GB2322144A

GB2322144A - Roof drainage on a portable building

Info

Publication number: GB2322144A
Application number: GB9703319A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Crane
Original assignee: SGB Services PLC
Current assignee: SGB Services PLC
Priority date: 1997-02-18
Filing date: 1997-02-18
Publication date: 1998-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-18
Also published as: GB2322144B; GB9703319D0

Abstract

A portable building comprises a framework which supports the side walls and the roof of the building. The framework consists of substantially vertical load bearing members and horizontally extending upper frame members. At least one of the upper frame members (6) defines a channel. The roof of the building is configured to discharge rain water into the channel, which thus acts as a gutter for the rain water.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A PORTABLE BUILDING" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a portable building.

It has been proposed previously to provide a portable building which has a substantially flat roof. The building is assembled initially by locating wall panels in position and subsequently by locating roof panelling on top of the wall panels. The wall panels support the roof panelling. The roof is provided with an appropriate cladding or waterproofing layer, and rain water is discharged from the roof over the sides of the portable building.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved portable building.

According to this invention there is provided a portable building, said building comprising a frame work, the frame work consisting of substantially vertical load bearing members, supporting horizontally extending upper frame members, the framework supporting side walls and a roof, at least one of the upper frame members defining a channel, the roof of the building being configured to discharge rain water into said channel.

Preferably the or each horizontal frame member comprises the base, and two spaced apart upstanding side walls which define between the channel.

Conveniently the frame member is provided with a waterproof inner lining.

Advantageously each side wall is provided with a respective inwardly directed flange.

Preferably the base of said frame member is provided with depending flanges which embrace the upper part of a side wall of the building.

In one embodiment the or each horizontally extending frame member is provided with an exterior decorative trim.

Preferably the roof comprises a structure supported by said upper frame members, the structure having an upper cladding, the cladding being sealingly connected to the trim provided on one of the upper frame members and terminating at a point within the envelope of the other of the frame members.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view and end view of a portable building in accordance with the invention, and, FIGURE 2 is a broken cross-section illustrating the structure present at the top of the two opposed side walls of the cabins as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a portable cabin 1 comprises, two vertical load bearing support members 2,3 provided at each side of the cabin, the support members supporting a lower deck 4 and also supporting an axially extending upper frame member 6 which in turn supports the roof of the building. Wall panels may be mounted in position between the lower deck 4 and the upper frame member 6.

As will be described hereinafter, one upper frame member 6 contains a concealed gutter for water discharged from the roof.

Referring to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing it can be seen that two upper frame members 6, 6' of mirror image configuration are provided at opposite sides of the cabin. Initially the frame member 6 will be described.

The frame member 6 comprises a horizontal platform 7. Depending from opposite sides of the platform 7 are vertically extending flanges 8,9 which embrace between them the upper part of a side wall 10.

On the inner side of the platform 7, that is to say the side of the platform directed towards the interior of the cabin, there is an upstanding wall 11 which terminates with a horizontally inwardly directed flange 12. On the outer side of the platform 7, that is the side towards the exterior of the building, there is an upstanding wall 13 which is of a substantially greater height than the upstanding wall 11, the upstanding wall 13 terminating with an inwardly directed flange 14. Thus the frame member 6 is of substantially "G" cross-section with depending flanges which embrace the upper part of the side wall 10.

An external facia trim 15 is provided in the form of an appropriate sheet of metal, the trim 15 having a terminal lip 16 which engages the free edge of the flange 14, a horizontal portion 17 which extends across the top of the flange 14, and a vertical portion 18 which extends adjacent the exterior of the side of the upstanding wall 13 and the flange 9, The lower end of the vertical portion 18 of the trim 15 may engage around the lower edge of the flange 9, enabling the trim to be snapped into position.

The upper floor member 6 is a mirror image of the frame member 6 and will not be described in detail.

The wall panel 10 may comprise a peripheral frame 20 made of wood which surrounds a thermal insulating core 21 formed of an appropriate expanded plastics material such as expanded polystyrene. The outer surface of the panel may be clad 22 with an appropriate metal cladding.

The inner surface of panel may be constituted by a fireresistant plasterboard 23 which may be provided with an appropriate decorative internal finish 24.

A ceiling panel 25 is provided which is supported by the upper frame members 6,6'. The ceiling panel has a peripheral wooden frame 26. The lower surface of the ceiling panel extending is a fire-resistant plasterboard 27. Located above the plasterboard 27 is an insulating material such as an expanded polystyrene foam 28. The polystyrene foam 28 has an inclined or sloping upper surface sloping upwardly from the left-hand side as illustrated.

Mounted above the polystyrene foam is a metal cladding sheet 30. The metal cladding sheet 30 extends 31 beyond the thermal insulating material 28 at the left-hand side of the portable building, as illustrated, terminating at a point 32 located within the envelope of the upper frame member 6.

The metal cladding 30 extends beyond the insulating material 28 on the right-hand side of the portable building, as illustrated, in a region 33, terminating with an upwardly directed lip 34. The lip 34 is connected, by an appropriate sealant 35 to a depending lip 36 provided on an extended horizontal portion 38 of a decorative trim 39 applied to the frame member 6', the trim 39 generally corresponding otherwise with the trim 15 as described above.

It is to be appreciated that the frame member 6' is connected to a wall 10' which corresponds in all material respects with the wall 10 described above.

It is to be observed that within the frame member 6, a waterproof lining element 40 is provided which may be of any appropriate material. The lining element has a base 41 which lies over the base 7 of the frame element 6, and has an upstanding wall portion 42 which lies adjacent the upstanding wall 11, the upstanding wall portion terminating with a horizontally outwardly directed flange 43 which overlies part of the flange 12. The element also includes an upstanding wall portion 44 which lies adjacent the wall 13, but which does not extend all the way up to the top of the wall 13.

It is to be appreciated that the frame member 6 not only provides the function of forming part of the framework which supports the panels that constitute the portable cabin, but also constitutes a concealed gutter for rain water. It will be appreciated that rain water falling on the roof will initially encounter the inclined upper cladding 30. The rain water will flow down the inclination, flowing over the portion 31 to reach the point 32. The water will then fall into the gutter defined by the combination of the base 7, upstanding side wall 11 and upstanding side wall 13 of the frame member as protected by the base 41, upstanding side wall 42 and upstanding side wall 44 of the liner. The water may flow out of one or both ends of the gutter, where appropriate down pipes may be provided.

Within the portable building an electrical supply duct 45 is shown located adjacent the top of the wall 10 on the left-hand side of the building located beneath, and thus masking, the peripheral frame 26 of the ceiling panel.

An L sectioned masking strip 46 is provided in a corresponding position at the top of the wall 10 on the right-hand side of the portable building.

The portable building may comprise a portable cabin,

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A portable building, said building comprising a frame work, the frame work consisting of substantially vertical load bearing members, supporting horizontally extending upper frame members, the framework supporting side walls and a roof, at least one of the upper frame members defining a channel, the roof of the building being configured to discharge rain water into said channel.
2. A building according to Claim 1 wherein the or each horizontal frame member comprises the base, and two spaced apart upstanding side walls which define between the channel.
3. A building according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the frame member is provided with a waterproof inner lining.
4. A building according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein each side walls is provided with a respective inwardly directed flange.
5. A building according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein the base of said frame member is provided with depending flanges which embrace the upper part of a side wall of the building.
6. A building according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the or each horizontally extending frame member is provided with an exterior decorative trim.
7. A building according to Claim 6 wherein the roof comprises a structure supported by said upper frame members, the structure having an upper cladding, the cladding being sealingly connected to the trim provided on one of the upper frame members and terminating at a point within the envelope of the other of the frame members.
8. A building substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
9. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.