GB2548345A

GB2548345A - Modular building

Info

Publication number: GB2548345A
Application number: GB1604202.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Turner Roy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-03-11
Filing date: 2016-03-11
Publication date: 2017-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-11
Also published as: GB2548345B; GB201604202D0

Abstract

A modular building 10 having a base 12 with a primary buoyancy element 14 and at least one secondary buoyancy element 16, a structural frame comprising frame elements 18 mounted on the base having building panels 20 forming an outer building enclosure 22, and a plurality of vertically adjustable base supports 24. The primary buoyancy element may be an aerated polymer layer with a water impermeable member formed with the base. The secondary buoyancy layer may be an inflatable sac or a cage housing a low density material such as pumice, and it may be releasably tethered to the building for removal when not in use. Each base support may have a ground support portion (44, Fig. 4) and a building connector comprising a rod (46, 48 Fig. 4) engaged with, and vertically displaceable with respect to, the ground support portion to allow the building to float during flooding without becoming horizontally displaced. There are separate independent claims for various combinations of the features, as well as for a method of constructing a bespoke building using a computer to determine a kit of parts.

Description

Modular Building

The present invention relates to a modular building, and in particular to a modular building system which is resilient to flood water. The invention further relates to a method of constructing a bespoke modular building from a group of modular units, and to another type of modular building.

With the increase in unseasonal weather and unpredictable climatic patterns worldwide, as well as intensive engineering and agricultural land usage, the risk of flooding in areas previously considered to be safe has increased accordingly. Furthermore, the frequency of flooding in flood-prone areas has increased, and there is therefore a need to provide housing which is more resilient to the effects of widespread flooding, since a greater number of existing properties will be at risk.

Taking the United Kingdom as an example, the population is increasing at a rate which is greater than the rate at which housing can be provided. With the increased risk of flooding across much of the country, when coupled with the relatively restrictive regulations regarding planning permission for new residential properties, the capability of the market to provide new houses utilising existing constmction techniques is limited and costs are prohibitive. It is generally not permitted to constmct on land which is known to flood, which prevents otherwise unused land from being utilised to increase the housing stock.

Furthermore, where a house is afflicted by flooding, the cost to provide house insurance can be prohibitively expensive, unless significant resources are expended by the owner into providing adequate flood defences, such as run-off channels and water pumps. Insurance may also be entirely unavailable. However, the pumping of water from properties which may be in flooded areas can exacerbate the issue of flooding in areas without significant defences, which would not otherwise be expected to flood.

It would therefore be desirable to provide low-cost and rapidly deployable buildings which are suitable for human habitation and emergencies, but which are designed to be more naturally resilient to rising flood waters, thereby minimising the risk of property damage, whilst also increasing the availability of the housing stock in areas which could not otherwise be utilised.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a modular building which can obviate and/or limit the above-mentioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular building comprising: a building base having a primary buoyancy element associated therewith; at least one secondary buoyancy element which is engagable with the building base and which is different to the primary buoyancy element; a plurality of structural frame elements mountable to the building base; a plurality of building panels engagable with the structural frame elements to form an outer enclosure of the building; and a plurality of base supports, each of the plurality of base supports being vertically adjustable to change an elevation of the modular building due to the primary buoyancy element and/or the at least one secondary buoyancy element.

By providing a modular building having first and second buoyancy elements, it is possible to construct a lightweight and/or robust building, suitable for human habitation, which is resilient to the approach of flood waters by permitting a degree of floatation of the building. Not only would such a building be suitable for providing emergency shelter in disaster zones, but it would also be suitable for construction of buildings on flood plains where conventional constmction techniques would be undesirable or unfeasible.

Preferably, the primary buoyancy element may be formed as a buoyant layer with the building base, and there may further comprise a water-impermeable membrane which covers an underside of the buoyant layer. Said buoyant layer may be formed from an aerated polymer material.

The provision of the primary buoyancy element as part of the building base ensures a relatively even hft across the entire underside of the modular building, ensuring that the building does not or is less likely to inadvertently tip as the flood water rises. The provision of a water-impermeable membrane beneficially ensures that flood water cannot seep through the building base to damage items therein.

The at least one secondary buoyancy element may be formed as an inflatable sac or as a cage housing a naturally occurring material having a density which is less than water. Furthermore, there may further comprise at least one tethering element engagable with the building base, the at least one tethering element being releasably engagable with the at least one secondary buoyancy element.

The provision of secondary buoyancy aids which are releasably engagable with the main structure of the modular building ensures that the necessary buoyancy to float the building can be applied as and when it is required, rather than being permanently inflated or otherwise buoyant, where the buoyancy element might be at a greater risk of damage which could render the buoyancy element ineffective, thereby destabilising the floatation of the modular building.

Preferably, each of the plurality of base supports may have a ground support portion, a building base connector which is connectable to the building base, and a rod engaged with the building base connector, the rod being vertically displaceable relative to the ground support portion. The rod of each of the plurality of base supports may be freely displaceable relative to the ground support portion or to the building base. Optionally, each of the plurality of base supports may include a stop to prevent total displacement of the rod and ground support portion. The rod of each of the plurality of base supports may be controllably displaceable relative to the ground support portion.

The extension and retraction of ground support elements ensures that, even as the modular building rises as a result of flood waters, that the fixing of the modular building to a specific location is not otherwise inhibited. A clear risk with floating objects is that they are liable to be carried off with the current of the water, and therefore the ground supports advantageously provide horizontal anchoring of the modular building whilst permitting vertical displacement.

The plurality of structural frame elements may be provided as a set of individual interconnectable building room modules. Said plurality of structural frame elements may be formed from aluminium beams, sections, and/or frameworks.

By providing a modular construction kit, the modular building can be readily assembled by an individual or small number of people in a short amount of time. This is of particular use where the modular building is to be used as temporary accommodation in response to rapidly changing environmental conditions. Lightweight frame members assist with this ease of construction, whilst also ensuring that the building is capable of floatation with the minimum number of buoyancy aids for stability or around the base.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular building comprising: a building base having a buoyancy element associated therewith; a plurality of structural frame elements mountable to the building base; a plurality of building panels engagable with the structural frame elements to form an outer enclosure of the building; and a plurality of base supports, each of the plurality of base supports having a ground support portion, a building base connector which is connectable to the building base, and a rod engaged with the building base connector, the rod being freely vertically displaceable relative to the ground support portion to permit a change in elevation of the modular building due to the buoyancy element.

By providing a buoyant modular building which has at least in part vertically displaceable supports, it becomes possible to provide the necessary displaceability to permit floatation of the building as a whole. In doing so buildings can be provided so as to have natural, in-built flood defences which limit the impact upon downstream buildings.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular building comprising: a building base having at least one buoyancy element associated therewith; a water-impermeable membrane which covers an underside of the building base and extends up perimeter sides to house the building base and the at least one buoyancy element; a plurality of structural frame elements mountable to the building base; and a plurality of building panels engagable with the structural frame elements to form an outer enclosure of the building.

Preferably, the building base includes one of a male or female locator for matable location on a corresponding male or female locator of a base support, each male or female locator being housed within, adjacent to or through the water-impermeable membrane.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of constructing a bespoke modular building, the method comprising the steps of: a] a user selecting a bespoke modular building layout; b] computationally determining an order of construction of required module components to construct the bespoke modular building layout; c] assigning construction order indicia to the said required module components; d] providing the user with a kit of parts comprising the required module components; and e] assembling the required module components in accordance with the construction order indicia into a bespoke modular building.

Preferably, the required module components may include at least mutually interengagable structural frame elements and building panels, such as closed-insulated panels. Furthermore, during step a], the user may select the bespoke modular building layout on a user interface of a computer or web-based application. Preferably, during step a], there may be at least four building modules for the said user to select from.

By providing a sequentially indicated series of modular components which can be utilised by one or two people, a simple, widely-available means of constructing a building can be provided, which can be achieved by individuals who might not otherwise be qualified to construct buildings. The provision of design software and/or applications enables a user to select their desired features for the modular building, ensuring that the finished product is fit for purpose.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective representation of a first embodiment of a modular building, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal cross-section through the modular building of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged perspective representation of secondary buoyancy elements of the modular building of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective representation of a base support of the modular building of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional representation from a side of a second embodiment of a modular building, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention;

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional representation from a front of the modular building of Figure 5;

Figure 7a shows a three-dimensional representation of one embodiment of a user interface of a computer application designed to assist users with the creation of bespoke modular buildings, in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention;

Figure 7b shows a plan representation of the user interface shown in Figure 7a;

Figure 8a shows a three-dimensional representation of a first embodiment of a digital model of a modular building in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention, the modular building being formed as a meeting room;

Figure 8b shows a cross-sectional three-dimensional representation of the digital model of Figure 8 a;

Figure 8c shows a plan representation of the digital model of Figure 8a;

Figures 9a and 9b respectively show three-dimensional and plan representations of a second embodiment of a digital model of a modular building in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention;

Figures 9c and 9d respectively show three-dimensional and plan representations of a third embodiment of a digital model of a modular building in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention;

Figures 9e and 9f respectively show three-dimensional and plan representations of a second embodiment of a digital model of a modular building in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention; and

Figure 10 shows a diagrammatic representation of a method of constructing a bespoke modular building, in accordance with the third aspect of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a modular building, indicated globally at 10, and which is designed to be: resilient to rising flood waters; constructible in a short period of time; modular, so as to allow for bespoke constructions within a designated framework; and highly cost-effective in relation to traditional or standard building construction techniques of brick and mortar and/or timber and cladding. Such a modular building can be utilised as emergency shelter, in particular for disaster relief, or could be used as low-cost housing for those on low incomes and the many homeless families.

The modular building 10 in the depicted embodiment comprises a building base 12 having a primary buoyancy element 14 associated therewith, at least one, and preferably a plurality of secondary buoyancy elements 16 which are releasably engagable with the building base 12. A plurality of structural frame elements 18 are provided which are mountable to the building base 12, and then a plurality of building panels 20 are provided so as to be engagable with the structural frame elements 18 to form an outer shell or outer enclosure 22 of the building. To ground the modular building 10, a plurality of base supports 24 are provided, each of the plurality of base supports 24 being vertically adjustable to change an elevation of the modular building 10 due to the primary buoyancy element 14 and/or the secondary buoyancy elements 16 raising the base 12 during flooding.

The modular building 10 is modular in more than one sense. Firstly, it can be constructed from a kit of parts, in that the building base 12, base supports 24, structural frame elements 18 and building panels 20 may all be assembled in situ. However, it can also be considered to be modular in the sense that a plurality of different modules each having different functionality, such as kitchen, bathroom, living area, etc., can all be individually provided and then assembled together at the same or different times as funding allows.

In the depicted embodiment, there is illustrated an indicative embodiment of a relatively basic, single-storey modular building 10. A plurality of beams or bars, corners, and connectors, preferably formed from a lightweight material such as aluminium or plastics, are used as the structural frame elements 18, ideally formed as I-sectioned beams or T-sectioned beams with a flat enclosing bar, as can be seen in Figure 2 and Figure 3; this provides a strong and very light framework for the modular building 10. The structural frame elements 18 are here used to refer to all of the skeletal components of the modular building 10 which make the outer enclosure 22 thereof, and may include the walls, roof, and potentially some or all of the floor. A multi-storey building could also be envisaged, in which case, stairs or intermediate levels of the building could be provided to form building structures other than domestic houses, such as meeting halls or similar.

The building panels 20 are formed to mutually interengage with the structural frame elements 18 to thereby complete the outer enclosure 22 of the building 10. These could be as simple as single panels formed from one material, such as wood or aluminium sheets, or could be formed from composite materials, for instance, incorporating insulating material. Composite aerated polymer materials would be suitable for such purposes, for example, polystyrene-lined aluminium panels. The structural frame elements 18 could be provided having triangulated cross-beams so as to limit the overall weight thereof, as can be seen in Figure 3, without significantly diminishing the strength of the beams.

The majority of the building panels 20 are formed as, preferably identical or consistent, floor, wall or roof panels 20a; however, as can be seen from Figure 1, it is sensible to provide, for instance, door frame building panels 20b and/or window frame building panels 20c, within which a door 26 or window 28 might be respectively fixed. It will be appreciated that a door frame building panel 20b might be provided inclusive of the door 26, and a similar scenario applies for the window frame buildings panels 20c which can accept and hold the window 28. Furthermore, roof building panels 20d can also be provided, and as in the depicted embodiment, a skylight 30 could be engagable therewith.

The building base 12 is here formed as a frame, preferably having a lattice shape for structural rigidity, to which is attached the primary buoyancy layer 14. Here, the primary buoyancy layer 14 is formed as polystyrene sheets, or similar aerated polymer materials, which are positioned interstitially in the frame of the building base 12, thereby forming the primary buoyancy layer 14 so as to be co-planar with the frame of the building base 12. This can be most readily seen in Figure 2. It will be apparent, however, that the primary buoyancy layer 14 could be affixed to the building base 12 in a number of different positions, for instance, being vertically spaced from and/or contained within and/or within a plane of the lattice frame.

To protect the primary buoyancy layer 14 and building base 12 from ingress of water from underneath, it may be advantageous to provide a water-impermeable membrane 32 which covers at least the lower surface 34 of the building base 12 and/or primary buoyancy layer 14. This could potentially be integrally formed with the primary buoyancy layer 14 if so desired, for ease of assembly. The water-impermeable membrane 32 might typically be formed from a hydrophobic plastics material or tarpaulin. Preferably, the water-impermeable membrane 32 may cover an underside of the building base 12 and extend up perimeter sides to house the building base and at least the primary buoyancy element 14. This would present a complete barrier to water ingress through the building base 12.

The arrangement of the detachably mountable secondary buoyancy elements 16 can be seen in detail in Figure 3. Each secondary buoyancy element 16 is here formed as an inflatable sac or tube which can be inflated or deflated as desired, thereby allowing the user of the modular building 10 to provide additional buoyancy for the building 10 as required. Deflation of the secondary buoyancy elements 16 allows for simple storage thereof, and the fact that the secondary buoyancy elements 16 are releasably engagable with the building base 12 permits the user to store then in a safe place when not in use to prevent damage to the secondary buoyancy elements 16.

In the depicted embodiment, the secondary buoyancy elements 16 are engagable around a perimeter of the building base 12, and are held in position using a plurality of tethering elements 36. The tethering elements 36 are here formed as brackets having a base mounting portion 38 and an outwardly projecting retaining arm 40, the retaining arm 40 having a curved lip 42 at a distalmost end which is complementarily shaped so as to best receive a secondary buoyancy element 16 positioned underneath.

The secondary buoyancy elements 16 are here positioned below the tethering elements 36 such that a vertically uppermost portion of the secondary buoyancy element contacts the underside of the retaining arm 40 of the tethering element 36; as the secondary buoyancy element 16 rises, it will apply a force against the retaining arm 40.

It will be appreciated that although the tethering elements 36 are here illustrated as brackets, it is conceivable that other types of restraint could be provided. For instance, clamps could be provided to attach around the secondary buoyancy elements 16, or hook-and-loop fasteners could be used to releasably engage the secondary buoyancy elements 16 directly with the building base 12. Equally, netting could be considered to retain and restrain the secondary buoyancy elements 16. Furthermore, it may not be strictly necessary that the secondary buoyancy elements 16 should be releasable. For instance, a cage of, preferably naturally-occurring, material which has a density which is less than that of water could be provided in permanent engagement with the building base 12, for example; pumice might be one possible material which could be used in this instance.

From Figure 4, an exploded view of the base support 24 of the modular building 10 can be seen. Here, the base supports 24 are formed as jackpads having a ground support portion 44, a building base connector 46 which is connectable to the building base 12, and a strut or rod 48 engaged with the building base connector 46, the strut or rod 48 being vertically displaceable, preferably using a threaded nut, relative to the ground support portion 44.

The ground support portion 44 is formed as a pyramidal stand 50 which is engagable with a baseplate 52, and provides platform stabihty to the base support 24. The pyramidal stand 50 has an aperture 54 therethrough, through which the rod 48 can be passed. In this particular embodiment, the rod 48 is freely displaceable relative to the ground support portion 44.

The rod 48 is engagable with the building base connector 46, which is here formed as a saddle 56 within which a beam of the lattice frame of the building base 12 can be seated. It will be appreciated that this is merely one means by which the base support 24 may be engaged with the building base 12, and will obviously be dependent upon the construction of the building base.

There may be provided in the building base 12 one of a male or female locator which is capable of matable location on a corresponding male or female locator of the base support 24. In this instance, the saddle 56 acts as a female locator which matably engagable with the beams of the building base 12, acting as a male locator; however, numerous other types of matable engagement will be apparent, not least where the male locator is positioned on the base support 24.

Where the water-impermeable membrane 32 is supplied, it will be apparent that the or each male or female locator should be arranged such that engagement between the locator on the building base 12 and the locator of the base support 24 can still interengage. As such, it may be preferable that the male and female locators are housed within, adjacent to or through the water-impermeable membrane 32 so as to limit the possibility of water ingress through the water-impermeable membrane 32 where the locators are positioned.

Once assembled, the modular building 10 is well-suited to be resilient to rising flood waters and thus will float. Since the modular budding 10 is of lightweight construction, and since additional buoyancy is provided, the modular building 10 is capable of vertically rising with the flood water, thereby limiting the ability of the flood water to ingress into the modular building 10.

The provision of the primary buoyancy element 14 allows for a buoyant layer across the majority of, or indeed entirety of, the building base 12. The optionally attachable secondary buoyancy elements 16, being spaced around the perimeter of the building base 12, provide not only additional buoyancy for the modular building 10, but also additional stability for the modular building 10 whilst floating.

As the modular building 10 begins to float as a result of the primary and secondary buoyancy elements 14, 16, the building base 12 will rise, bringing with it the building base connectors 46 and rods 48 of the base supports 24. The rod 48 is horizontally retained by the aperture 54 of the base support 24, ensuring that the modular building 10 is not cast away with the flood water. To limit the vertical displacement of the modular building 10, it may be preferable to provide a stop associated with the rod 48 to ensure that it cannot disengage from the ground support portion 44.

Further anchoring means to prevent or limit drifting of the modular building from the site may also be utilised, such as a pile driven stake and rope or chain.

Whilst the depicted base support 24 permits the vertical displacement of the building base 12 in response to rising flood waters, it will be appreciated that a reverse construction could be applied, wherein the rod 48 were fixed relative to the ground support portion 44, the rod 48 extending up through a structural frame element 18 of the modular building 10. The building base 12 could then be arranged so as to be freely displaceable relative to the rod 48, which would further limit the ability of the modular building 10 to horizontally displace in the event of particular severe flooding.

Whilst it is anticipated that the rod 48 would be primarily displaced by the natural rise and fall of the modular building 10 as it floats on its primary and secondary buoyancy elements 14, 16, it may be possible to provide a means of controllably extending or retracting the rod 48, either manually or automatically, to provide the occupant to, for example, pre-emptively anticipate oncoming flood water so as to ensure a controlled floatation of the modular building 10.

Similarly, the rod 48 could extend vertically into the ground, enabhng telescopic extension of the saddle 46 during flooding. With the saddle fastened to the base 12, as the building 10 rises with the flood water, the rod 48 extends from the ground support portion 44, thereby maintaining horizontal anchoring of the building but accommodating vertical displacement. A second embodiment of a modular building according to the present invention is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, globally at 110. Identical and similar references to those used in accordance with the first embodiment are used to refer to identical or similar components therein, and further detailed description will be omitted for brevity.

In the second embodiment, the modular building 110 is provided with only a single buoyancy layer 114 which is formed with the building base 112, as per the primary buoyancy layer 14 of the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, a greater proportion of the internal detail of the modular building 110 can be seen.

The modular building 110 is divided into a plurality of different rooms which can be assembled into a single modular building 110, and each of these rooms can be provided individually so as to allow for a bespoke construction. Some of the structural frame elements 118 of the modular building 110 can thus be employed as internal walls or dividers to distinguish between disparate rooms of the modular building 110. The construction of building panels 120 may be differentiated between those intended to be used as internal building panels 1201 and external building panels 120E, which arc much more likely to have additional insulation associated therewith.

By way of example, the depicted modular building 110 has a main living room 158 positioned towards a front thereof, and which spans approximately half of the length and three-quarters of the width of the whole building 110. To a rear of the building 110, behind the living room 158, there may be provided a bedroom 160, and then a remaining area, here illustrated as a wing of the building 110 could incorporate a kitchenette and/or bathroom 162. Using such a modular construction, a relatively low-cost building can be constructed in a short period of time, which ensures that the modular building 110 is ideally suited towards being used as, for instance, emergency shelter, particular in disaster zones.

However, such modular buildings 10, 110 are not limited for use as emergency shelter, and could be provided as more permanent residences, in particular for those having low income or needing sheltered acconunodation such as homeless people and families. In such circumstances, it may be beneficial to provide a means of creating a bespoke modular building which is suited to an individual’s needs.

Figures 7a and 7b illustrate a screen shot from the user interface of a computer or web-based application, indicated globally at 264, designed to assist users with the creation of such bespoke modular buildings 10, 110. The user is able to create a digital model 266 of a modular building from a plurality of individual modular rooms and/or building areas 268. It is preferred that the user be provided with a number of pre-existing modular rooms and/or building areas 268, with at least four such modular rooms and/or budding areas 268 being provided to choose from. These building modules 268 might include a small general module, a large general module, a service area module, such as a kitchenette or bathroom, and a living extension or sleeping area. This allows for the creation of generalised living or work spaces within the digital model 266 and therefore eventual bespoke modular building 10, 110.

Once the user has selected a desired number of rooms 268, a desired layout and/or desired orientation for the digital model 266, a processor associated with the computer or web-based application is then able to calculate the dimensions of the requisite building base 12, 112 for the created modular building 10, 110. This in turn allows for the requisite buoyancy to permit floatation of the modular building 10, 110 to be calculated, and the requisite number of primary and/or secondary buoyancy elements 14, 114, 16 to be supplied.

Potential alternative arrangements of modular buildings, and digital models thereof, are shown in Figures 8a to 8c, and 9a to 9f. For instance, a digital model 266’ of a modular building 10, 110 is illustrated in Figures 8a to 8c, in which a single large room module 268’ has been provided in the form of a meeting room, which in turn has a single sub-room 269’ which is provided as washroom facilities in the depicted embodiment. Such a room module 268’ may be provided having predetermined window 228’ and door 226’ positions, suitable for use as a meeting room.

Three further embodiments of digital models 266”, 266”’, 266”” are illustrated in Figures 9a and 9b, Figures 9c and 9d, and Figures 9e and 9f respectively. The first digital model 266” of Figures 9a and 9b shows a potential L-shaped plan of a modular building 10, 110, comprising three room modules 268” which might collectively define distinct living and working spaces within the building 10, 110. A plurality of partitioning building panels 220” might be provided so as to provide for separate sub-rooms 269”.

The digital model 266”’ of Figures 9c and 9d is a single, small room module 268”’ which might beneficially be used for storage, in which case the partitioning building panels 220’” might be provided to form individual storage sub-rooms 269’”, or as a small workout or working area, in which case the partitioning building panels 220’” might be dispensed with. The digital model 266”” of Figures 9e and 9f comprises two room modules 268”” which are formed in a T-shape to make a modular building 10, 110 which might be suitable for home or office use, again, potentially providing partitioning building panels 220”” so as to create sub-rooms 269””. A computer application 264 such as that described above can be used to then assist with the eventual construction of the modular building 10, 110 in situ, as illustrated by the method depicted in Figure 10.

There is provided a method, indicated generally at 370, of constructing a bespoke modular building 10, 110 which comprises the steps of: a user selecting, step S372, a bespoke modular building layout; computationally determining, step S374, an order of construction of required module components to construct the bespoke modular building layout; assigning, step S376, construction order indicia to the said required module components; providing, step S378, the user with a kit of parts comprising the required module components; and assembling, step S380, the required module components in accordance with the construction order indicia into a bespoke modular building.

The construction order indicia may preferably take the form of enumeration of individual parts in sequential order, allowing the person or persons assembling the modular building 10, 110 to count in sequence to ensure that the modular building 10, 110 is correctly assembled. The module components referred to above will include, but not be limited to, the building base 12, 112, the structural frame elements 18, 118 and the building panels 20, 120.

It is therefore possible to provide a modular building system which can be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from temporary dwellings for, for instance, military personnel, and/or emergency sheltering, to permanent residences for habitation. The modular buildings are designed so as to be in particular resilient to flooding conditions by the provision of at least one buoyancy element with a base of the modular building, permitting it to rise in tandem with the rising flood waters. In doing so, there is a significantly reduced risk of flood water damage to the occupant’s possessions contained within the modular building. The provision of, preferably integral, primary and, preferably optionally-attachable, different secondary buoyancy means allows a standard exterior appearance to be maintained until the stability of the additional floatation aids is required during periods of likely flooding, at which point these may be retrieved from their storage location and attached as required.

The words ‘comprises/comprising’ and the words ‘having/including’ when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention herein described and defined.

Claims

1. A modular building comprising: a building base having a primary buoyancy element associated therewith; at least one secondary buoyancy element which is engagable with the building base and which is different to the primary buoyancy element; a plurality of structural frame elements mountable to the building base; a plurality of building panels engagable with the structural frame elements to form an outer enclosure of the building; and a plurality of base supports, each of the plurality of base supports being vertically adjustable to change an elevation of the modular building due to the primary buoyancy element and/or the at least one secondary buoyancy element.

2. A modular building as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary buoyancy element is formed as a buoyant layer with the building base.

3. A modular building as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a water-impermeable membrane which covers an underside of the buoyant layer.

4. A modular building as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the buoyant layer is formed from an aerated polymer material.

5. A modular building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one secondary buoyancy element is formed as an inflatable sac or as a cage housing a naturally occurring material having a density which is less than water.

6. A modular building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one tethering element engagable with the building base, the at least one tethering element being releasably engagable with the at least one secondary buoyancy element.

7. A modular building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the plurality of base supports has a ground support portion, a building base connector which is connectable to the building base, and a rod engaged with the building base connector, the rod being vertically displaceable relative to the ground support portion.

8. A modular building as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rod of each of the plurality of base supports is freely displaceable relative to the ground support portion or to the building base.

9. A modular building as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of base supports includes a stop to prevent total displacement of the rod and ground support portion.

10. A modular building as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rod of each of the plurality of base supports is controllably displaceable relative to the ground support portion.

11. A modular building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of structural frame elements is provided as a set of individual interconnectable building room modules.

12. A modular building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of structural frame elements is formed from aluminium beams.

13. A modular building comprising: a building base having a buoyancy element associated therewith; a plurality of structural frame elements mountable to the building base; a plurality of building panels engagable with the structural frame elements to form an outer enclosure of the building; and a plurality of base supports, each of the plurality of base supports having a ground support portion, a building base connector which is connectable to the building base, and a rod engaged with the building base connector, the rod being freely vertically displaceable relative to the ground support portion to permit a change in elevation of the modular building due to the buoyancy element.

14. A modular building comprising: a building base having at least one buoyancy element associated therewith; a water-impermeable membrane which covers an underside of the building base and extends up perimeter sides to house the building base and the at least one buoyancy element; a plurality of structural frame elements mountable to the building base; and a plurality of building panels engagable with the structural frame elements to form an outer enclosure of the building.

15. A modular building as claimed in claim 14, wherein the building base includes one of a male or female locator for matable location on a corresponding male or female locator of a base support, each male or female locator being housed within, adjacent to or through the water-impermeable membrane.

16. A modular building substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 1 to 4, or Figures 5 and 6, or Figures 8a to 8c, or Figures 9a and 9b, or Figures 9c and 9d, or Figures 9e and 9f of the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of constructing a bespoke modular building, the method comprising the steps of: a] a user selecting a bespoke modular building layout; b] computationally determining an order of construction of required module components to construct the bespoke modular building layout; c] assigning construction order indicia to the said required module components; d] providing the user with a kit of parts comprising the required module components; and e] assembling the required module components in accordance with the construction order indicia into a bespoke modular building.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the required module components include at least mutually interengagable structural frame elements and building panels.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein during step a] the user selects the bespoke modular building layout on a user interface of a computer or web-based application.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein, in step a], there are at least four building modules for the said user to select from.