GB2427417A

GB2427417A - Pre-fabricated sevice pod for dwelling

Info

Publication number: GB2427417A
Application number: GB0512863A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Mcluskey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-23
Filing date: 2005-06-23
Publication date: 2006-12-27
Also published as: GB0512863D0

Abstract

A pre-fabricated service pod for use in a dwelling house comprises a bathroom, a kitchen and an entertainment unit. A bathroom module comprises a toilet with a macerator, cistern and water storage, soil vent pipe run, an air extractor a wash hand basin, storage units including shelves, a shower or a bath, and auxiliary fittings such as taps, shower heads, cupboard handles etc. A kitchen module comprises a sink, a fridge/freezer, a washer/dryer, an oven with an electric hob and an electric hob extractor and storage units with shelves. An entertainment module comprises the general fittings and appliances that serve the rest of the dwelling in terms of lighting, heating and ventilation. It contains the air in and air out, an electric meter, water and electric input, a flat screen television and/or computer, storage units with shelves and a warm air heater and a heat exchanger. The pre-fabricated pod arrives on site pre-assembled and is ready to install to mains services connections already on site. The pod will be available in an array of different fit-out options that can be tailored to suit any particular living situation.

Description

Specification The invention relates in general to building construction and the object is to provide the possibility of mass produced affordable housing to be constructed quickly and efficiently without the use of electricians and mechanical subcontractors A pre-fabricated service pod comprising a bathroom module, a kitchen module and an entertainment module that forms the basis of the proposed invention, can then be delivered to site pre-assembled and ready for installation to the main services on site These pods will be capable of being pre-ordered, pre-made and delivered within a short timescale Construction on site normally requires the cooperation of several contractors arriving on site at different stages during the construction process and potentially re-visiting the site upon completion of certain stages by others This includes plasterers, electricians, plumbers etc.This means that disruption to progress can occur if one subcontractor does not perform. The reduction in onsite trades will dramatically reduce work time on site and increase productivity Although manufacturers currently produce kitchen and bathroom pods, none of these units provide a complete living module capable of eliminating all services contractors on site. The proposed pod will be available in an array of different fit-out options with an almost limitless specification. It will provide a high level of flexibility as it can be tailored to suit various living conditions as well as a particular user The modules are based on minimum size living standards The use of a pre-fabricated module allows for the pods to be stacked for multi-storey dwellings. Examples of how this would work are shown in the accompanying drawings which show the pod layout over two floors The bathroom and kitchen modules can be stacked one above the other, either way depending on the type of dwelling Each 'pod' is completely self-contained and includes the following appliances: The bathroom pod comprises a toilet with a macerator, cistern and water storage, soil vent pipe run, a wash hand basin, storage units including shelves, a shower or a bath (these make up two different options), all the necessary fittings such as taps, shower heads, cupboard handles etc. and an air extractor. The kitchen pod comprises a sink, a fndge/freezer, a washer/dryer, an oven with an electric hob and an electric hob extractor and storage units with shelves The entertainment pod comprises the general fittings and appliances that serve the rest of the dwelling in terms of lighting, heating and ventilation such as a flat screen television and/or computer, storage units with shelves Lighting is provided to the dwelling by light fittings that are connected to the pod by cables that are extended to the required lengths and attached to the ceiling The mains services include water supply air in and out and a main soil vent pipe, main electrical and data cabling are also required. These have to be installed on site and provide a direct connection to the pod.They can also run vertically through the building so that the pods can be stacked above each other The services have been split into four sections 'ventilation', 'hot and cold water', 'drainage' and 'electrical' The pod is designed to fit into a simple outer shell as shown in Figures 13 to 17 These shells can be two or three storeys high with the pod units placed within these The spaces formed between the outer shell and the pod become the habitable spaces such as bedroom, living, dining and study areas, as is shown in Figures 13 to 17 Depending on which shell is chosen,different pod options are available that can be used on single storeys or stacked above each other two form multi-storey dwellings Figures 13 to 17 show five different options for the external shell and the way in which the pod sits inside this shell These options are as follows A single storey dwelling with a bathroom, a kitchen and an entertainment module where the bedroom and living areas are formed between the walls of the outer shell and the services modules (Fig 13) A single storey dwelling with a shower room, a kitchen and an entertainment module where the bedroom and living areas are formed between the walls of the outer shell and the services modules (Fig 14).

Pods stacked above each other A two storey dwelling with shower room and kitchen module stacked above each other on each floor, with an integrated staircase and entertainment module on both floors, the bedroom and living areas are formed between the walls of the outer shell and these services modules (Fig. 15) A two storey dwelling with shower room and kitchen module stacked above each other on each floor, with an integrated staircase and entertainment module on both floors; the bedroom and living areas are formed between the walls of the outer shell and these services modules, this option shows an alternative outer shell dimensions (Fig. 16) A two storey dwelling with bath room and kitchen module stacked above each other on each floor, with an integrated staircase and entertainment module on both floors;the bedroom and living areas are formed between the walls of the outer shell and these services modules (Fig 17) Drawings Figures 1 to 12: Pod Series Type 1 Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 Shower Room/Kitchen/Entertainment Option 1 Type 2 Figures 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 Shower Room/Kitchen/Entertainment Option 2 (variation in kitchen layout) Type 3 Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 12 Bath Room/Kitchen/Entertainment (where bath tub replaces shower) Type 4 Figures 4, 8 Shower Room (with integrated staircase and entertainment module) Type 5 Figures 4, 10, 11, 12 Bathroom Module (with integrated staircase and entertainment module) Type 6 Figures 4, 6, 7, Kitchen Module (with integrated staircase and entertainment module) Figures 13 to 17:Dwelling Type Series Type A1 Figure 13 Single storey dwelling with Type 3 Pod Type A2 Figure 14 Single storey dwelling with Type 1 Pod Type B Figure 15 Two Storey dwelling with Type 4 and Type 6 Type C Figure 16 Two Storey dwelling with Type 4 and Type 6 Pods stacked above each other (with alternative outer shell option and internal layout) Type D Figure 17 Two Storey dwelling with Type 5 and Type 6 Pods stacked above each other Figures 18 to 21:Services Figure 18 Ventilation The mains fresh air in is connected to the recovery heat unit this is then distributed throughout the space via a hot/cold controller and supplies the space with fresh warm or cold air Extractors in the kitchen and bathroom then remove unwanted air and expel it through the mains exhaust run via the heat recovery unit Figure 19 Hot and Cold Water The mains cold water is fed throughout the pod to supply necessary cold water It also feeds the hot water tank that in turn supplies the pod with hot water Figure 20 Drainage All of the various services within the pod expel water, this is collected and drained to the main soil vent pipe. Figure 21 Electrical The main electrical supply is connected to the pod, this is then metered and split into the three electrical nngs 13 amp, 5 amp and lighting nng The switches for these are controlled by either direct switches within the pod or wi-fi technology switches distributed around the residence

Claims

1. A pre-fabricated service pod comprising a bathroom, a kitchen and an entertainment module

2 A pre-fabricated service pod according to claim 1, which arrives on site pre-assembled and is ready to install to mains services connections already on site

3 A pre-fabricated service pod according to claims 1 and 2 that comprises a bathroom module containing a toilet with a macerator, cistern and water storage, soil vent pipe run, a wash hand basin, storage units including shelves, a shower or a bath (these make up two different options), all the necessary fittings such as taps, shower heads, cupboard handles etc. and an air extractor.

4 A pre-fabricated service pod according to claims 1 and 2 that comprises a kitchen module containing a sink, a fridge/freezer, a washer/dryer, an oven with an electric hob and an electric hob extractor and storage units with shelves

5 A pre-fabricated service pod according to claims 1 and 2 that comprises an entertainment module containing a flat screen television and/or computer, storage units with shelves and a warm air heater and a heat exchanger.

6. A pre-fabricated service pod that according to claims 1 and 2 can be stacked on top of itself as many times as necessary for multi-storey dwellings

7. A pre-fabricated service pod that according to claims 1 and 2 contains lighting, heating and ventilation services contained within itself with an air in and air out, an electric meter, water and electric input