GB2430946A

GB2430946A - Triangular ridge beam providing useable roof space

Info

Publication number: GB2430946A
Application number: GB0520533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laurence Michael Simon Norris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-08
Filing date: 2005-10-08
Publication date: 2007-04-11
Also published as: GB0520533D0

Abstract

A ridge beam is provided having triangular cross section. The ridge bean is suitable to extend between supporting walls. The ridge beam may support upper ends of rafters. The ridge beam and rafters may be stressed-skin structures. An unobstructed roof area suitable for habitation can be formed by this structure.

Description

* - 2430946

TITLE

ROOM IN THE ROOF STRUCTURE

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to the construction of the roofs of buildings.

In general the roof structures of buildings such as dwelling houses are formed of trusses or other means that obstruct the potential clear space and make it difficult or impractical to provide a habitable room or rooms in the roof.

ADVANTAGES

To overcome these difficulties the present invention proposes a ridge beam of triangular section that may be of stresses skin manufacture to span between gable, party or other supporting walls. If it were the intention that the roof be constructed for habitable purposes, the beam would be set at a height above the floor of the roof void to enable the construction of a room in the roof.

The structure would provide support for the remainder of the roof and would provide resistance to live loading and dead loading, wind loading, snow loading and maintenance loading.

The roof structure may be completed by infihling the portions between the ridge beam herein described and the eaves of the building. Suitable means would include rafters or stressed - skin cassettes.

Preferably, the invention would be utilised for the construction of buildings having a simple pitched roof spanning between gables or party walls where it is desired that the roof void be available for habitation or other uses.

DRAWINGS: see attached drawing sheet I of 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

A beam of triangular section (Fig. 1) having two sloping (rafter) portions (a) and a base portion (b) is assembled in the manner shown.

The edges of the three portions are joined along their length (Fig. 1, c) so as to make of the three portions an integral structure having lightness and resistance to bending and shear forces from any direction.

The beam may have ventilation holes or other means to enable the benefits of ventilation to the enclosed space in the beam (Fig. 2, d).

The beam may be incorporate additional structure internally or externally to improve stiffness and enable the beam to be handled/transported/and placed in its location in the structure (Fig 2, e).

The beam would be placed and fixed in position in the building in the space between the supporting walls. (Fig. 3, f) Once installed and fixed the beam would stiffen the walls to which it had been fixed.

The external sloping surfaces of the ridge beam may be fitted with rafter' battens to provide alignment of the finished surfaces of the ridge beam and the rafters or cassettes, and to enable the roof to receive thermal insulation and roof finishes. (Fig. 4, g) The roof structure may be completed by the fixing of rafters or rafter casettes' to the ridge beam on one or both sides (Fig. 5, h and I) and to the eaves or other supporting structure.

Note: a casette' in this context means a construction component having a stressed skin on the lower (tension) side and beams or battens on edge' on the upper (compression) side.

The upper surface (compression) may be covered in another stressed skin or other suitable sheet material. The void between the upper and lower layers and between the beams may be filled with thermal insulation or other material, or may contain other components. The casette' when placed in the construction is a complete component, ready to receive finishes etc. - 3

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A ridge beam of triangular section to span between supporting

walls. (Fig. 3)
2. The ridge beam may be a stressed-skin construction.
3. Rafters or stressed-skin cassettes span between the ridge beam herein described according to claim 1 and the eaves or other supporting structure: the formation of dormers, balconies and roof-lights would be enabled (Fig. 5).
4. A floor area within the envelope of the roof void according to claim 1 clear of structural obstructions (Fig. 6).
5. A floor within the roof void according to claim 1 that may be penetrated - for example by an opening for a stair - without the necessity to consider the structures supporting the roof (Fig. 6, m)
6. A method of roof construction according to claim 1 that enables the occupation of the entire building envelope while giving the occupier/s the benefits of a pitched roof (Fig. 6, j).
7. A method of roof construction according to claim 1 that enables rapid site assembly and completion (Fig. 5)
8. A method of construction according to claim 1 that enables safe working for the construction operatives.
9. A method of construction that encourages off-site manufacture of components and confers the benefits of accuracy of assembly.
10. A method of construction according to claim I that encourages the offsite' manufacture of components, thereby addressing the shortage (2005) of site' construction skills.
11. A method of construction according to claim 1 that provides additional floor space in a building thereby enabling a smaller footprint' for a given total floor area, a smaller land-take, and a higher density of buildings (Fig. 7, k). For example in a two storey house adding a portion of a third storey could enable a 25% reduction in the footprint of a house of equivalent net floor area. If the eaves of such a house were to be raised by about one metre the portion of usable space could approach 50% (Fig. 7, I)
12. A method of construction that will make efficient use of the materials of construction.
13. A method of construction according to claim 1 that enables the building of dwellings having three stories that require only marginally more onerous fire precautions than dwellings having two stories.
14. A method of construction that will be less costly to construct than a building of the same net area that does not have the advantage of a usable room in the roof because the same net area is provided using the same foundations and roof finishes (Fig. 8).