GB2554149A

GB2554149A - Wall tie and method of installing the same

Info

Publication number: GB2554149A
Application number: GB1710945.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stroud Kevin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-07-09
Filing date: 2017-07-07
Publication date: 2018-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-07
Also published as: GB201710945D0; GB2554149B

Abstract

The wall tie having a longitudinal portion 10 for spanning a cavity with opposing ends for embedding into respective inner and outer walls, a positioning means having a perpendicular portion 15 projecting from the longitudinal portion for locating the tie a pre-determined distance into one of the inner or outer walls, and a drip portion 13. The positing means abuts the outer surface of the inner wall in use. The tie may be formed of stainless steel wire or plastic. The opposing ends may be bent into triangular portions 12 providing enlarged surface areas. The wire may have an L-shaped portion having a first limb 14 extending along the longitudinal portion. Alternatively the wall tie may be a flat strip material having holes for embedment of mortar and a detent forming the positing means.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Wall tie and method of installing the same Abstract Title: Wall tie with positioning means (57) The wall tie having a longitudinal portion 10 for spanning a cavity with opposing ends for embedding into respective inner and outer walls, a positioning means having a perpendicular portion 15 projecting from the longitudinal portion for locating the tie a pre-determined distance into one of the inner or outer walls, and a drip portion 13. The positing means abuts the outer surface of the inner wall in use. The tie may be formed of stainless steel wire or plastic. The opposing ends may be bent into triangular portions 12 providing enlarged surface areas. The wire may have an L-shaped portion having a first limb 14 extending along the longitudinal portion. Alternatively the wall tie may be a flat strip material having holes for embedment of mortar and a detent forming the positing means.

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WALL TIE AND METHOD OF INSTALLING THE SAME

This invention relates to a wall tie and to a method of installing the same.

Since the 1920's, it has been recommended that houses which are built of brick, block, stone or wooden frame have a cavity wall, which means that there is a cavity defined by an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner and outer walls are sometimes known as inner and outer skins. The inner wall benefits from the support of floor joists which bear into it, ceiling joists which also brace the wall, and roof trusses which are strapped to the inner wall. All of these features provide horizontal lateral restraint of the inner wall and, moreover, the weight of the floors also provide rigidity for the inner wall. However, without the benefit of the forementioned features the outer wall has nothing to support it and could easily be blown or pushed over. To provide support for the outer wall, wall ties are used which extend across the cavity and are embedded in the inner and outer walls.

Because conventional wall tiles need to span a varying width of cavities, so the ties are made in different lengths and thicknesses. Typically, wall ties are made of grade 1.4301 austenitic stainless steel, or may be made of sufficiently rigid plastics or composite material and such materials may be used for the present invention.

Typical known wall ties are shown in Figures 1A and IB which show top views of two different types of wall tie. The wall ties shown in Figures 1A and IB have a longitudinal portion 1 and, at each respective end, a substantially closed loop formed of a triangular portion 2 to provide an enlarged surface area. In figure 1A the triangular portion is bent in such a manner that extreme opposed ends lie substantially in the same axis as the longitudinal portion, whereas in Figure IB the extreme ends are bent to abut the longitudinal portion. Interposed between the closed loops 2 are a series of sinuous ridges which form drip points of a drip portion 3.

As the inner wall is erected, a triangular portion is embedded to a depth of

50mm - 75mm from the outer, i.e. cavity side, of the wall. The spacing of wall ties depends upon the type of wall to be tied, the cavity width, the type and height of the building as well as its location and design life. There are various codes providing instruction on the use and construction of ties, such as Euro Code 6 (BS EN 1996-11:2005, BS EN 845-1:2013; published document 6697:2010; and BS 5268-6.1:1996.

Currently, it is a common fault that a triangular portion of a wall tie is placed too far within the inner wall so that the tie is ineffectual when the outer wall is constructed because the opposing triangular portion does not reach far enough into the outer wall, resulting in reduced embedment. Also, if the wall tie is placed with insufficient depth within the inner wall, it may have inadequate embedment in the inner wall. From the foregoing it will be understood that wall ties are embedded firstly into an inner wall because it is normally built firstly, and then the outer wall is constructed with an end of the wall tie remote from the inner wall embedded in the outer wall. The drip points of drip portion 3 should be placed approximately centrally within the cavity between insulation on the inner wall and the outer wall to prevent water crossing the cavity.

However, if the wall tie is incorrectly positioned, then the drip point can occur in the insulation, which is normally placed in the cavity against the inner wall, thereby allowing water to penetrate the insulation, and then the inner wall. This can become a significant problem if the wall tie has offset drip points designed for wider cavities because it is possible to place the tie the wrong way round so that none of the drip points are positioned over the open part of the cavity, rendering the drip points useless and allowing water to penetrate the insulation.

Another common problem is that as a cavity wall increases in height so the overall width of the cavity tends to spread. For example, a 100mm cavity can spread to 120mm during construction. This also causes problems with known wall ties that are placed too far back into the inner wall as it is built and dramatically reduce the depth of embedment into the outer wall when the outer wall is constructed. In such an event, the effectiveness of the drip points is also significantly reduced because the majority will be lost in the insulation.

As an example, if a 225mm wall tie is used for a 100mm cavity and the wall tie is embedded 75mm into the inner wall, then the maximum that can be embedded into the outer wall is 50mm, which is the recommended minimum. However, if the cavity spreads as it is built by 20mm, there is only 30mm embedment in the outer wall which greatly reduces the effectiveness of the tie.

Another problem is that where the walls are not built at exactly the same height as they are constructed, then it is common for a tie to be bent up or down to ensure that it lays flat in the outer wall and this can cause 10mm - 15mm shortening which reduces embedment into the outer wall to 15mm - 20mm, which is inadequate.

The present invention seeks to provide a wall tie in which the foregoing difficulties and disadvantages are substantially mitigated.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a wall tie having a longitudinal portion in a single plane for spanning a cavity in which is located insulation means with opposing ends of the longitudinal portion arranged to be embedded, in use, into coplanar inner and outer walls respectively, said longitudinal portion including a drip forming section therealong and positioning means arranged to locate the tie a predetermined distance into at least one of said walls, in use, wherein said positioning means has a portion extending substantially orthogonally from the longitudinal portion for abutting the cavity side of one of said walls to thereby accurately locate said drip forming section in said cavity between said insulation and the other said wall.

Preferably, the positioning means is arranged to abut a cavity side surface of the inner wall.

In one embodiment, the wall tie is formed of wire and at opposing ends of the longitudinal portion the wire is formed to provide respective enlarged surface areas for securement in each of the inner and outer walls, and at a terminal end of at least one of said opposing ends of said longitudinal portion the wire is formed into an Lshape with one limb of the L-shape being substantially planar with the longitudinal portion and at an extreme end the other limb of the L-shape being formed to extend substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal portion, whereby, in use, said one limb of the L-shape extends along a horizontal surface of the wall and the other limb of the

L-shape extends in a vertical direction of the wall and also abuts the cavity side of said wall.

Preferably, said other limb is arranged to abut a cavity side of the inner wall.

Advantageously, said other limb is located to provide an embedment of approximately 75mm of the wall tie into the inner wall.

Conveniently, the enlarged surface area is substantially triangular in shape.

Conveniently, the other limb of the L-shape is located between a cavity side surface of the inner wall and the insulation means.

In another embodiment, the wall tie is formed from a strip material and a detent is formed along a major surface of the strip to extend substantially orthogonally to said major surface, whereby, in use, the detent abuts a cavity side of one of said walls.

Preferably, the detent is arranged to abut a cavity side of the inner wall.

Conveniently, adjacent each opposed end of the strip material are a plurality of apertures for assisting adhesion of the tie in respective inner and outer walls.

Advantageously, the detent is located to provide an embedment of approximately 75mm of the wall tie into the inner wall.

Conveniently, the other limb of the L-shape is located between a cavity side surface of the inner wall and insulation means.

Advantageously, the detent is arranged to be located between a cavity side surface of the inner wall and insulation means.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a method of installing a wall tie in accordance with said one aspect including the steps of locating the tie a predetermined distance into one of the walls determined by the portion of the positioning means abutting the cavity side of said one of the walls, locating the insulation means against said one of the walls, constructing a second wall with a cavity between the insulation means and the second wall such that the drip forming section is accurately located in said cavity.

Preferably, said one of the walls is an inner wall and the second wall is an outer wall.

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

Figures 1A and IB show top views of conventional, known, wall ties,

Figures 2A and 2B show mutually orthogonal views of one embodiment of a wall tie in accordance with this invention,

Figures 3A and 3B show mutually orthogonal views of another wall tie in accordance with this invention, and

Figures 4A and 4B show mutually orthogonal views of the wall tie of Figures

2A and 2B installed in a cross-sectional view of a cavity wall.

In the Figures like reference numerals denote like parts.

The wall tie shown in Figures 2A and 2B has a longitudinal portion 10 and at opposed ends of the longitudinal portion 10 are formed triangular portions 12 and intermediate the triangular portions 12 are drip points of a drip portion 13 that is sinuous. As thus far described, the wall tie is similar to the known wall tie of Figure

IB. However, unlike the wall tie of Figure IB, one of the triangular portions is extended to form an L-shaped member having a first limb 14 that extends along, and substantially planar with, a part of the longitudinal portion 10 and a substantially perpendicular portion 15 extending substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal portion 10. The portion 15 is located from the extreme end of the triangular member with which it is associated by, in a preferred embodiment, 75mm to provide optimal embedment of the tie into an inner wall.

The tie may be made an overall length to provide embedment of approximately 75mm into the external wall. By providing a location point for the wall tie against the cavity side of the inner wall, so the drip portion 13 may be optimally situated within the cavity so as to avoid water, condensation, etc., falling onto the insulation located inside the cavity (see herein below with reference to

Figures 4A and 4B).

The wall tie of Figures 2A and 2B is, preferably, formed of grade 1.4301 austenitic stainless steel, or may, alternatively, be made of plastics or composite material and may be of a suitable wire gauge. It will be appreciated that the triangular shape shown in Figure 1A may be used if the base of one of the triangular portions is formed to run along the longitudinal portion 1 and then bent into an L-shape.

The wall tie shown in Figures 3A and 3B is of a so-called flat type, being formed of a longitudinal strip 20 having, at opposing ends, holes 21 for the embedment of mortar and, in this particular embodiment, there are three holes at each end, but this is not in any way intended to be limiting. Located between the holes at each end is a kink 23 forming a drip portion. A detent 25 is stamped out of the major surface of the strip to produce an aperture 26, the detent 25 of the strip 20 being positioned so that the adjacent end of the wall tie is, preferably, 75mm into the inner wall.

Figures 4A and 4B show the wall tie of Figures 2A, 2B located within a cavity wall. The cavity wall is formed by an inner wall 30, an outer wall 31, a cavity 32 and insulation 33 is located adjacent an outer, i.e. cavity side, of the inner wall 30. The wall tie is positioned with the portion 15 abutting the outer surface of the inner wall

30, that is between the outer surface of the inner wall 30 and the insulation 33.

It will, thus, be understood that by virtue of the portion 15 or detent 25, so the wall tie is accurately located in the inner wall and by providing wall ties of suitable length, so the wall tie is embedded an optimal distance into both inner and outer walls.

Claims

1. A wall tie having a longitudinal portion in a single plane for spanning a cavity in which is located insulation means with opposing ends of the longitudinal portion arranged to be embedded, in use, into coplanar inner and outer walls respectively, said longitudinal portion including a drip forming section therealong and positioning means arranged to locate the tie a predetermined distance into at least one of said walls, in use, wherein said positioning means has a portion extending substantially orthogonally from the longitudinal portion for abutting the cavity side of one of said walls to thereby accurately locate said drip forming section in said cavity between said insulation and the other said wall.

2. A wall tie as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning means is arranged to abut a cavity side surface of the inner wall.

3. A wall tie as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the wall tie is formed of wire and at opposing ends of the longitudinal portion the wire is formed to provide respective enlarged surface areas for securement in each of the inner and outer walls, and at a terminal end of at least one of said opposing ends of said longitudinal portion the wire is formed into an L-shape with one limb of the L-shape being substantially planar with the longitudinal portion and at an extreme end the other limb of the Lshape being formed to extend substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal portion, whereby, in use, said one limb of the L-shape extends along a horizontal surface of the wall and the other limb of the L-shape extends in a vertical direction of the wall and also abuts the cavity side of said wall.

4. A wall tie as claimed in claim 3, wherein said other limb is arranged to abut a cavity side of the inner wall.

5. A wall tie as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said other limb is located to provide an embedment of approximately 75mm of the wall tie into the inner wall.

6. A wall tie as claimed in claims 3, 4 or 5, wherein the enlarged surface area is substantially triangular in shape.

7. A wall tie as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6 inclusive, wherein the other limb of the L-shape is located between a cavity side surface of the inner wall and the insulation means.

8. A wall tie as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the wall tie is formed from a strip material and a detent is formed along a major surface of the strip to extend substantially orthogonally to said major surface, whereby, in use, the detent abuts a cavity side of one of said walls.

9. A wall tie as claimed in claim 8, wherein the detent is arranged to abut a cavity side of the inner wall.

10. A wall tie as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein adjacent each opposed end of the strip material are a plurality of apertures for assisting adhesion of the tie in respective inner and outer walls.

11. A wall tie as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10 inclusive, wherein the detent is located to provide an embedment of approximately 75mm of the wall tie into the inner wall.

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12. A wall tie as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the other limb of the Lshape is located between a cavity side surface of the inner wall and the insulation means.

13. A wall tie as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the detent is arranged

10 to be located between a cavity side surface of the inner wall and insulation means.

14. A method of installing a wall tie as claimed in any preceding claim including the steps of locating the tie a predetermined distance into one of the walls determined by the portion of the positioning means abutting the cavity side of said one of the

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said one of the walls is an inner

20 wall and the second wall is an outer wall.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched:

GB1710945.5

1-15

15 walls, locating the insulation means against said one of the walls, constructing a second wall with a cavity between the insulation means and the second wall such that the drip forming section is accurately located in said cavity.