GB2401122A

GB2401122A - Thermally insulating, two part, roofing halter at least partially composed of plastics material

Info

Publication number: GB2401122A
Application number: GB0310030A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Taylor
Original assignee: RIGIDAL SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: RIGIDAL SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-01
Filing date: 2003-05-01
Publication date: 2004-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-01
Also published as: GB2401122B

Abstract

A roofing halter 1 for connecting an exterior roof panel to an interior roof support, has an upper part 3 comprising thermally insulating material and a lower part 5. The insulating material is preferably a plastic with a high melting point such as phenolic resin or fire retardant polyester. The plastic may be reinforced by glass fibres. The lower part 5 may comprise a metal such as extruded aluminium. It is preferably shaped having a recess (19, fig 4) in its upper surface (17, fig 4), of an inverted "T" shape, able to envelop an end 7 of the upper part 3 with arms (23, fig 4). Its lower surface preferably fits into a recess of a liner sheet 9 mounted on the roof supports. The lower part 5 may be secured to the supports by bolts passed through inclined holes 16 on either side. Fastening of the bolts preferably causes the upper part 3 to be gripped. During assembly the upper 3 and lower 5 parts may be slidingly engaged. In use, thermal conduction through the roofing halter is minimised.

Description

2401 1 22 - 1

ROOFING HALTER

This invention relates to a roofing halter.

Standing seam roofing systems are well known. An array of extruded aluminium halters is positioned on a liner sheet of a roofing system. Each halter consists of a base region which is attached to a liner sheet of the roof and an upstanding region terminating in an upper contoured end.

Partially rounded edge portions of elongate, slightly U shaped external roofing sheets are pushed onto the upper ends of the halters such that the partially rounded edge of one sheet overlaps the partially rounded edge of an adjacent sheet to form a seam. A seaming tool is then run along the seam formed by the overlapped edges of adjacent roofing sheets to clamp together the edges of the sheets around the upper ends of the halters to form a weatherproof external skin.

The above overlapped edge design eliminates through fix fasteners and the need for end laps by incorporating full length roofing sheets.

The roofing sheets are generally manufactured from aluminium. However, copper or steel, preferably galvanised steel, can be used. The disadvantage of copper and steel sheets is that there can be a reaction between the roofing sheet and the halter due to the contact between dissimilar metals.

Recent changes in Building Regulations have given rise, at least in the United Kingdom, to a revised method for calculating heat loss from a roofing structure. It is now necessary to take account of the heat loss through the halters. It is also important to avoid hot and cold spots in a roof.

The halters are, of course, a source of thermal conduction and take heat from within the building at, for example, 25 degrees, and conduct it to the external skin of the roof at, for example, O degrees.

There is a need, therefore, for a roofing halter which reduces the amount of heat conducted along its body from within a building to the external surface of the roof.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a roofing halter which overcomes or minimises these problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a roofing halter suitable for a standing seam roofing system, the halter comprising: a first component of thermally insulating material having first and second ends, the first end being configured for attachment to an external roofing sheet; and a second component configured for attachment to a supporting member, and comprising a first surface having a configuration adapted to receive the second end of the first component.

The thermal insulating material of the first component may comprise a high melting point plastics material, for example phenolic resin or fire retardant polyester.

The thermal insulating material may be reinforced with fibres, for example glass fibres.

The second component may comprise a metal material, for example aluminium, preferably extruded aluminium.

The second component may be arranged such that the first surface envelops the second end of the first component.

The second component may comprise a recess in the first surface into which the second end of the first component is provided. The recess may be substantially in the form of an inverted "T" shape.

The second end of the first component may comprise at least one protruding member adapted to be positioned within a complementary section of the recess in the second component such that the separation of the first and second components, in use, in the vertical direction is prevented.

The first and second components may be slidably connected.

The second component may be shaped to complement a recessed profile of a sheet-like member attached to the supporting member such that the second component may be positioned within the recessed profile.

The second component may comprise longitudinal grooves in surfaces adapted to contact the recessed profile of the sheet-like member.

The second component may be secured to the supporting member by means of fastening means, for example bolts, passing through two holes, preferably inclined, in the region of opposing sides of the second component. The securing of the second component to the supporting member may cause the second component to grip the first component and secure the first component in place relative to the second component.

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For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a roofing halter according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first component of the roofing halter shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view, on a larger scale, of the first component shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a side view of a second component of the roofing halter shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a roofing halter 1 according to the present invention. The roofing halter 1 comprises a first component 3 and a second component 5. The first component 3, uppermost in use, is used to attach to external roofing sheets (not shown) in a manner well known to the skilled person. The second component 5, lowermost in use, envelops a second end 7 of the first component 3. The second component in use is attached to a supporting member of a - 6 roofing system (not shown) through a liner sheet 9 in a manner known to the skilled person.

Figures 2 and 3 show the first component 3. The first component 3 is made of a thermally insulating material in the form of a high melting point plastics material with fire retardant properties, for example glass fibre reinforced phenolic resin. The first component is manufactured by a pultrusion method, known to a person skilled in the art, which is cut to the required length. A first end 11 is contoured into a partially rounded configuration having an external shape substantially the same as that of present halters, and complementary to the partially rounded edge region of external roofing sheets used for attachment to the halters. The second end 7 is shaped in the form of an inverted "T" such that protruding members 13 are provided in the region of the component furthest from the first end. An elongate body 15 of the first component between the first and second ends has a tapered shape such that the thickness of the elongate body increases towards the second end.

Figures 4 and 5 show the second component 5. The second component is made from extruded aluminium which is cut to the required length. The second component is shaped with inclined sides to complement a trapezoidal profile of a - 7 - recess of the liner sheet 9, through which the second component 5 will be attached in use to a roof purlin or other supporting structural member.

In use the halter is positioned within the recessed profile of the liner sheet 9, as shown in Figure 1, and can be secured via securing holes 16 in the region of opposing sides of the second component.

The second component is formed, in a first surface 17 uppermost in use, with a longitudinal recess 19 into which the second end 7 of the first component 3 is received. The width of the recess 19 increases in a region 21 near to the base 27 of the recess to form a complementary shape to that of the protruding members 13 on the second end of the first component.

The side walls of the recess in the second component extend above the first surface 17 of the second component to form upstanding arms 23 which support the first component.

In assembling the halter, the first component is inserted, as by sliding, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the second component into position within the second component, such that the protruding members 13 on the second end are positioned beneath shoulders 25 formed by 8 - the side walls of the recess. The arrangement of the protruding members 13 and shoulders 25 prevents the first component from being pulled out of the second component by a force exerted transverse to the longitudinal axis of the second component.

In addition to the interlocking of the protruding members 13 of the first component within the wider region 21 of the recess of the second component, the first and second components are further secured together, in use, by means of the arrangement of the securing holes 16 and the geometry of the base 27 of the recess in the second component.

The securing holes 16 are inclined inwards relative to each other such that the (lower) exit end 29 of each securing hole is closer to the centre of the second component than the (upper) entrance end 31 of each securing hole. The base 27 of the recess in the second component is arranged to subtend an angle less than 180 degrees (which angle can be as great as 179 degrees). Therefore, as the bolts passing through the fastening holes are tightened into the supporting structural member, a lower portion 33 of the second component is made to flex, causing the upstanding arms 23 to move inward relative to each other, gripping the first component and securing it in place. 9 -

Longitudinal grooves 35 are provided in the lower surface and in the lower regions of the inclined sides of the second component. These grooves are provided to reduce the amount of material required to form the second component and thus reduce the weight of the component. In situ, the grooves form channels between the second component and the inner surface of the recess of the liner sheet, as shown in Figure 1, through which any water present can drain away.

Due to the presence of the thermally insulating first component 3, there is no metal-to-metal contact between the second component 5 and the external roofing sheets. Thermal conduction through a roofing halter in accordance with the present invention is therefore minimised because there is a thermal break resulting from the thermal insulation properties of the first component.

Thermal conductivity can also be minimised by the use of a thermally insulating pad (not shown) between the second component and the liner sheet.

The use of a fire retardant plastics material in the first component which has a high melting point, for example similar to the melting point of aluminium, has the advantage that, in the event of a fire, the halter will not - 10 readily melt and lead to the external sheets of the roof becoming unattached.

The use of a first component comprising a plastics material has the added advantage that it is also electrically insulating and provides a measure of protection against lightning strikes.

A further advantage of the first component comprising a plastics material is that it reduces friction between the halter and the roofing sheets. Thermal cycling can cause movement between the roofing sheets and the halters and the plastics material allows relative movement without damage to the roof.

Although the thermally insulating material forming the first component has been described as a glass fibre reinforced phenolic resin, it should be appreciated that the first component may comprise alternative thermally insulating high melting point plastics materials, for example fire retardant polyester.

Although the first component has been described as being manufactured by a pultrusion method, it should be appreciated that alternative manufacturing methods, for example plastic moulding, could be used.

Claims

1. A roofing halter suitable for a standing seam roofing system, the halter comprising: a first component of thermally insulating material having first and second ends, the first end being configured for attachment to an external roofing sheet; and a second component configured for attachment to a supporting member, and comprising a first surface having a configuration adapted to receive the second end of the first component.

2. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal insulating material of the first component comprises a high melting point plastics material.

3. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the high melting point plastics material is a phenolic resin.

4. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the high melting point plastics material is a fire retardant polyester.

5. A roofing halter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the thermal insulating material is reinforced with fibres. - 12

6. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fibres are glass fibres.

7. A roofing halter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second component comprises a metal material.

8. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 7, wherein the metal material is aluminium.

9. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the aluminium is extruded aluminium.

10. A roofing halter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second component is arranged such that the first surface envelops the second end of the first component.

11. A roofing halter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second component comprises a recess in the first surface into which the second end of the first component is provided.

12. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 11, wherein the recess is substantially in the form of an inverted "T" shape. - 13

13. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the second end of the first component comprises at least one protruding member adapted to be positioned within a complementary section of the recess in the second component such that the separation of the first and second components, in use, in the vertical direction is prevented.

14. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the first and second components are slidably connected.

15. A roofing halter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second component is shaped to complement a recessed profile of a sheet- like member attached to the supporting member such that the second component may be positioned within the recessed profile.

16. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second component comprises longitudinal grooves in surfaces adapted to contact the recessed profile of the sheet-like member.

17. A roofing halter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second component is secured to the supporting member by means of fastening means passing through two holes in the region of opposing sides of the second component. - 14

18. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 17, wherein the fastening means are bolts.

19. A roofing halter as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the holes through which the fastening means pass are inclined such that the securing of the second component to the supporting member causes the second component to grip the first component and secure the first component in place relative to the second component.

20. A roofing halter suitable for a standing seam roofing system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.