GB2188078A

GB2188078A - A cavity wall of two leaves, the outer masonry and the inner of a timber framework

Info

Publication number: GB2188078A
Application number: GB08606607A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Harraway Dawson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-03-18
Filing date: 1986-03-18
Publication date: 1987-09-23
Also published as: GB8606607D0; GB2188078B

Abstract

A wall of a building comprises a masonry outer leaf (11) and a structural inner leaf (12). The inner leaf may contain a body of thermally insulating material which is thicker than is the outer leaf, and which occupies a space defined by a timber framework of the inner leaf. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cavity wall and building incorporating same Description of Invention The present invention relates to a cavity wall of a building.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a wall comprising a masonry outer leaf and a structural inner leaf wherein the inner leaf is spaced from the outer leaf, the inner leaf is tied to the outer leaf, the inner leaf comprises a first row of upright members remote from the outer leaf and a second row of upright members between the outer leaf and the first row, the members of said first row are connected with corresponding members of the second row by first transverse members and with each other by second transverse members, wherein each first transverse member extends from a respective upright member of the first row at a position between the ends of that member to a respective upright member of the second row at a position between the ends of that member and each second transverse member extends from one member of the first row at a position between the ends of that member to another member of the first row at a position between the ends of that member.

In a wall according to the first aspect of the invention, deflection of the upright members is inhibited by the transverse members. In consequence of this, relatively thin upright members can bear the load imposed on the inner leaf.

By describing the inner leaf as a structural leaf, I mean that this leaf bears a load imposed by parts of a building other than the wall itself, for example a roof and/or a floor. Generally, the outer leaf of the wall does not bear any load additionai to that of the outer leaf itself.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a building comprising a wall according to the first aspect and a roof supported partly by said wall, wherein the roof load imposed on said wall is imposed mainly or entirely on the inner leaf. The roof load is preferably distributed at least approximately equally between the first and second rows of upright members.

An example of a wall embodying the first aspect of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrates diagrammatically a part of the wall.

The wall illustrated in the drawing is an external wall ofa building. The building may comprise more than one storey.

The building comprises a base 10 which may be formed of concrete. The wall extends upwardly from the perimeter of the base. The wall comprises an outer leaf 11 of masonry which may be constructed in a known manner of masonry units, for example bricks, bedded in mortar. An inner leaf 12 is spaced somewhat from the outer leaf so that there is a cavity 13 between the leaves.

The inner leaf 12 of the wall comprises a row of first upright members, some of which are represented at 14, 15 and 16. This row is a rectilinear row parallel to the outer leaf. A row of second upright members, two of which are represented at 17 and 18, 19 is disposed between the first members and the outer leaf, the second members being immediately adjacent to the cavity 13. The second members also are arranged in a rectilinear row which is parallel to the outer leaf. The inner leaf further comprises a number of short transverse members 19 and a number of longer transverse members 20. In the example illustrated, each transverse member is elongated and is arranged with its length horizontal.

Each short transverse member 19 extends between a respective upright member of the first row and a corresponding upright member of the second row. Preferably, the length of each short member is perpendicular to the major faces of the outer leaf. The short member is connected with each of the corresponding upright members at positions between the ends of those members. Several short transverse members may extend between each pair of upright members, these transverse members being spaced from each other vertically.

Each of the longer transverse members extends between one upright member and a further upright member in the same row. Thus, the longer transverse members are arranged with their lengths parallel to the major faces of the outer leaf. Some of the longer transverse members lie immediately adjacent to the cavity 13 and the other longer transverse members are remote from the cavity.

Several vertically spaced longer transverse members may extend between the upright members of a single pair. The transverse members are connected with the upright members in a known manner, for example by use of nails.

The inner leaf further comprises a sole plate 21 on which the upright members 14, 15 and 16 stand and to which these members are fixed. The sole plate may rest on the base 10 but there is preferably interposed between the base and the sole plate 21 a lower sole plate 22, to which the sole plate 21 is fixed and which itself is fixed to the base 10. A similar arrangement of sole plates is provided for the second row of upright members and the sole plate of the second row is connected with the sole plate 21 by further, short transverse members 23.

Their rests on the upper ends of the upright members 14, 15 and 16 an elongate head member 24. A corresponding head member rests on and is fixed to the upright members of the second row and these head members are connected together by further short transverse members 25. The wall preferably includes a further component (not shown) which rests on the head members and spans a gap between them. This component is fixed to the head members and to the adjacent transverse members to provide a continuous connection between the head members and substantially eliminate freedom of the inner leaf to twist in a horizontal direction from its intended position.

A further pair of head members may be provided on the continuous component to form a composite head member of high strength. It will be understood that the head member may serve as a beam to support a load imposed on the inner leaf.

The inner leaf illustrated in the drawing may support a suspended floor, end portions of floor joists extending across the head membertothe cavity 13 so that the load imposed on the inner leaf is distributed between the rows of first and second members approximately equally. Similarly, in a case where the inner leaf supports a roof, trussed rafters or other components of the roof would rest on the composite head member and the head member may function as a beam to transmit the imposed load to the upright members.

The inner leaf is connected with the outer leaf 11 by ties 26 which extend across the cavity 13. The ties may be of known form and may be fixed to the inner leaf by nailing. An inner skin (not shown) of plasterboard or other sheet material is mounted on the upright members 14, 15 and 16. The space within the inner leaf is preferably filled completely with thermally insulating material, for example webs of fibrous material. At the face of the inner leaf adjacent to the cavity 13, there is provided one or more layers of sheet material which closes off the interior of the inner leaf from the cavity. The layers of sheet material may include plywood and a known membrane which prevents water penetrating from the cavity into the inner leaf but permits the passage of water vapour from the inner leaf to the cavity.It will be understood that a water vapour barrier is incorporated in the inner leaf adjacent to the upright 14,15 and 16. This barrier may be an aluminium foil or other layer incorporated in the plaster board or other sheet material or the barrier may be a separate layer of sheet material, for example polythene film.

The cavity 13 is preferably vacant, except for the ties 26. The ties preferably lie outside the sheet material and any membrane of the inner leaf which is adjacent to the cavity, fixings for the ties penetrating these parts of the inner leaf into the upright members 17, 18 and 19.

It will be noted that the width of the inner leaf, that is the dimension measured in a direction perpendicular to the major faces of the outer leaf 11, is substantially greater than the corresponding dimension of the outer leaf and substantially greater than the corresponding dimension of the cavity.

Thus, the inner leaf may contain a body of thermally insulated material which has a thickness of several hundreds of millimetres.

The drawing shows each of the first upright members to be opposite a corresponding second upright member so that the wall comprises equal numbers of first and second upright members.

However, the number of upright members in one row may differ from that in the other row. The members of the inner leaf are conveniently formed of timber but other materials, for example steel, may be used. Some of the members may be of timber and others of steel or other metal or of plastics materials. In a case where timber members are used, these may be nominaily 50 millimetre square in cross-section.

Whilst the wall structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises transverse members of square cross-section, some or all of these transverse members may be substituted by transverse members of sheet-like form. For example, there may be one or more members of plywood or other sheet material extending between and fixed to a respective upright member of the first row and a corresponding upright member of the second row. Such transverse member may be fixed, along each of two opposite margins, to respective single upright members or may have marginal portions trapped between respective pairs of upright members. The length of the piywood transverse member may be approximately equal to the length of the corresponding upright members.

Alternatively, several relatively short plywood members may be attached to a single pair of upright members, these plywood members being spaced from each other vertically. A combination of sheetlike and bar-like transverse members is preferred.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms or a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1.A A wall comprising a masonry outer leaf and a structural inner leaf wherein the inner leaf is spaced from the outer leaf, the inner leaf is tied to the outer leaf, the inner leaf comprises a first row of upright members remote from the outer leaf and a second row of upright members between the outer leaf and the first row, the members of said first row are connected with corresponding members of the second row by first transverse members and with each other by second transverse members, wherein each first transverse member extends from a respective upright member of the first row at a position between the ends of that member to a respective upright member of the second row at a position between the ends of that member and each second transverse member extends from one member of the first row at a position between the ends of that member to another member of the first row at a position between the ends of that member.

2. A wall according to Claim 1 wherein the space between the said first and second rows of upright members is occupied by thermally insulating material.

3. A wall according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the spacing of the first row from the second row exceeds the spacing of the second row from the outer leaf.

4. A building comprising a wall according to any one of Claims 1,2 and 3 and further comprising a roof supported partly by said wall, wherein the roof load imposed on said wall is imposed mainly or entirely on the inner leaf.

5. A building according to Claim 4 wherein said roof load is distributed between the first and second rows of upright members.

6. A building comprising a wall according to any one of Claims 1,2 and 3 and further comprising a suspended floor supported partly from said wall, wherein the load imposed on said wall by the floor is imposed entirely on the inner leaf.

7. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.