or clips have two tile-engaging limbs. In this latter case it is further preferred that the tile be provided with notches, in its outer edges, for engaging with the tile-engaging limbs.

The resilient holding member may be formed of any suitable resilient material such as resilient plastics material or more preferably, metal such as steel or aluminium. Most conveniently, the holding member may be formed of heavy gauge steel wire.

The tiles themselves may, for example, be of conventional rectangular shape or may be provided with curved or shaped lower or side edges. It is particularly preferred that, in order to reduce weight and for particularly for use with the preferred supporting system described below, that the upper part of the tile (that engaging with the supporting batten) be narrow than the lower part. The tiles may be constructed of any suitable material, for example fired clay, glazed ceramics, slate, metal (e.g. aluminium or steel) or plastics material.

The battens also may be of any suitable material, e.g. wood or a metal such as steel or aluminium.

The outer surface of the batten (engaging with the tile) should be flat and conveniently the batten is generally rectangular in cross-section.

The battens will be generally supported on joists running generally at right-angles to the battens.

In a preferred form of construction the joists (which may be of any suitable material such as wood or metal) are supported on, and spaced apart from a more or less continuous roof decking which itself may be formed of any suitable material such as, for example, metal, plastics material or wood (for example plywood or tongued and grooved wood planks). The outer surface of the decking is preferably waterproof and this may be achieved, particularly in the case of wooden decking, by means of a layer or membrane of waterproof plastics material (such as polyvinylchloride) secured to the outer surface of the decking. When a membrane is employed, it is most desirable that the means supporting the joists be attached to the decking in a manner such as not to destroy the waterproof integrity of the membrane.This may be achieved, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, by providing joist supporting members with a flat base and connected to the decking by means of fastening means such as screws or bolts passing through the base of the support members, the membrane and into or through the decking. A layer of elastomeric material is interposed between the base of each holding member and the membrane and the fastening means is preferably provided with an elastomeric gasket between it supper end and the upper surface of the base of the holding member.

The elastomeric material between the holding member base and the decking preferably has a Shore hardness from 40 to 60, particularly about 40, in order to obtain satisfactory sealing. Accordingly the elastomeric material is conveniently formed of a natural rubber but, of course, any other elastomeric material of appropriate hardness may be employed.

In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention, the holding members for supporting the joists comprise (i) a generally U-shaped member having a flat base and a pair of upstanding paralle side walls provided with internally projecting ribs or protrusions and (ii) and a generally H-shaped member, the lower limbs of which are provided with outwardly directed ribs or protrusions and thi upper limbs of which are provided with inwardly directed ribs or protrusions, the lower limbs of the H-shaped member engaging in a friction fit between the walls of the U-shaped member and being retained therein by cooperation between the ribs or protrusions in the engaging walls of the two members. A joist is supported between the upper walls of the H-shaped member and engage with the inwardly directed ribs or protrusions therein.Both the U- shaped and H-shaped mem bers are preferably formed of aluminium or an aluminium alloy and can conveniently be formed by extruding a shaped beam of appropriate cross-section and subsequently cutting it into appropriate lengths. Such joist-supporting members may also be employed to directly attach tile battens to a decking.

In order that the invention may be well understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partial section, looking across the roof, through a roof tiled in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a partial section, looking up the roof, through the roof shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a tile for use in the roof shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tile holding clip used in the roof shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is an exploded view of the joist holding member used in the roofing system shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative form of tile holding clip; Figure 7 is a partial section through a tiled roof employing the holding clip shown in figure 6; and Figure 8 is a partial perspective view having arrangement of clip and tile for use with underhanging tiles.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a roof in accordance with the invention comprises a decking 1 of tongued and grooved planks which are supported on a suitable raftering or support system (not shown). The outer surface of decking 1 is covered with a membrane 2 formed of plastics material such as polyvinylchloride. Wooden joists 3 are supported on and spaced apart from decking 1 by means of joist supporting means comprising a lower. U-shaped channel member 5 and an upper H-shaped channel member 4.

The base of U-channel 5 is flat and is secured to decking 1 by means of a screw 6 passing through a metal washer 7, and an elastomeric gasket 8 on the upper surface of the base of the U-channel and through a gasket 9 between the base of the Uchannel membrane 2 and formed of natural rubber having a shore hardness of about 40. (In order to achieve better sealing the lower face of U-channel 5 may be provided with a circular, downwardly facing ridge, around each hole through which screws 6 pass and engaging with the upper surface of gasket 9). Screw 6 is so tightened to compress gasket 8 and 9 to maintain the water-tight integrity of membrane 2. The upper limbs of U-channel 4 are provided with inwardly directed ribs 10 (see also figure 5).The lower limbs of H-channel 4 engage in a friction fit between the upper limbs of Uchannel 5 and are provided with outwardly directed ribs which engage with ribs 10 in U-channel 5 to hold two channels together. The upper limbs of H-channel 4 are provided with inwardly directed ribs 12 and joists 3 are supported between these upper limbs and are held therein by the action of ribs 12. As will be appreciated, joists 3 are secured to decking 1 by the steps of securing U-channels 5 to the decking, fixing H-channels 4 to U-channels 5 and finally placing joists 3 in the upper portions of H-channels 5.

Joists 3, in turn, support battens 14 (which in this instance are of wood and are secured to joists 3 by screws). Battens 14, in turn, support tiles 15 which are attached to the battens by means of spring clips 16. Tiles 15 have the shape shown in Figure 3 and comprise an upper part 15a and wider lower part 15b. The side edges of upper part 15a are provided with notches 17 for engaging with spring clips 16.

Spring clips 16 have the shape shown in Figure 4 and comprise a batten engaging arms 16a connected via limb 16b to tile engaging arms 16c terminating in projections 16d. Clips 16 engage with battens 14 and tiles 15 as shown in Figure 1 to resiliently hold tiles 15 to battens 14.

The use of such clips 16 to hold the tiles to the battens makes possible the construction of roofs with a wide variety of angles of pitch, which angle of pitch may vary over the surface of the roof.

They also make it possible to underhang the tile but in this a case it is generally preferred to use them arranged as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings.

The clip shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, and where use is illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings, is suitable for use where access to the underside of the batten is restricted. As may be seen from the drawings this clip 18 is used to hold a tile 15 to a batten 14 using a screw or similar fastening means.

Tiling systems in accordance with the invention possess a number of advantages. As noted above, the use of a resilient holding clip makes it possible to tile roofs of a wide variety of pitch or other configuration and also makes it possible to use tiles of relatively light weight since the structural integrity of the roof does not depend, as in conventional systems, on the weight of the tiles. Since the spring is resilient any movement in the structure, upwards or downwards, sideways pressure from air or water turbulence will not affect the stability of the tile. Individual tiles, or an area of tiles, can easily be removed and replaced without damage to adjacent tiles. This is in marked contrast to conventional systems wherein tiles are nailed to a structure in which case a whole length of tiles has to be removed in order to effect replacement.

When the tiling system of the invention is used, as is preferred, in accordance with a waterproof decking assembly to water barriers are effectively present in the roof, the tiles and the waterproof decking. Accordingly in exceptional conditions it is not objectionable for water to penetrate the outer tile layer and, as a result, it is not essential that the tiles be closely butted together or that they overlap each other as much as in conventional tiled roof systems.

Finally in the preferred form of construction with a layer of tiles spaced apart from a waterproofed decking it is possible to insert insulation between the layer of tiles and the decking to achieve effective, simple insulation of the roof.

Claims (12)

1. A roof having a tiled outer surface in which the tiles are supported on a plurality of generally horizontal battens, the upper part of each tile being supported on a batten and connected thereto by means of a resilient holding member engaging with the tile and the batten so as to permit displacement of the lower part of the tile in a direction normal to the plane of the roof at the lower end of the tile.

2. A roof as claimed in claim 1 in which the resilient holding members take the form of clips each comprising a tile engaging limb or limbs resiliently connected to a batten-engaging limb or limbs, the tile engaging limb or limbs being provided with means for engaging in holes or depressions in the tiles.

3. A roof as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the resilient holding members have a pair of tile-engaging limbs and the tiles are provided with notches, in their outer edges, for engaging with the resilient holding members.

4. A roof as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the upper parts of the tiles are narrower than the lower parts of the tiles.

5. A roof as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tile-supporting battens are supported on joists running generally at right angles to the battens.

6. A roof as claimed in claim 5 in which the joists are supported on, and spaced apart from, a roof decking provided with a layer of water-proof material, by means of joist supporting members having a flat base and connected to the decking by fastening means passing through the bases of the supporting members, the layer of plastic material and into or through the decking, a layer of elastomeric material being interposed between the base of each holding member and the membrane.

7. A roof as claimed in claim 6 in which the joist supporting members comprise: (i) a generally U-shaped member having a flat base and a pair of upstanding parallel side walls provided with internally projecting ribs or protrusions and (ii) a generally H-shaped member, the lower limbs of which are provided with outwardly directed ribs or protrusions and the upper limbs of which are provided with inwardly directed ribs or protrusions, the lower limbs of the H-shaped member engaging in a friction fit between the walls of the U-shaped member and being retained therein by co-operation between the ribs or protrusions in the engaging walls of the two members.

8. A roof as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A tiled roof having tiles supported by a plurality of generally horizontal battens in turn supported by joists running generally at right angles to the battens in which the joists are supported on, and spaced apart from, a roof decking provided with a layer of water-proof material, by means of joists-supporting members having a flat base and connected to the decker decking by fastening means passing through the bases of the supporting members, the layer of plastics material and into or through the decking, a layer of elastomeric material being interposed between the base of each holding member and to the membrane.

10. A tiled roof as claimed in claim 9 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A tiled roof having tiles supported directly on individual joists supported on, and spaced apart from, a roof decking by means of joists-supporting members having a flat base and connected to the decker decking by fastening means passing through the bases of the supporting members, and into or through the decking, in which the joists supporting members comprise: : (i) a generally U-shaped member having a flat base and a pair of upstanding parallel side walls provided with internally projecting ribs or protrusions and (ii) a generally H-shaped member, the lower limbs of which are provided with outwardly directed ribs or protrusions and the upper limbs of which are provided with inwardly directed ribs or protrusions, the lower limbs of the H-shaped member engaging in a friction fit between the walls of the U-shaped member and being retained therein by co-operation between the ribs or protrusions in the engaging walls of the two members.

12. A roof as claimed in claim 10 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.