GB2443820A

GB2443820A - Modular Construction

Info

Publication number: GB2443820A
Application number: GB0615997A
Authority: GB
Inventors: M Pitt
Original assignee: PKL HEALTHCARE Ltd; PKL HOLDINGS Ltd; PKL HOLDINGS PLC
Current assignee: PKL HEALTHCARE LIMITED
Priority date: 2006-08-11
Filing date: 2006-08-11
Publication date: 2008-05-21
Also published as: GB0615997D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a building module 100 in the form of a frame comprising a preformed base 102, posts 104 upstanding relative to the base and a service zone at the top of said frame. The service zone is formed from longitudinal trussed beams 106, 108. The trusses define dedicated service apertures 122, and are tuned to be anti-vibrational, so that the modules can be readily incorporated into a building requiring critical performance, e.g. an operating theatre in a hospital. One or more additional trusses 118 may be provided in the longitudinal direction to further provide rigidity and vibration damping. The posts may be formed from concrete-filled hollow sections. The frame is preferably 16 metres in length, 4 metres wide and has a height of 4 metres, so as to be readily transportable by road. One or more posts may be spaced along the base 102 to allow greater loads to be carried by the module. The modules are configured to be stacked with other such modules of the same kind and configuration.

Description

Modular Construction The present invention relates to a modular

construction, and in particular prefabricated building sections for use in the modular construction of a building.

It is known to construct buildings from a plurality of prefabricated modules, such as portable cabins that can be intercoimected and/or stacked together. Typically, portable cabins are used in situations when only temporary accommodation is required. Such cabins are not readily adaptable and are usually unsuitable for use as a more permanent structure.

It is an object of the invention to provide modular units which can be readily assembled to form non-temporary structures, such as office blocks or domestic dwellings. I S. * . I *I

* 15 According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a prefabricated building p...

section for use in the modular construction of a building, the building section being in * .* * * the form of a module comprising a frame having a pre-formed base, posts or columns upstanding relative to said base and a service zone arranged at the top of said frame. *..S

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:.. 20 The frame is preferably rectangular and includes two or more beams extending across the top of the frame to define the service zone.

In the preferred embodiment, the beams are in the form of trusses extending in the longitudinal axis of the module, wherein the trusses may provide dedicated service apertures. The trusses are preferably tuned to be anti-vibrational.

The trusses preferably define an area which can serve as a ceiling space and also act as a support for the base of a corresponding module stacked on top of the frame. The frame is preferably free-spanning in at least one direction, preferably the longitudinal direction.

The modules arc preferably supplied with a preformed planar floor surface, for example formed from concrete supported on steel sheeting or by board material supported on joists.

Other aspects and features of the invention will be readily apparent from the claims and following description of preferred embodiments, made by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a frame module for use in a modular building; Figure 2 is a schematic end view showing a preferred floor construction for the module in Figure 1; Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2, showing an alternative floor construction; and I...

Figure 4 shows a modular building constructed from stacks of modules of the kind shown in Figure 1.

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Referring to Figure 1, there is provided a building section 100 in the form of a **SS prefabricated frame module having a rectangular base 102, posts or columns 104 * extending up from each corner of the base 102 and transverse and longitudinal brace beams 106, 108 which span between the upper ends of the columns 104. An additional brace beam 118 is provided centrally between the longitudinal beams 108.

The beams 106, 108 and 118 are in the form of trusses, preferably steel, having parallel upper and lower members 110, 112, diagonal struts 114 and vertical struts 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical struts 116 are arranged centrally between the array of diagonal struts 114. However, the vertical struts 116 may also be arranged at other locations, for example between each pair of diagonal struts 114, as desired.

The beams 106, 108 and 118 define an array of triangulations 120 which strengthen the frame. The longitudinal beams 108, 118 also define rectangular apertures 122, which can be arranged as required, preferably at convenient locations for the passage of electrical and fluid conduits, as welt as other services, through the upper part of the frame.

The module 100 incorporates a pre-installed floor, which preferably takes the form shown in Figure 2, wherein a trapezoidal steel sheeting 130 spans between edge beams 132 which incorporate anti- vibration mountings. A concrete base layer 134 is pre-set on the sheeting 130.

An alternative floor is shown in Figure 3, wherein a cement particle board 136 is supported on galvanised steel joists 138 extending in the transverse axis of the module, again with anti-vibration mountings. I *.

An additional floor finish can then be applied to the upper surface of the concrete layer 134 or cement particle board 136. * S. * I

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The prefabricated modules can be transported on the back of lorries or trains to a preferred destination. As such, it may be necessary to limit the length, height and width

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*. : of the modules, dependent upon the intended mode of transport. However, a preferred embodiment has a length of 16 metres, and a height and width of 4 metres.

Temporary support struts or ties can be incorporated in the frame for resisting torsional twisting of the modules during transportation or during on-site manoeuvring.

Once on site, the prefabricated modules are ready to be arranged together, for example side by side and/or end to end, either in a single or multi-storey arrangement, to form the superstructure of a building, without the need, in most cases, for a separate frame.

An example is shown in Figure 4, wherein the modules are stacked together like simple building blocks. Interconnection of the modules is not necessary, as each is self-supporting..

Manoeuvring of the individual modules will usually involve the use of a crane, whereby the whole unit can be picked up and lowered into a desired location.

The prefabricated modules can be pre-fitted with walls, partitions, ceilings, joinery, fixtures etc., before being delivered to site.

The structural arrangement of the frame module 100 is advantageous in that it provides clear spanning spaces between the corner posts, for use in a number of different accommodation applications. It also incorporates dedicated service zones and pathways in the upper region of the frame. Moreover, the beams are preferably tuned to provide vibration damping of the frame, By providing anti-vibration measures, the units can be readily suited for use in areas requiring urgent critical performance, such as emergency operating theatres or scientific laboratories.

One or more additional beams may be provided, normally in the longitudinal direction, * to provide further rigidity and vibration damping. ** * S *

Additionally or alternatively, one or more posts may be spaced along the length of the base 102, to allow greater loads to be carried by the module. It may also be possible to S..

dispense with one or more corner posts/columns, by using this kind of arrangement. S.... * *

The posts 104 are preferably the form of steel hollow sections having a concrete core.

Claims

Claims I. A prefabricated building section for use in the modular

construction of a building, the building section being in the form of a module comprising a frame having a pre-formed base, posts or columns upstanding relative to said base and a service zone arranged at the top of said frame.
2. A prefabricated building section according to claim 1, wherein said frame is rectangular and includes two or more beams at the top of the frame, the beams defining said service zone.
3. A prefabricated building section according to claim 2, wherein said service zone extends across the top of the frame.
4. A prefabricated building section according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said beams are in the form of trusses extending in the longitudinal axis of the module. I'.
5. A prefabricated building section according to claim 4, wherein the trusses include *:. dedicated service apertures. S...

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6. A prefabricated building section according to claim 5, wherein the dedicated S....

* service apertures are aligned with each other across the frame.
7. A prefabricated building section according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the dedicated service apertures are rectangular.
8. A prefabricated building section according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the dedicated service apertures are formed by vertical struts.
9. A prefabricated building section according to any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the trusses are tuned to be anti-vibrational.
10. A prefabricated building section according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame is free-spanning in at least one direction.
11. A prefabricated building section according to claim 10, wherein the frame is free-spanning in the longitudinal direction.
12. A prefabricated building section according to any preceding claim, wherein the modules are configured to be stacked with other such modules of the same kind and configuration.
13. A prefabricated building section according to any preceding claim, wherein the base includes a preformed planar floor surface. S.
14. A prefabricated building section according to claim 13, wherein the base is formed from concrete supported on steel sheeting. * .. * S

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15. A prefabricated building section according to claim 13, wherein the base is formed from board material supported on joists. *se* I. S. *

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16. A prefabricated building section according to any preceding claim, wherein the posts are formed from concrete-filled hollow sections.
17. A prefabricated building section according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame is 16 metres in length, 4 metres wide and has a height of 4 metres.