GB2196661A - Roof structure of building module - Google Patents

Abstract

A roof structure, for a building module, comprising a pair of spaced parallel roof beams 12a, (12b Fig. 3) interconnected solely by one or more roof panels 40, the or each roof panel comprising an insulated structural sandwich having inner 41 and outer 42 skins and having therebetween an insulating infill 43 and at least one transverse reinforcing member (51 Figs. 5 & 6) disposed intermediate the ends of the panel. <IMAGE>

Description

GB2196661A 1 SPECIFICATION The inner and outer skins and infilling may be

bonded together.

Roof structure in or for a building module The or each transverse reinforcing member preferably comprises a steel section and the Description of Invention 70 section is preferably a channel section with

This invention relates to a roof structure in or the web of the channel extending generally for a building module, which may be assemperpendicular to and between the inner and bled with further similar modules, to provide a outer skins and one limb of the channel ex7 modular building construction. Each module is tending generally parallel to and adjacent the factory assembled for delivery to a prepared 75 outer skin and being of greater length than the site in an assembled condition complete with other limb, which is disposed closer to the at least a roof. inner skin and generally parallel thereto.

More particularly, the or each module corn- The one limb may have an inturned flange prises a structural metal frame to which roof at its free end.

and preferably, floor structures are attached. 80 The one limb may project lengthwise of the Where such modules are to be assembled to- reinforcing member beyond the web and over gether to form a modular building construclie a portion of the side member at each end tion, the structural frames are connected to- of the reinforcing member.

gether in the desired arrangement. The projecting portion of the limb may be In the factory or on-site end walls and side ?5 fastened to the associated side member an- walls are secured to the frame, one or more d/or the associated roof beam.

of such end or side walls being omitted if The or each panel may also comprise at required, to permit full width linking or end-to- least one transverse divider to divide the or end linking of two or more of the modules. each panel into a plurality of sections, each of Such building modules will hereinafter be de- 90 which is filled with said infilling during manu- scribed as---ofthe type described---. facture.

An object of the invention is to provide a A divider may be provided adjacent each new and improved roof structure in or for a transverse ' reinforcing member.

building module of the-type described. The or each divider may comprise a base According to one aspect of the present in- 95 part of relatively rigid material such as ply- vention, we provide a roof structure, for a wood and a top part, which may be of less building module, comprising a pair of spaced rigid material such as polyurethane foam, of a parallel roof beams interconnected solely by configuration to conform with the configura one or more roof panels, the or each roof tion of the internal surface of the outer skin.

panel comprising an insulated structural sand- 100 The or each panel may comprise a plurality wich having inner and outer skins and having of discrete spacer blocks disposed between therebetween an insulating infill and at least the inner and outer skins to maintain the skins one transverse reinforcing member disposed in spaced relationship during manufacture and intermediate the ends of the panel. in particular during filling with the insulating By -transverse reinforcing member- we 105 infill material.

mean a reinforcing member which strengthens The or each roof panel may be secured to the roof panel in a direction perpendicular to the roof beams so as to be disposed below the roof beams. the roof beams.

The or each panel may comprise a pair of The or each roof panel may be secured to spaced parallel side members and the or each 110 the roof beams so as to be disposed below reinforcing member may extend between and the roof beams at a distance which increases be connected to the side members. from one end of the roof structure to the The or each panel may comprise a pair of other.

spaced parallel end members. To provide said variation in distance, spacer Each side member and/or each transverse 115 members may be provided between the roof reinforcing member may be connected to an beams and the/or each roof panel the spacer associated roof beam preferably by a fastener members being of increasing height from said engaged with the side member-and/or each one end of the roof structure towards the transverse reinforcing member and with the other.

associated roof beam. 120 The reinforcing member, the inner skin and The inner skin may comprise a steel sheet the side members of the or each roof panel and the steel sheet may be provided with a are preferably all directly connected to the suitable surface finish, such as a coloured roof beams, for example by bolts or other plastic coating. suitable fasteners, to ensure structural conti- The outer skin may comprise a steel sheet 125 nuity but with the provision of spacer mem- and the steel sheet may be provided with a bers, as appropriate, to provide the roof suitable surface finish, such as a coloured panels with a desired slope.

plastic coating. Preferably, insulating infilling is provided be- The infilling may comprise foam plastics ma- tween the inner skin and the reinforcing mem- terial such as polyurethane foam. 130 ber and may be, additionally, provided be- 2 GB2196661A 2 tween the outer skin and the reinforcing mem- one or more side wall panels may be secured ber. The provision of insulating infilling be- to the frame so as to provide a module with tween the reinforcing member and the inner walls at one or both sides. Alternatively, or skin eliminates "cold bridging" through the re- additionally, two or more modules may be inforcing member from the exterior of the roof 70 connected in end-to-end relation, if required.

to the interior of the module. Preferably, the or each side wall panel is The hereinbefore mentioned bonding of the secured to the outside of the associated verti- infilling to the inner and outer skins ensures cal sub-frame so that the members which good structural continuity of the roof panels. comprise the associated sub-frame are inside Any tendency to sag in the roof beams may 75 the side walls, and the or each end of the unit be compensated for by providing spacer mem- may be closed by one or more end wall bers of appropriate length to eliminate any panels. The or each end wall panel may be downward deflection of the or each roof received substantially entirely within an end panel. opening defined between the sub-frames so The slope of the roof panels may lie in the 80 that the members which make up the sub- range of 1 in 120 to 1 in 60. frames lie peripherally of the end wall panel According to another aspect of the inven- and wholly external to the habitable volume of tion, we provide a building module comprising the module.

a structural metal frame comprising a pair of Conveniently, the or each end wall panel lateral vertical sub-frames, each of said sub- 85 may be secured directly to the upright mem frames including an upper member and a bers of said sub-frames.

lower member, the upper and lower members Desirably, lateral marginal portions of the of each sub-frame being interconnected by up- roof panel and floor structure extend into the rights, and the lower members of the sub- end and/or side openings defined by said sub frames being rigidly interconnected in spaced 90 frames.

apart parallel relation by frame cross members The end and/or side wall panels may com- which extend between the lower members, prise a structural sandwich comprising an and the upper members of the sub-frames outer metal skin and an inner skin sandwiching comprising said spaced parallel roof beams of therebetween an insulating infilling. The outer a roof structure according to the first aspect 95 metal sheet may comprise steel which may be of the invention. plastics coated and the infilling may be A floor structure may extend between and bonded to the outer skin and may be a rigid be supported by the lower members of said foam or expanded plastics material.

sub-frames. The or each end and/or side wall panel may Where the or each roof panel extends be- 100 comprise a timber framework to which the intween and is secured to the roof beam there- ner and outer skins are secured.

below, the roof beams are wholly external to The inner skin may comprise hardboard or the habitable volume of the module. plasterboard or other suitable material.

It has been found that the roof panel or The floor structure may comprise a decking panels provide sufficient strength to hold the 105 supported by a plurality of cross members sub-frames rigidly apart at their upper ends by which extend between and are carried by the virtue of the provision of the reinforcing mem- lower members of the sub- frames, with ther bers. For example, where the reinforcing mal insulation below such cross members, members are of the channel configuration de- such as a foil-faced thermal layer or other scribed hereinbefore, then when a load is ap- 110 similar material fastened to the underside of plied to the roof deck, for example a snow the cross members. Preferably, the decking, load, the relatively long one limb of the rein- which may be of wood particle board or the forcing member resists the compressive forces like, extends across the upper faces of the imposed upon the panel whilst the other limb, lower members of the sub- frames, whilst the together with the inner skin, which is prefera- 115 cross members extend between and are se bly made of steel, resists tensile forces. Be- cured to the inner faces of such lower mem cause of the relatively long one limb, the outer bers.

skin is not called upon to contribute to resist Conveniently, the lower members and the the compressive forces and thus the outer upper members of the sub-frames each com skin may be made of any desired material 120 prise channel section steel beams arranged without regard to its ability to resist compres- with the webs thereof extending vertically and sive forces. This permits of the use of a plas- the limbs extending horizontally with the open tic coated steel sheet provided with corrugamouth of the channel facing inwardly of the tions in the longitudinal direction, which skin module, although other types of beams may has little ability to resist compressive forces in 125 alternatively be utilised.

the transverse direction of the roof structure. The upright members of each sub-frame are Said sub-frames may define an open side or preferably connected to the ends of the upper sides of the module whereby two or more and lower members of the sub- frames. Such similar modules may be joined together in upright members may comprise channel or side-by-side relation with full width linking, but 130 hollow section steel columns although again, 3 GB2196661A 3 other constructions are possible. frames 11 a, 11 b are connected together by a The ends of the upper and lower members plurality of floor joists 15, of which two ex- may be each butted against a column and se- tend between the floor beams 13a, 13b at cured to the column in any suitable manner, positions adjacent but spaced from the up for example, by means of an angle bracket 70 rights 4a 14b, as shown in Fig 8, and inter welded or bolted to the web of the upper or mediate floor joists 15 are shown in Figs. 2a lower member as appropriate and bolted to and 2b.

the inner flange of the channel or hollow sec- The roof and floor beams 12a, 12b, 13a, tion columns. 13b are each of channel shape in cross-secLifting attachment may be secured to the 75 tion and each includes a vertically disposed upper members or uprights of each sub-frame, web 16 (see Fig. 1) the roof beams 12a, 12b preferably at a position immediately adjacent having laterally inwardly directed horizontal to the joint between the respective column flanges 17 and 18, and the floor beams 13a, and upper member. 13b laterally inwardly directed flanges 17a, The cross members may each comprise a 80 18a.

channel section beam, preferably arranged The uprights 14a, 14b are of rolled hollow with the web thereof extending vertically and section or alternatively of channel section. The the limbs directed horizontally and each limb flanges 17, 18, 17a, 18a, all have inwardly having an inwardly directed end flange. directed lips at their free ends.

It will be observed that where two units are 85 To enable the beams 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b connected in side-by-side relationship, the and uprights 14a, 14b to be connected rigidly floor, roof and end wall structures of the unit together, and beams 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b are are disposed entirely within the metal frame, butted directly against the uprights 14a, 14b so that the interior of the unit is free substan- and secured thereto by means of an angle tially from inwardly protruding beams, and 90 bracket B bolted or welded to the web 16 thus aleviating -cold bridging- which other- and flange 20 of the uprights 14a, 14b.

wise establishes a heat loss path between the The floor joists 15 are also of channel interior of the unit and the metal frame shape in cross-section and each comprises a through these structures. vertical web 23 with horizontally directed The invention will now be described by way 95 flanges 24 and 25, the upper flange 24 having of example, with reference to the accompany- a downwardly directed lip 24' at its free edge.

ing drawings, wherein:- It will thus be seen that each sub-frame Figure 1 is a partial transverse crosssec- 11 a, 11 b affords a rectangular aperture de- tional view in a vertical plane through a build- fined by the beams and uprights 12a, 13a, ing module embodying the invention; 100 14a and 12b, 13b, 14b, respectively which Figures 2a and 2b are partial longitudinal may be closed by end and side wall panels as sections, in a vertical plane through the mo- hereinafter described.

dule of Fig. 1; Lifting eyes 27 are removably secured to Figure 3 is a partial transverse cross-sec- the tops of the uprights 14a, 14b by bolts tional view in a vertical plane through the mo- 105 27a which engage a nut 27b.

dule of Fig. 1 and illustrating the manner in Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, the module which two adjoining modules are secured to illustrated includes a floor structure 30 corn gether; prising an upper sheet of wood particle board Figure 4 is a plan view of a roof panel of 31 which rests at its lateral margins on the the module of Fig. 1 with -part of the outer 110 upper flanges 18a of the lower beams 13a, skin omitted; 13b and is supported on the floor joists 15.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, broken away, per- A foil faced film or blanket 32 underdraws spective view illustrating the connection be- the floor joists 15 and is secured to the bot tween a roof panel and a roof beam of the tom flange 25 thereof of each joist by pneu module of Fig. 1; 115 matically driven nails N and galvanised wash- Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. ers, or self drilling screws or other suitable 4; fasteners.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. The foil facings of the thermal blanket, act 4; and in combination with the air gap created under Figure 8 is a perspective view of a rigid 120 the floor deck provided by the board 31 to metal frame of the building module of Fig. 1. reflect radiated heat from the floor back into Referring to the drawings, a building module the building. Since the natural direction of con- in accordance with the invention comprises a vective heat flow upwards, this gives a warm rigid frame 10 as shown in Fig. 8, preferably layer of air just below the floor deck 31. The constructed from steel beams. The frame 10 125 thermal blanket is in one- piece with no gaps comprises two vertical sub-frames 11 a, 11 b, and thus prevents draughts.

each comprising respective horizontal roof Possible cold-bridging is avoided as the beams 12a, 12b and lower horizontal floor thermal blanket covers the bottom of the steel beams 13a, 13b interconnected at their ends joists 15. The thermal blanket 32 has a Class by uprights 14a, 14b. The two vertical sub- 130 1 surface spread of flame, which assures a 4 GB 2 196 66 1 A 4 safe fire performance and has a life in excess Also assembled in the jig adjacent each di- of forty years and is not affected by moisture. vider 49 is a transversely extending reinforcing To enable the whole structure to be sup- member 51 made of steel and of assymetric ported on a lorry affording a bed narrower channel configuration comprising a web 52 than the overall width of the building module, 70 disposed vertically so as to extend normal to longitudinal wooden bars 37 are secured in the general plane of the inner and outer skins position beneath the joists 15 inwardly of the 41, 42', a lower limb 53 of relatively short ends of the module. extent and an upper limb 54 of relatively lon- A roof panel 40 extends between and is ger extent, in the present example approxi- secured to the roof beams 12a, 12b therebemately twice as long as the limb 53. The low by attachment to the lower flanges 17 limbs 53, 54 are disposed so as to extend thereof. The roof panel 40 comprises an inner perpendicular to the web part 52.

skin 41 of plastic coated steel, an outer skin If desired the reinforcing member 51 may 42 also of plastic coated steel, a timber peri- be disposed at different positions and a differ meter framework, part of which is shown at 80 ent number of reinforcing members may be T, with the space between them being filled provided than described above. Each reinforc by a foamed plastic material 43, which in the ing member may be of different shape and/or present example is polyurethane foam. different material than described above.

The inner skin 41 comprises a plurality of At each end, the limb 54 projects longitudi- planar plastic coated steel sheets 41a e.g. 85 nally outwardly of the web part 52 and lower seven. In the present example, the plastic limb 53 so as to overlie the longitudinally ex coating is that commonly known as a ---low tending members of the frame T to be re gloss Dolomite architectural polyester-. The ceived in a rebate 55 formed therein, so that seven sheets are disposed side-by-side longi- the upper surface of the limb 54 is flush with tudinally of the roof panel and each sheet ex- 90 the upper surface of the longitudinally extend tends across the whole of the transverse ex- ing frame member. The lower limb 53 is tent of the roof panel. The adjacent edges of spaced above the skin 41 so that when foam the sheets are crimped together, as shown at insulating material, in the present example 44 in Figs. 5 and 6. polyurethane foam, is injected into the section The outer skin 42 comprises a plurality of 95 through the grooves 50, insulating materral en- profiled plastic-coated steel sheets 42a, e.g. ters the space between the undersurface of three the plastic coating in the present the limb 53 and the upwardly facing surface example providing a silk grey plastisol coating. of the skin 41, so as to avoid cold bridging Each sheet extends throughout the longitudibetween the inner and outer skins through the nal extent of the roof panel and the sheets 100 transverse reinforcing members 51.

are disposed in side-by-side relation across The sheets 42a of the upper skin 42 stop the transverse extent of the roof panel with short of the longitudinally extending members adjacent side portions in overlapping relation- of the frame T and a steel strip 57 is ar ship so that the adjacent end two corruga- ranged in overlapping relationship with the tions partially overlap as shown at 45a, 45b 105 edge of the sheets 42a adjacent the associ in Fig. 7. ated frame member T with a sealant 58 there- A sealing strip is provided at the apex of between, whilst the other end of the strip 57 the outer pair of overlapping corrugations as is nailed to the frame member T.

shown at 46. The roof panel is manufactured The transversely extending ends of the by assembling the sheets 41a of the lower 110 sheets 42a are nailed in the valleys to the skin 41 in crimped relationship in a jig, posi- transversely extending members of the frame tioning roof blocks 47 of diamond configura- T where the three sheets overlap so that the tion at the locations shown in Fig. 4, assembl- bottom roof sheet is penetrated by the nail ing the peripheral frame T, the members of and the nail head covered by the top sheet.

which are secured together by corrugated 115 The ends of the sheet which is to provide the plates, on top of the sheets of the lower skin, upper end of the roof panel, in use, are bent and positioning dividers 49 adjacent the upwardly through 90', whilst at the other end, crimped together seams 44. Each divider 49 the sheet is bent downwardly through an comprising a base part 49a of plywood and angle of approximately 20' so that water can an upper part 49b of expanded polyurethane 120 not flow from the valleys at the upper end foam material, the upper surface of which has because of the upturn and the downturn facili a configuration corresponding to the configura- ties flow therefrom. A weatherproof mem tion of the profile of the sheets 42a of the brane e.g. Hypalon sheet H is nailed below upper skin 42. These dividers serve to divide the valleys of the bottom sheet at the lower the roof panel into sections which are filled, 125 end and the roof member T to provide a dis after assembly of the sheets 42a of the upper charge path for water.

skin 42 on top of the previously described The plywood base part 49a of the dividers components through injection grooves 50 pro- 49 project longitudinally outwardly beyond the vided on the upper surface of one longitudi- upper part 49b and are received in a slot 58 nally extending member of the frame T. 130 formed in the longitudinal frame members T.

1 GB2196661A 5 The roof sheets are positioned below the therebetween.

lower flanges 17 of the roof beams with spa- The end and side wall panels 70, 8.0 add - cers 59 therebetween. The spacers 59 in- further rigidity to the structure. Where two or crease in height from one end of the roof more units are linked, an internal trim strip panel to the other so that the roof panel is 70 may be provided if desired to cover the joint inclined downwardly as the spacers 59 in- between adjacent end or side wall panels 70, crease in height relative to the roof beams 16 80.

so that water is discharged from the lower Whilst one side of the illustrated unit in Fig.

end of the roof panel. The angle of inclination 3 is left open to provide a full width cbnnec may fie in the range of 1 in 120 to 1 in 60 75 tion with an adjacent similar unit, the other depending upon the application of the building. side is closed by means of a side wall panel A suitable trim fitting 61 is provided be- 80 (Fig. 1) attached to the vertical frame 11 a, tween the roof beams 16 and the roof panel externally thereof. The side wall panel 80 is of with a suitable sealant therebetween. similar construction to the end wall panel 70 The connection between the roof panel and 80 and includes an outer skin 81 and an inner the beam 16 comprises a plurality of bolts 62 skin 82 secured to a framework of timber which pass through apertures formed in the members 83 with foamed plastics insulation lower skin 41, longitudinally extending frame material 84 therebetween.

members T, projecting part of the upper limb The edges of the side and end wall panels 54 and the flange 17 of the roof beams 16. 85 are masked by appropriate trim strips and a Thus, whilst the vertical sub-frames 1 la, gutter 90 and drain piple 91 positioned at the 11 b of the rigid frame 10 are connected at lower end of the roof panel.

the bottom by the joists 15, no frame parts Although not shown, the end and side wall interconnect the sub-frames 11 a, 11 b at the panels, where provided, may be equipped with top, the sub-frames being structurally intercon- 90 all necessary doors and windows, and the nected solely by the roof panel 40. windows may be single or double glazed as It has been found, surprisingly, that the roof required.

panel 40 described above provides sufficient All required internal fittings, including parti- strength to hold the sub-frames 11 a, 11 b rition walls, carpeting or other floor covering, gidly apart at their upper ends and thus serve 95 and appropriate mains services such as gas, a similar function as would metal frame cross electricity, water supply and sanitation may be members. This is particularly due to the rein- provided so that the complete unit may be forcing members 51. It has further been found delivered to a prepared site, ready for use, that this construction had advantages com- subject only to securing adjacent units to pared to conventional structures having metal 100 gether where necessary and applying internal cross members because cold bridging is re- trim strips as necessary at the joints between duced, because of the thermally insulating adjacent units, and if required external trims.

foam in the gaps 56 between the reinforcing When two or more units are connected to- members 51 and the inner skin 41, as well as gether in end-to-end configuration, the higher the timber of the peripheral frame T being a 105 ends may be adjacent with suitable guttering better insulator than metal. Thus condensa- being provided at the lower ends.

tion, which can occur in metal framed build- If desired, a plurality of roof panels may be ings, is reduced. Another advantage with this provided secured to and below the roof construction is that the structure is consider- beams instead of a single roof panel.

ably simplified and costs in producing such 110 The features disclosed in the foregoing de- building are accordingly reduced. scription, or in the accompanying drawings, Secured to the frame are end wall panels expressed in their specific forms or in terms and side wall panels 80, although one of of a means for performing the disclosed func the end wall panels 70 and/or side wall tion, or a method or process for attaining the panels 80 may be omitted to enable the unit 115 disclosed result, may, separately or in any to be linked to other similar units, to provide combination of such features, be utilised for multi-building construction, by bolting the subrealising the invention in diverse forms frames of such adjacent units directly together thereof.

to bring the floors and end wall panels of

Claims (1)

1. such units into direct abutting relation as 120 CLAIMS shown in Fig. 3. 1.

   A roof stucture, for a building module, The end wall panels 70 are secured to the comprising a pair of spaced parallel roof inside of the uprights 14a, 14b by attachment beams interconnected solely by one or more to the inner flanges 20 thereof so that the roof panels, the or each roof panel comprising panels 70 are received entirely with in the 125 an insulated structural sandwich having inner metal frame 10. Such end wall panels corn- and outer skins and having therebetween an prise an outer skin 71 of plastic coated steel, insulating infill and at least one transverse re and an inner skin 72 of plasterboard, secured inforcing member disposed intermediate the to a framework of timber members 73 and ends of the panel.

   65. with foamed plastics insulation material 74 130 2. A roof structure according to Claim 1 6 GIB 2 196 66 1 A 6 wherein the or each panel comprises a pair of said infillfing during manufacture.

   spaced parallel side members and the or each 16. A roof structure according to Claim 15 reinforcing member extends between and is wherein a divider is provided adjacent each connected to the side members. transverse reinforcing member.

   3. A roof structure according to Claim 1 or 70 17. A roof structure according to Claim 15 Claim 2 wherein the or each panel comprises or Claim 16 wherein the or each divider com a pair of spaced parallel end members. prises a base part of relatively rigid material 4. A roof structure according to Claim 2 or such as plywood and a top part, of less rigid Claim 3 when dependent upon Claim 2 material and of a configuration to conform wherein each side member and/or each 75 with the configuration of the internal surface transverse reinforcing member is connected to of the outer skin.

   an associated roof beam. 18. A roof structure according to any one 5. A roof structure according to Claim 4 of the preceding claims wherein the or each I wherein each side member and/or each panel comprises a plurality of discrete spacer transverse reinforcing member is connected to 80 blocks disposed between the inner and outer an associated roof beam by a fastener en- skins to maintain the skins in spaced relation gaged with the side member and/or each ship during manufacture and in particular dur transverse reinforcing member and with the ing filling with insulating material.

   associated roof beam. 19. A roof structure according to any one 6. A roof structure according to any one 85 of the preceding claims wherein the or each of the preceding claims wherein the inner skin roof panel is secured to the roof beams so as comprises a steel sheet. to be disposed below the roof beams.

   7. A roof structure according to any one 20. A roof structure according to Claim 19 of the preceding claims wherein the outer skin wherein the or each roof panel is secured to comprises a steel sheet. 90 the roof beams so as to be disposed below 8. A roof structure according to any one the roof beams at a distance which increases of the preceding claims wherein the infilling from one end of the roof structure to the comprises foam plastics material. other.

   9. A roof structure according to any one 21. A roof structure according to Claim 20 of the preceding claims wherein the inner and 95 wherein, to provide said variation in distance, outer skins and infilling are bonded together. spacer members are provided between the 10. A roof structure according to any one roof beams and the/or each roof panel, the of the preceding claims wherein the or each spacer members being of increasing height reinforcing member comprises a steel section. from said one end of the roof structure to- 11. A roof structure according to Claim 2 100 wards the other end thereof.

   or any one of the preceding claims when de- 22. A roof structure according to Claim 2 pendent on Claim 2 wherein the or each or any one of Claims 3 to 21 when depen transverse reinforcing member comprises a dent upon Claim 2 wherein the reinforcing channel section with the web of the channel member, the inner skin and the side members extending generally perpendicular to and be- 105 or the or each roof panel are directly con tween the inner and outer skins and one limb nected to the roof beams to ensure structural of the channel extending generally parallel to continuity but with the provision of spacer and adjacent the outer skin and being of members, as appropriate, to provide the roof greater length than the other limb, which is panels with a desired slope.

   disposed closer to the inner skin and generally 110 23. A roof structure according to Cldim 2 parallel thereto. or any one of Claim 3 to 22 when dependent 12. A roof structure according to Claim 11 upon Claim 2 wherein insulating infilling is pro- wherein the one limb has an inturned flange at vided between the inner skin and the reinforc its free end. ing member or between the inner skin and the 13. A roof structure according to Claim 11 115 reinforcing member and, additionally, between or Claim 12 wherein the one limb projects the outer skin and the reinforcing member.

   lengthwise of the reinforcing member beyond 24. A roof structure according to Claim 20 the web and overlies a portion of the side or any one of Claims 21 to 23 when depen member at each end of the reinforcing mem- dent upon Claim 20 wherein the slope of the ber. 120 roof panels lies in the range 1 in the 120 to 1 14. A roof structure according to any one in 60.

   of Claims 11 to 13 wherein the projecting 25. A roof structure substantially as here- portion of the limb is fastened to the associinbefore described with reference to the ac ated side member and/or the associated roof companying drawings.

   beam. 125 26. A building module comprising a struc- 15. A roof structure according to any one tural metal frame comprising a pair of lateral of the preceding claims wherein the or each vertical sub-frames, each of said sub-frames panel comprises at least one transverse di- including an upper member and a lower mem vider to divide the or each panel into a pluralber, the upper and lower members of each ity of sections, each of which is filled with 130 sub-frame being interconnected by uprights, 7 GB2196661A 7 and the lower members of the sub frames of cross members which extend between and being rigidly interconnected in spaced apart are carried by the lower members of the sub parallel relation by frame cross members frames, with thermal insulation below the which extend between the lower members cross members.

   and the upper members of the sub-frames 70 39. A module substantially as hereinbefore comprising said spaced parallel roof beams of described with reference to the accompanying a roof structure according to any one of drawings.

   Claims 1 to 25. 40. Any novel feature or novel combination 27. A module according to Claim 26 of features disclosed herein and/or shown in wherein a floor structure extends between and 75 the accompanying drawings.

   is supported by the lower members of said sub-frames. Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC 1 R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from 28. A module according to Claim 26 or The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD.

   Claim 27 wherein the sub-frames define an Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.

   open side or sides of the module and two or more similar modules are joined together in side by side relation with full width linking.

   29. A module according to any one of Claims 26 to 28 wherein two or more mo dules are connected in end to end relation.

   30. A module according to any one of Claims 26 to 29 wherein at least one wall panel is secured to the frame.

   3 1. A module according to Claim 30 wherein the or each side wall panel is secured to the outside of the associated vertical sub frame so that the members which comprise the associated sub-frame are inside the side walls.

   32. A module according to Claim 30 or Claim 31 wherein the or each end wall panel is received substantially entirely within an end opening defined between the sub-frames so that the members which make up the sub frames lie peripherally of the end wall panel and wholly external to habitable volume of the module.

   33. A module according to Claim 32 wherein the or each wall panel is secured di rectly to the upright members of said sub frames.

   34. A module according to Claim 27 or any one of Claims 28 to 33 when dependent upon Claim 27 wherein lateral marginal por tions of the roof panel and floor structure ex tend into the end and/or side openings de fined by said sub-frames.

   35. A module according to Claim 30 or any one of Claims 31 to 34 when dependent upon Claim 30 wherein the wall panels com prise a structural sandwich comprising an outer metal skin and inner skin sandwiching therebetween an insulating filling.

   36. A module according to Claim 35 wherein the infilling is bonded to the outer skin and comprises a rigid foam or expanded plastics material.

   37. A module according to Claim 35 or Claim 36 wherein the or each wall panel com prises a timber framework to which the inner and outer skins are secured.

   38. A module according to Claim 27 or any one of Claims 28 to 37 when depenent upon Claim 27 wherein the floor structure comprises a decking supported by a plurality