GB2318596A - Insulated panel for use in wall, floor or roof structures - Google Patents

Abstract

A building panel (1) comprises two facing sheets (10,11), preferably of a wood composite material. The facing sheets (10,11) are connected by side edge members (12,13) and top and bottom edge members (14,15) to define an enclosed interior space (16). The interior space (16) is preferably filled with a solidified foam material which has a closed cell structure, thus preventing spread of moisture between the face panels. The foam material also adheres to and supports the facing sheets (10,11) and the edge members (12,13,14,15) adding structural strength to the panel. The face members preferably extend beyond the edge members to form u-shaped channels around the edges of the panel. By providing a tongue member (17) along one side of the panel a male connection part for fitting into a side channel of an adjacent panel can be provided. The channels can also be used to receive a guide member so that, in use, panels can be slid into position along the guide member, facilitating construction.

Description

"Building Panel and Method for Building Structures" The present invention relates to a building panel and a method for building structures, and particularly but not exclusively to a building panel, and a method, for building permanent static structures suitable for accommodating people.

A known method of building structures, such as houses, for accommodating people, includes initial construction of a structurally strong timber frame, and subsequent filling of the spaces left between elements of the frame. Typically an internal shell is formed by filling the spaces defined by the frame with building materials suitable for internal use and the internal shell is then clad with building materials suitable for external use, such as bricks and roofing tiles.

The spaces between elements of the frame are closed to form the shell by providing outer sheets of plywood or a similar material extending between vertical elements of the frame to provide an outer surface of the shell.

A filling, such as mineral wool, is then placed against the internal side of the plywood sheets. Inner sheets, typically of plasterboard, are then added to form an inner surface of the shell. The outer sheets, filling and inner sheets together form a filled shell wall providing thermal insulation. Wood-based web members, which extend across the space between the plywood and plasterboard sheets, are typically provided in order to help support these sheets relative to each other.

The use of this type of construction has a number of disadvantages. The plasterboard sheets do not provide significant structural strength. The filling may settle, creating an empty (and uninsulated) void. The sheets are generally connected to each other, and to the frame elements and web members, by nails which may protrude into the cavity. Because they have high thermal conductivity such nails provide surfaces upon which condensation forms, and condensed water dampens the filling causing more settling and a larger uninsulated void. This in turn can lead to higher levels of condensation being produced.

Disadvantages of the prior art therefore include the technical difficulty of building a timber frame, the fact that the shell walls do not bear a substantial proportion of the load, and the problems inherent in the panel design relating to thermal insulation and water proofing. Also since timber frames and the twosheet shell walls are made up on site a great deal of assembly must be carried out at the time of constructing a structure. On-site construction also increases the likelihood of excess moisture being inadvertently included in the finished structure, for example between the inner and outer walls of the shell.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a building panel having a first face formed from a first face member and a second face formed from a second face member, wherein said first and second face members are spaced apart and the gap therebetween is filled with a filling material having a substantially closed cell structure, such that the filling enhances the structural strength of the panel.

Preferably, said first and second face members are substantially planar.

Preferably, said panel includes at least two edge connection portions so that a number of similar panels can be connected to form a planar structure of connected panels.

Preferably, the edge connection portions are configured so that in use an edge connection portion of the panel overlaps with an edge connection portion of an adjacent connected panel.

Preferably, the panel includes a first edge connection portion having a male part and a second edge connection portion having a female part adapted to receive a male part of a panel of the same type. In this way a number of panels of the same type can be connected in order to form a planar structure of connected panels.

Alternatively, a first type of panel may include two connection portions, each having a male part, and a second type of panel may include two connection portions each having a female part. In this case, a planar structure of connected panels can be formed by alternating the first and second types of panel. (It is intended that the term 1,similar panel" used above should include such varying types.) Preferably, each connection portion includes either a tongue or a channel portion. In this case similar panels are adapted to be connected together by insertion of the tongue portion of one panel into the channel portion of another similar panel.

Preferably, said gap between said first and second face members is large compared to the thickness of the face members.

Preferably, said face members are formed from a wood composite material and most preferably from oriented strand board (OSB).

Preferably, said panel includes edge members which extend between the face members and which, in conjunction with the face members, define an interior space within said panel. Preferably, there are provided four edge members and said interior space is substantially cuboid.

Preferably, at least one of the edge members is formed from a length of wood or from a wood composite, preferably OSB.

Preferably, said filling material is a solidified foam, and most preferably polyurethane foam. Preferably, the filling material substantially fills the interior space of the panel.

Preferably, no other reinforcement is provided within said interior space, although reinforcing members may be provided adjacent one or more of the edge members.

Alternatively an additional support member may be provided in the interior space.

Preferably, at least one of the face members is adapted to slidingly engage an elongate guide member so as to allow the panel to be slid axially with respect to the guide member whilst the panel is restrained from substantial sliding movement relative to said guide member in other directions. Most preferably both of the face members are adapted to engage a guide member.

Preferably, at least one of the face members extends outwardly beyond at least one of the edge members. The guide member may be in the form of a strut adapted to support a panel in a horizontal or inclined orientation. In this case the strut may include an upper upwardly facing surface for engagement with the uppermost face member, and a lower upwardly facing surface for engagement with the lower face member. A horizontal or inclined panel may be supported by the strut, or by two similar spaced-apart struts, and easily positioned by sliding along the strut(s). A number of panels may be positioned in this way in order to form a floor or pitched roof structure.

Preferably, both of the face members extend outwardly beyond one of the edge members in order to form an exterior channel along a corresponding edge of the panel. In a panel adapted to be used in a vertical orientation said channel is preferably, in use, disposed along a lower edge of the panel and is adapted to slidingly receive an upwardly projecting guide member. The guide member may be in the form of a sole plate or of a header member of a lower panel. A vertically orientated panel may be supported by the guide member, and easily positioned by sliding along the guide member. A number of panels may be positioned in this way in order to form a wall structure.

Preferably, both of the face members extend outwardly beyond at least two of the edge members in order to form exterior channels along opposite first and second edges of the panel. The opposed edges of the panels will then comprise opposed channels. One or more of said opposed channels may be provided with respective tongue members permanently located therein and extending laterally therefrom in order to provide a tongue at a corresponding edge of the panel. One or more of said edge channels may be left without a tongue member to provide an edge channel adapted to receive a tongue member in order allow connection to a panel having such a tongue member. Preferably, each panel is provided with a tongue member at a first one of said opposed edges thereof and with a side channel adapted to receive a tongue member at a second one of said opposed edges thereof.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of building structures, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one elongate guide member adapted to receive load bearing panels; providing a first load bearing panel and disposing same onto said at least one elongate guide member so as to allow said first panel to be slid axially with respect to the guide member whilst said first panel is restrained from substantial sliding movement relative to said guide member in other directions; sliding the first load bearing panel into a desired position on said at least one guide member; providing a second load bearing panel and disposing same onto said at least one elongate guide member so as to allow said second panel to be slid axially with respect to the guide member whilst it is restrained from substantial sliding movement relative to said guide member in other directions; sliding the second load bearing panel into a desired position on said at least one guide member; securing said first load bearing panel in position; and securing said second load bearing panel in position.

Preferably, said step of securing said first load bearing panel in position comprises securing said first load bearing panel to the guide member.

Preferably, said step of securing said second load bearing panel in position comprises securing said second load bearing panel to said first load bearing panel and securing said second load bearing panel to the guide member.

The method may include the provision of an arbitrary number of additional panels in order to provide an arbitrary area of panelling.

Preferably, the method includes the use of a number of panels each adapted to interlock with adjacent panels.

Preferably, the method includes the use of a number of panels each having an integral reinforcing member.

Preferably, the method includes the further step of attaching a header member across the tops of a plurality of panels. In this case the method preferably includes positioning of the header member, plurality of panels and guide member so that a downwards force applied to the header member is transmitted substantially vertically through the reinforcing members to the guide member.

Preferably, the method includes the use of a number of panels in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

Preferably the guide member is a sole plate or a header member. Alternatively the guide member may be in the form of a strut adapted to support a panel in a horizontal or inclined orientation. In the latter case the strut preferably includes an upper upwardly facing surface for engagement with the uppermost face member of a panel, and a lower upwardly facing surface for engagement with the lower face member of a panel.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig la is a horizontal cross section of a first embodiment of a building panel according to the present invention, in the form of a load bearing panel for use in wall; Fig lb is a first vertical cross section of the panel of Fig la; Fig lc is a second vertical cross section of the panel of fig la; Fig 2 is a perspective view, showing some hidden detail, of the panel of Fig la upon a sole plate; Fig 3 is a perspective view, showing some hidden detail, showing first and second panels upon a sole plate; Fig 4 is a perspective view, showing some hidden detail, showing two panels mounted upon a sole plate, a third panel at right angles to the first and second panels and members for attaching the three panels; Fig 5 is a perspective view, with hidden detail excluded, corresponding to Fig 4; Fig 6 is a cross section along the length of a second embodiment of a building panel according to the present invention, in the form of a load bearing panel for use in a roof or floor; Fig 7 is a cross section across the width of the panel of Fig 6 showing the panel supported on struts; Fig 8 is a cross section of parts of two panels each of the type shown in Fig 6, illustrating the connection of two such panels; and Fig 9 is a perspective view showing part of a first panel of the type shown in Fig 6 supported on struts and a part of second similar panel; and Figs 10a, 10b and 10c are illustrations, corresponding to Figs la, lb and lc, of a further embodiment of a building panel in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to Figs la, lb, lc and Fig 2 a first embodiment of a building panel, generally designated 1, in accordance with the present invention comprises first and second rectangular face members 10, 11 which are positioned parallel and spaced apart and are connected by mutually parallel first and second side edge members 12, 13 and mutually parallel top and bottom edge members 14, 15.

The four edge members 12, 13, 14, 15 are planar and rectangular. The top edge member 14 connects the upper extremes of the first and second side edge members 12, 13, and is perpendicular thereto. The bottom edge member 15 connects the lower extremes of the first and second side edge members 12, 15 and is perpendicular thereto. The panel therefore defines an enclosed interior space 16 which is cuboid (that is rectangular parallelepiped) in shape, the six boundaries of the space 16 being defined by the two face members 10, 11 and the four edge members 12, 13, 14, 15.

The entirety of the interior space is filled with polyurethane foam, which will be discussed further in due course.

The face members 10, 11 extend outwardly from their respective centres so that their edges project a short distance beyond the edge members 12, 13, 14, 15. Thus four outwardly facing channels are formed. A first side channel 22 is defined by the first side edge member 12 and the adjacent projecting portions of the face members 10, 11. A second side channel 23 is defined by the second side edge member 13 and the adjacent projecting portions of the face members 10, 11. A top channel 24 and a bottom channel 25 are respectively defined by the respective top and bottom edge members 14, 15 and the respective upper and lower projecting portions of the face members 10, 11.

The second side channel 23 is substantially filled by a tongue member 17 in the form of an elongate cuboid block of wood, a face of which contacts and substantially covers the exterior face of the second side edge member 13. The tongue member 17 extends outwardly out of the second side channel 23 by a distance approximately equal to the depth of the second side channel 23.

The face members 10, 11, edge members 12, 13, 14, 15 and tongue member 17 may be secured together by adhesive and/or fixings such as screws. A generally rectangular building panel having top, bottom and first side channels 24, 25, 22 and a tongue member 17 extending from its second side, is therefore provided.

The entirety of the interior space 16 is filled with polyurethane foam which is hardened to provide a substantially solid filling with a foam-like or closed cell structure. The foam greatly strengthens the boxlike panel and the panel can therefore be used as a load bearing panel. The foam provides good thermal insulation, which is desirable in a building panel, and is highly resistant to shrinkage which might result in uninsulated spaces existing between the face members 10, 11.

Furthermore the foam has adhesive properties and increases the integrity of the panel. Having a closed cell structure the foam filling also reduces or eliminates the passage of moisture between the first and second face members 10, 11.

In Fig 2 the panel 1 is shown to be supported on a sole plate 18. In this embodiment the sole plate is in the form of a wooden beam which is securely fixed in a stationary position, for example by being screwed into a concrete floor or foundation. The sole plate 18 is snugly accommodated in the bottom channel 25 of the panel 1 which is provided for this purpose. The panel 1 is thus adapted to be slid along the sole plate 18, and then secured in position, preferably by screwing through the face members 10, 11 into the sole plate 18.

Fig 3 shows a first panel 1A and a second panel 1B both of which are supported by the sole plate 18. The first and second panels 1A, 1B are similar to the panel of Figs la, lb, lc and 2 and the same reference numerals are used to designate elements thereof, but suffixed by the letters A or B as appropriate.

In use, the first panel 1A is slid into the desired position and secured to the sole plate 18. The second panel is then slid so that the tongue member 17B of the second panel 1B is firmly inserted into the first side channel 22A of the first panel 1A. The second panel 1B is then secured into position by fastening to both the first panel 1A (for example by screwing through the face members 10A, llA of the first panel 1A into the tongue member 17B of the second panel 1B) and to the sole plate 18 (for example by screwing through the face members 10B, llB of the second panel into the sole plate 18).

Subsequent panels (not shown) may be attached in a similar manner, allowing a wall of panels to be provided along the length of an arbitrarily long sole plate.

A header member 20 in the form of a wooden beam, is provided in order to help secure the panels together.

The header member 20 is inserted into the respective top channels 24 of two or more panels and is then fixed into place by, for example, screwing through the respective first and second face members 10, 11 of the panels into the header member 20. Although the header member 20 illustrated in Fig 3 has a length of about twice the width of a single panel, header members may be provided of any desired length in order to help secure any required number of panels together.

Internal walls may also be provided by connecting a wall of panels intended to form said internal wall to an external wall (of a shell), most commonly at a right angle. Fig 4 shows an exploded perspective view of an internal wall attached to an external wall at a right angle junction. Fig 4 shows hidden detail and shows some of the elements as transparent in broken lines so that the full structure can be seen. Fig 5 corresponds to Fig 4 but shows no hidden detail and shows no elements as transparent.

The right angled junction includes a sole plate 118 and first and second panels 101A, 101B. These elements correspond generally to the sole plate 18 and first and second panels 1A, 1B of Fig 3 except that the second panel 101B has a portion of the innermost face member 110B cut away in order to form an aperture 128 allowing access to the top channel 124B from the side. The first and second panels 101A, 101B form the external wall of the shell.

The junction further includes an internal wall tongue member 130 which is, in use, attached to the external wall by fastening through the face members 110A, 110B to the tongue member 117B of the second panel 101B.

the internal wall tongue member 130 is adapted to fit snugly in a first side channel 152 of an internal wall panel 139. The internal wall panel 139 is similar to the wall panel of Figs 1 and 2 including first and second face members 140, 141 and edge members located so as to form a second side channel 153 into which a panel tongue member 147 is securely attached, and a top edge channel 154. In this embodiment the internal wall tongue member 130 is in the form of a length of wood which is rectangular in cross section.

After the internal wall tongue member 130 is attached to the external wall, the internal wall panel 140 is slid so that the tongue member 130 fits into the first side channel 152 of the internal wall panel 139. The internal wall panel 139 is then attached to the tongue member 130, thereby attaching the internal wall panel 139 to the external wall. Although the described means for attaching the internal wall panel to the external wall is a tongue member, it will be appreciated that an element providing a channel, adapted to fit the tongue member of an internal wall panel, could be provided.

An internal wall header member 160 is then fitted into the top channel 154 of the internal wall 139 so that it extends across the full width of the top channel 124B of the second panel 101B to contact a second face member lllB of the second panel 101B. The internal wall header member 160 is fastened to the second panel 101B and the internal wall panel 139. External wall header members are provided for fitting into the top channel of the external wall.

Subsequent internal wall panels (not shown) may be attached to internal wall panel 139 to build an internal wall as required.

It will be appreciated that panels will meet, normally at right angles, at the corners of the external walls of the shell. Such corners are preferably formed by the provision of suitable vertical spacers, similar to the tongue member 130 shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to help fill the space which would otherwise be formed at the external part of the corner. Portions of the face members of the panels forming the corner would be cut away in order to provide apertures to allow the panels to be suitably positioned with respect to each other and to the sole plates.

Alternatively, modular corner units (not shown) could be provided in order to connect the endmost panels of two adjoining walls of panels together. A corner unit could be provided at each junction of two sole plates and would be constructed to provide a tongue member in the direction of one sole plate and a channel in the direction of the other sole plate.

A wall of panels can thus be easily provided around any shape defined by sole plates.

In this way a shell may be provided to help form the interior part of the external walls of a building.

Variations from the illustrated embodiment may, of course, be incorporated as appropriate. The internal wall panel 139 may be of the same dimensions as the external wall panels 101A, 101B or may be sized differently according to circumstances and requirements. Sole plates may be provided for internal walls if required. The aperture 128 is illustrated in Figs 4 and 5 as being provided in the second wall panel 101B, but in an alternative embodiment aperture portions many be provided in each of the first and second panels 101A, 101B in order to allow the internal wall header member to be fitted more centrally between the first and second panels. Most of the wall area of the given structure would be made up of panels of standard materials and dimensions. An example of a panel of standard dimensions has face panels made from orientated strand board sheets 2.4m high by 1.2m wide by 9mm thick with the space between the internal sides of the face panels being 75mm to give an overall panel thickness of 93mm. The edge members of this embodiment have a thickness of 18mm and the tongue members measure 75mm (across the thickness of the panel) by 50mm by 2.35m in height. Clearly these dimensions can be varied in order to accommodate size and strength requirements. In addition to standard size planar panels such as those described, panels having other features would be provided. For example panels having half the width of standard panels would eliminate the need for wall lengths to be provided in 1.2m increments. Panels including apertures for doors and/or windows may be provided and these would include suitable strengthening in order to enable them to be used in the same way as panels without such apertures.

Panels may be made off-site, keeping on-site construction to a minimum, providing benefits in construction timing and efficiency and reducing the likelihood of ingress of water into panels before use.

It should be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiments the tongue members and header members have considerable structural strength. Furthermore the bottom of each tongue member (in the external walls) is directly supported by the sole plate and the top of each tongue member directly supports a header member.

This means that weight loaded upon the header members is supported by the vertical (preferably wooden) tongue members and the sole plates. This provides high structural strength, and additional strength is provided by the remaining structure of the foam filled panels. Thus panels as described are strong enough be used to construct structures several storeys high.

The panels are constructed preferably by gluing and screwing. Additional members may be included to help reinforce the panel construction and an example of such an additional member is a reinforcement block (not shown) located in a corner of the internal space and abutting at least two of the members that form the corner. Such reinforcement blocks provide additional material into which fixings, such as screws, may be secured.

The embodiments of Figs la to 5 show construction panels suitable for forming vertical walls. The present invention may also provide embodiments suitable for forming horizontal parts of structures (such as floors) or inclined parts of structures (such as pitched roofs). Embodiments of construction panels in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in Figs 6 to 9.

Fig 6 shows a cross section along the length of an embodiment of a construction panel for forming a horizontal or inclined surface. The panel, generally designated 600, includes an upper face member 610 and a lower face member 611. The panel 600 further includes a front edge member 612 and a rear edge member 613 (although the terms front and rear in this context should not be construed as being limiting). The face members 610, 611 extend past the front and rear edge members 612, 613 in order to define a front edge channel 622 and a rear edge channel 623. The rear edge channel houses a tongue member 617. The panel has an internal space 616 filled with polyurethane foam. Fig 7 shows a cross section across the width of the panel 600 of Fig 6 and shows that the panel further includes a first side member 614 and a second side member 615.

The top face member 610 is slightly wider than the bottom face member 611. As illustrated in Fig 7 the panel 600 is adapted to be supported between first and second struts 650A, 650B and by first and second runners 651A, 651B located on the respective struts.

The struts 650A, 650B and panel 600 are configured so that edges of the bottom surface of the bottom face member 611 engage the upper surfaces of the runners 651A, 651B, and the edges of the lower surface of the upper face member 610 engage the upper surfaces of the struts. The panel 600 is therefore adapted to be slid along the length of the struts 650A, 650B supported mainly on the runners and partly on the struts. It will therefore be appreciated that once a panel 600 is placed between two struts it is easily slidable into the desired position.

Fig 8 illustrates how a first panel 600A of the type shown in Fig 6 and an identical second panel 600B are adapted to interlock. Although, in use, the panels would be supported on struts these struts are not shown in Fig 8.

The elements of the first and second panels 600A, 600B correspond to the elements of the panel of Figs 6 and 7 and similar reference numerals will be used with the suffix "A" for elements of the first panel 600A and the suffix "B" for elements of the second panel 600B. The panels 600A, 600B, are adapted to interlock by insertion of the tongue member 617A of the first panel 600A into the front edge channel 622B of the second panel 600B. The first and second panels 600A, 600B may be secured to each other by fastening through the upper face member 610B of the second panel 600B into the tongue member 617A of the first panel 600A. The panels may be secured to the struts by fastening through the upper face members 610A, 610B into the struts 650A, 650B.

In use therefore a first panel is slidingly positioned and secured to the struts and then a second panel is slid into contact with the first panel and secured.

Fig 9 shows a perspective view corresponding to Fig 8, in which the second panel 600B is shown supported on struts 650A, 650B and in which, for clarity, the struts are not shown to extend to the first panel 600A.

The embodiments of Figs 6 to 9 thus show panels which may be easily positioned by sliding on struts and which share many of the advantages of the embodiments of panels illustrated in Figs la to 5.

Figs 10a, 10b and 10c illustrate an alternative embodiment of a building panel similar in structure and function to the panel of Figs la, lb and lc, and corresponding elements are denoted by corresponding reference numerals prefixed by the numeral 7.

With reference to Figs 10a, 10b and 10c, an alternative embodiment of a building panel, generally designated 701, in accordance with the present invention comprises first and second rectangular face members 710, 711 which are positioned parallel and spaced apart and are connected by mutually parallel first and second side edge members 712, 713 and mutually parallel top and bottom edge members 714, 715.

The four edge members 712, 713, 714, 715 are lengths of timber. The top edge member 714 connects the upper extremes of the first and sec

The interior space is filled with polyurethane foam.

The face members 710, 711 extend outwardly from their respective centres so that their edges project a short distance beyond three of the edge members 712, 714, 715. Thus three outwardly facing channels 722, 724, 725 are formed: a first side channel 722, a top channel 724 and a bottom channel 725. The face members 710, 711 do not extend beyond the second edge member 713. Instead the second edge member 713 extends beyond the face members 710, 711 so that it forms a tongue member (equivalent to tongue member 17 in Figs la, 1b and 2).

The face members 710, 711, and edge members 712, 713, 714, 715 may be secured together by adhesive and/or fixings such as screws. A generally rectangular building panel having top, bottom and first side channels 724, 725, 722 and a tongue member formed from the second side edge member 713, extending from its second side, is therefore provided. In the embodiment of Figs 10a, 10b and 10c, filling holes 760, 761 are provided in the bottom edge member so that after gluing and screwing of the elements of the panel a foam filling can be injected.

Use of lengths of timber rather than relatively thin, planar members (made of, for example, oriented strand board) to form the top, bottom and side edge members provides a panel 701 which is stronger, more economical and easier to produce than the panel 1 of Figs la, lb, lc and 2, but is otherwise functionally similar.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention thus provide a panel with excellent thermal properties due to the properties of the foam filling. Commercially viable panels with U values as low as 0.293 have been produced. Also provided are panels which provide considerable structural strength by the provision of the filling between the face members and by the provision of a tongue member, which also acts as a structural reinforcing member, in each panel. The panels are also highly resistant to moisture penetration, and are low in weight because of the low density of polyurethane foam. The panels are easy to build into a desired structure requiring a small number of component parts to be assembled on-site and are easy to manoeuvre by sliding along guides which are already provided.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, although preferred embodiments are hereinbefore described by way of example, the foregoing description is intended to provide disclosure of mechanical and functional equivalents and variations which could clearly be seen to be potentially appropriate by a person skilled in the art.

Claims (38)

1. A building panel having a first face formed from a first face member and a second face formed from a second face member, wherein said first and second face members are spaced apart and the gap therebetween is filled with a filling material having a substantially closed cell structure, such that the filling enhances the structural strength of the panel.

2. A building panel as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said first and second face members are substantially planar.

3. A building panel as claimed in either preceding claim wherein said panel includes at least two edge connection portions so that a number of similar panels can be connected to form a planar structure of connected panels.

4. A building panel as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the edge connection portions are configured so that in use an edge connection portion of the panel overlaps with an edge connection portion of an adjacent connected panel.

5. A building panel as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the panel includes a first edge connection portion having a male part and a second edge connection portion having a female part adapted to receive a male part of a panel of the same type.

6. A building panel as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the panel has two connection portions, each having a male part, or each having a female part.

7. A building panel as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 6 wherein each connection portion includes either a tongue or a channel portion.

8. A building panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said gap between said first and second face members is large compared to the thickness of the face members.

9. A building panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said face members are formed from a wood composite material and most preferably from oriented strand board (OSB).

10. A building panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said panel includes edge members which extend between the face members and which, in conjunction with the face members, define an interior space within said panel.

11. A building panel as claimed in Claim 10 wherein there are provided four edge members and said interior space is substantially cuboid.

12. A building panel as claimed in either of Claims 10 or 11 wherein at least one of the edge members is formed from a length of wood or from a wood composite, preferably OSB.

13. A building panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said filling material is a solidified foam.

14. A building panel as claimed in Claim 13 wherein said filling is polyurethane foam.

15. A building panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the filling material substantially fills the interior space of the panel.

16. A building panel as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 15 wherein no reinforcement apart from the filling is provided within said interior space.

17. A building panel as claimed in any of Claim 10 to 15 wherein an additional support member is provided in the interior space.

18. A building panel as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 17 wherein at least one of the face members extends outwardly beyond at least one of the edge members.

19. A building panel as claimed in Claim 18 wherein both of the face members extend outwardly beyond one of the edge members in order to form an exterior channel along a corresponding edge of the panel.

20. A building panel as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one of the face members is adapted to slidingly engage an elongate guide member so as to allow the panel to be slid axially with respect to the guide member whilst the panel is restrained from substantial sliding movement relative to said guide member in other directions.

21. A building panel as claimed in Claim 20 wherein both of the face members are adapted to engage a guide member.

22. A building panel as claimed in Claim 19 or in either of Claims 20 or 21 when dependent thereon wherein the panel is adapted to receive a guide member in the channel.

23. A building panel as claimed in Claim 10 or any claim dependent thereon wherein both of the face members extend outwardly beyond at least two of the edge members in order to form exterior channels along opposite first and second edges of the panel to form opposed channels.

24. A building panel as claimed in Claim 23 wherein at least one of said opposed channels is provided with a respective tongue member permanently located therein and extending laterally therefrom in order to provide a tongue at a corresponding edge of the panel.

25. A building panel as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 24 provided with a tongue member at a first edge thereof and with a side channel adapted to receive a tongue member at a second opposed edge thereof.

26. A method of building structures, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one elongate guide member adapted to receive load bearing panels; providing a first load bearing panel and disposing same onto said at least one elongate guide member so as to allow said first panel to be slid axially with respect to the guide member whilst said first panel is restrained from substantial sliding movement relative to said guide member in other directions; sliding the first load bearing panel into a desired position on said at least one guide member; providing a second load bearing panel and disposing same onto said at least one elongate guide member so as to allow said second panel to be slid axially with respect to the guide member whilst it is restrained from substantial sliding movement relative to said guide member in other directions; sliding the second load bearing panel into a desired position on said at least one guide member; securing said first load bearing panel in position; and securing said second load bearing panel in position.

27. A method as claimed in Claim 26 wherein said step of securing said first load bearing panel in position comprises securing said first load bearing panel to the guide member.

28. A method as claimed in either of Claims 26 or 27 wherein said step of securing said second load bearing panel in position comprises securing said second load bearing panel to said first load bearing panel and securing said second load bearing panel to the guide member.

29. A method as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 28 wherein the method includes the use of a number of panels each adapted to interlock with adjacent panels.

30. A method as claimed in Claim 29 wherein the method includes the use of a number of panels each having an integral reinforcing member.

31. A method as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 30 wherein the method includes the further step of attaching a header member across the tops of a plurality of panels.

32. A method as claimed in Claim 31 wherein the method includes positioning of the header member, plurality of panels and guide member so that a downwards force applied to the header member is transmitted substantially vertically through the reinforcing members to the guide member.

33. A method as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 32 wherein the guide member is a sole plate or a header member.

34. A method as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 30 wherein the guide member is in the form of a strut adapted to support a panel in a horizontal or inclined orientation.

35. A method as claimed in Claim 34 wherein the strut includes an upper upwardly facing surface for engagement with the uppermost face member of a panel, and a lower upwardly facing surface for engagement with the lower face member of a panel.

36. A method as claimed in any of Claims 26 to 32 wherein the method includes the use of a number of panels as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 25.

37. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

38. A building panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.