GB2618058A

GB2618058A - A building system

Info

Publication number: GB2618058A
Application number: GB2202868.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Appleford David
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-03-02
Filing date: 2022-03-02
Publication date: 2023-11-01
Also published as: GB202202868D0

Abstract

A building system 1 comprises a building panel 2 and an elongate member 3. The building panel has a major plane and two major side surfaces 4 which are at least substantially parallel to the major plane, and at least three major edge surfaces 5, 6 substantially forming a perimeter of the building panel. There is at least one engaging means first portion 7 at one said major edge surface of the building panel. The elongate member has at least three major longitudinal surfaces 24, each major longitudinal surface being adjacent to at least one other major longitudinal surface, and plural engaging means second portions 26 spaced apart along the elongate member. The building panel is configured to engage an adjacent said elongate member, the engaging means first portion being latchingly engagable with any one of the engaging means second portions of said adjacent elongate member. Also claimed is a construction with the panel.

Description

A BUILDING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a building system comprising a building panel 3 EP 1977053 discloses a quadrilateral building panel having inwardly and outwardly stepped portions along its outer edges. Each inwardly stepped portion is dimensioned to receive an outwardly stepped portion on the edge of an adjacent like panel and each inwardly stepped portion has a camlock mechanism to latchingly engage a pin in the outwardly stepped portion of the like panel enabling the two panels to be held parallel or perpendicular to each other.

The stepped portions of the building panel give it a complex shape making it expensive to manufacture.

Building structures formed with such building panels require modified panels to form partitions and other parts of the structure. Fitters would need to check installation instructions carefully to ensure that the right panel is being used.

Where a structure is formed with such building panels wherein there is a corner between three like building panels where each panel is perpendicular to the other two panels, the building panels cause there to be a gap at the corner which would require filling.

Such building panels are sized so that their outwardly stepped portions on opposite outer edges of the panel extend beyond a standard distance between two successive construction or building gridlines or building primary gridlines or floor plan gridlines and their inwardly stepped portions on opposite outer edges are accordingly within the standard distance. This makes such building panels expensive to transport since when they are stacked on top of each other and side by side they are unable to fit in a standard sized container having an internal width corresponding to a standard distance between two successive construction gridlines since the outwardly stepped portions on opposite outer edges causes the panel to extend beyond this.

An object of the present invention is to provide a building system which overcomes at least one of the above-mentioned problems of the building panel.

According to the present invention there is provided a building system comprising: a building panel having: a major plane and two major side surfaces 3 which are at least substantially parallel to the major plane, and at least three major edge surfaces substantially forming a perimeter of the building panel, and at least one engaging means first portion at one said major edge surface; and an elongate member having at least three major longitudinal surfaces, each major longitudinal surface being adjacent to at least one other major longitudinal surface, and plural engaging means second portions spaced apart along the elongate member, wherein the building panel is configured to engage an adjacent said elongate member, the engaging means first portion being latchingly engagable with any one of the engaging means second portions of said adjacent elongate member.

The simple shapes of the building panels and elongate members of the building system enable them to be easily mass produced.

The building panel may have four major edge surfaces. The elongate member may have four major longitudinal surfaces.

A width of each major longitudinal surface of the elongate member may be equal to a thickness of the building panel.

By the building system having the elongate member, the same building panel may be used in an external wall or a partition in a structure formed using the building system.

There may be a plurality of engaging means first portions spaced apart 23 from each other along at least one said major edge surface.

The building panel may, for example, have three major edge surfaces so that it has a triangular shape. Such a building panel may be used in a gable. The building panel may be curved so that it could form at least part of a wall of, say, a turret or that it could form part of a dome.

The elongate member may have a length corresponding to the sum of a length of a said major edge surface of the building panel and a thickness of the building panel. The major edge surface may be a length or a width of the building panel.

3 The building system may have elongate members of different lengths.

Constructing elongate members of different lengths is straightforward.

An elongate member may span across more than one building panel so that engaging means first portions of the building panels can latchingly engage respective engaging means second portions of the same elongate member.

This can provide a strong building structure.

Each said engaging means second portion may comprise an opening in each said major longitudinal surface of said elongate member. Each said engaging means second portion may comprise at one longitudinal location of said elongate member an opening in each said major longitudinal surface. A latching surface, which may be separate, may be accessible through each said opening for the engaging means first portion to latchingly engage.

A latching surface may at least partially span the opening in the major longitudinal surface. The latching surface may comprise part of the major longitudinal surface.

The engaging means second portion may include a plate which defines the separate latching surfaces. The plate may include an aperture, different perimeter portions of which define the separate latching surfaces. The elongate member may include a plurality of longitudinally aligned elongate portions, the or each plate being between or being sandwiched between two adjacent longitudinally aligned said elongate portions. Each elongate member may include plural said plates each between or each sandwiched between two adjacent longitudinally aligned said elongate portions. Each elongate portion may have at least three longitudinal sides and a recess in each side configured to provide one said engaging means first portion access to a corresponding said latching surface. Each elongate portion may have four longitudinal sides. Each elongate portion may comprise insulation.

The elongate member may include two channel members extending at least substantially a length of the elongate member positioned on opposed sides 3 of the elongate member and at least substantially surrounding the elongate portions of the elongate member. There may be a gap between the channel members which may provide access for a said engaging means first portion to latchingly engage a said engaging means second portion. The channel members may be standard channel members. Each channel member may have a plurality of longitudinally aligned elongated slots. The elongated slots may provide access for a said engaging means first portion to latchingly engage a said engaging means second portion. The elongated slots may reduce the effect of cold bridging. The plurality of longitudinally aligned elongated slots of the channel members of each elongate member may not always extend substantially the full length of the channel member. This may be done to help a construction worker to easily distinguish elongate members of different types which may be elongate members of slightly different lengths.

The engaging means first portion may be retractably extendable from said major edge surface.

The building panel may comprise a pair of trays joined together via the engaging means first portion. This may reduce the number of parts required to form the building panel.

The engaging means first portion may comprise a cam lock mechanism or a clamping mechanism for latchingly engaging a said engaging means second 23 portion.

At least one major side surface of the building panel may have access means for providing access for a tool to operate the engaging means first portion. Both major side surfaces of the building panel may have access means for providing access for a tool to operate the engaging means first portion. This enables the engaging means first portion to be accessed from either side of the panel. The access means may comprise an opening or hole or aperture.

A width/length of the building panel may be equal to a standard distance or a multiple of a standard distance minus the thickness of the building panel.

3 The standard distance may be the distance between two successive construction gridlines. The multiple may be a fraction, such as a half, of a standard distance between two successive construction gridlines. The standard distance may be 0.61 metres, 1 metre, 1.2 metres or 1.22 metres. By the building panel having this width/length, this enables the building panels to be easily stacked within a standard sized container making them economical to transport.

The elongate member may have a length which is a multiple of the standard distance.

The building system may include a beam member having first and second 15 major edge surfaces on opposite edges of the beam member, and at least one engaging means first portion at one or both of first and second major edge surfaces.

A structure may comprise a plurality of said building panels and elongate members of the building system as described above and assembled wherein each building panel engages at least one adjacent elongate member.

The building system enables building panels in the structure to be removed easily. This is useful for example where cabling needs to be later installed behind or underneath a building panel. The building panel can be temporarily removed whilst the cabling is installed.

23 Where a structure includes three building panels wherein each building panel is perpendicular to the other two building panels, by the structure including at least one elongate member which has a length corresponding to the sum of a length of a said major edge surface of the building panel and a thickness of the building panel, this enables there not to be a gap at a corner between the three building panels.

A structure may include at least one said beam member as described above wherein at least one engaging means first portion of a said beam member is latchingly engagable with an engaging means second portion part of an adjacent said elongate member. There may be a plurality of longitudinally 3 aligned beam members wherein one beam member is adjacent at least one other longitudinally aligned beam member, and an elongate member is positioned so that at least engaging means first portions of two adjacent said beam members engage separate engaging means second portion of the same elongate member.

Use of the building system makes a structure easy to build or construct.

One or more elongate members may be prefitted to a building panel such as when the building panel is to be used as a wall panel or for some floor and ceiling panels.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a plan view of a building system comprising a building panel and an elongate member constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the building panel; Figure 3 is a detail of the building panel showing a locking system of the building panel; Figures 4 and 5 are elevational and plan views, respectively, of the elongate member; Figure 6 is an exploded view of the elongate member; Figures 7 and 8 are end views of an elongate portion of the elongate member; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a plate of the elongate member; Figures 10 to 12 is an exploded view, and perspective views, respectively, of a portion of a building panel engaging a portion of an elongate member wherein the elongate portions of the elongate member have been omitted for clarity; Figures 13 and 14 are a plan view and a perspective view, respectively, of two different sized building panels connected to a plurality of elongate members; 3 Figures 15, 16 and 17 are perspective, elevational and end views, respectively, of a beam member of the building system; Figure 18 is an exploded view of the beam member; Figures 19, 20 and 21 are elevational, plan and perspective views, respectively, of a plurality of beam members connected to a plurality of elongate 10 members; and Figures 22 to 29 show perspective views of various stages of constructing a building using the building system.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the building system 1 comprises a building panel 2 and an elongate member or node 3. The building panel 2 is rectangular in plan and has a major plane. The building panel 2 has two major side surfaces 4 which are parallel to the major plane. The thickness of the building panel 2 is the perpendicular distance between the two major side surfaces 4. The building panel 2 has opposed major end edge surfaces 5 interconnected by opposed major side edge surfaces 6 defining a perimeter edge of the building panel 2. Each major edge surface 5, 6 has a plurality of hook and cam or camlock mechanisms 7 spaced along, and extending from, a central longitudinal line of the major edge surface 5, 6.

The building panel 2 comprises a pair of rectangular trays 8, 9 that face each other. Each tray 8, 9 comprises a panel 10 with an upstanding edge 11.

23 An outer face of each tray 8, 9 facing away from the other tray 9, 8 forms a said major side surface 4 of the building panel 2, and the major edge surfaces 5, 6 of the building panel 2 comprise the upstanding edges 11 of the trays 8, 9. The major surfaces of the panels 10 of the trays 8, 9 have ribbing 12. A rectangular insulation layer 13 is sandwiched between the pair of trays 8, 9 and the insulation layer 13 may be fixed by adhesive to the trays 8, 9. A perimeter of the insulation layer 13 has a series of indentations 14 wherein each indentation 14 receives one of the cam lock mechanisms 7.

Each cam lock mechanism 7 is connected to part of the upstanding edge 11 of each tray 8, 9 via a U-shaped plate 15 (see Figure 10). Each camlock 3 mechanism 7 has a mounting or casing 16, and a hook or latch 17 of the camlock mechanism 7 is rotatably mounted in the mounting 16. The mounting 16 includes a pair of mounting surfaces 18 wherein each mounting surface 18 has a pair of apertures 19. The apertures 19 in each mounting surface 18 align with apertures 20 in the U-shaped plate 15 and apertures 21 in the upstanding edge 11 of the respective trays 8, 9. The apertures 19, 20, 21 receive fixings such as rivets (not shown) to fix the camlock mechanism 7 to the two trays 8, 9 so that the two trays 8, 9 are connected, there being a gap 22 between the upstanding edges 11 of the two trays 8, 9. A portion of the panel 10 of one of the trays 8, 9 adjacent the upstanding edge 11 has a series of apertures or holes 23 wherein each aperture 23 aligns with a respective camlock mechanism 7 and provides access for a tool to rotate the hook 17 about the mounting 16 so that the hook 17 protrudes through the edge surface 5, 6 via the gap 22 between the two trays 8, 9.

The trays 8, 9 may, for example, be formed from a punched metal sheet or solid blanks.

Referring to Figures 4 to 9, the elongate member 3 has a square cross-section and four major longitudinal surfaces 24, each major longitudinal surface 24 being adjacent to two of the other major longitudinal surfaces 24. A width of each major longitudinal surface 24 of the elongate member 3 may be equal to a thickness of the building panel 2. The elongate member 3 includes a plurality of longitudinally aligned elongate portions, comprising first and second end elongate portions 25a, 25a', intermediate elongate portions 25b between the first and second end elongate portions 25a, 25a', and a plurality of plates or strike plates 26 wherein each plate 26 is sandwiched between two adjacent longitudinally aligned elongate portions.

Each elongate portion 25a, 25a', 25b has four longitudinal sides 27 and a pair of opposite first and second end faces. Both first and second end faces 28a, 28b of the intermediate elongate portions 25b, a first end face 28a of the first end elongate portion 25a, and a second end face 28b of the second end 3 elongate portion 25a' each have a cross-shaped recess 29 extending into it and across to the longitudinal sides 27. An outermost second end face 28c of the first end elongate portions 25a and an outermost first end face 28c of the second end elongate portion 25a' is plain.

Each plate 26 is square shaped and has a cross-shaped aperture 30 that aligns with the cross-shaped recess 29 of adjacent elongate portions 25a, 25a', 25b wherein each arm 31 of the plate cross-shaped aperture 30 has the same width as each arm 32 of the cross-shaped recess 29 of adjacent elongate portions. At a distal end of each arm 32 of the plate cross-shaped aperture 30, a portion of a perimeter of the plate 26 defines a latching surface 33 which comprises a strip of material which extends towards the centre of the cross-shaped aperture 30 and is been bent back on itself to extend to the perimeter of the plate 26. The corners of the plate 26 each have a right-angle element 34 wherein a first arm portion 35 of the right-angle element 34 steps out and protrudes slightly beyond a first face of the plate 26 and a distal second arm portion 36 extends beyond an opposite second face of the plate 26, is in line with the perimeter of the plate 26 and is perpendicular to the second face of the plate 26. The distal second arm portion 36 has an aperture 37. The first end face 28a of the first end elongate portion 25a and the intermediate elongate portions 25b has a notch 38 along two opposite edges of the end face 28a (see Figs. 6 and 7) 23 to receive the protruding first arm portions 35 of the right-angle elements 34 of the plate 26, and the second end face 28b of the second end elongate portion 25a' and the intermediate elongate portions 25b has deeper narrower notches 39 at either end of two opposite edges of the end face 28b (see Figs. 6 and 8) to receive the distal second arm portions 36 of the right-angle elements 34 of the plate 26.

The elongate member 3 includes two channel members 40 extending at least substantially a length of the elongate member 3 positioned on opposed sides of the elongate member 3 and surrounding the elongate portions 25a, 25a', 25b and plates 26 of the elongate member 3. There is a gap 41 (see Fig. 11) 3 between the two channel members 40 wherein the gap 41 aligns with latching surfaces 33 on two opposite sides of the plates 26. Each channel member 40 has a plurality of longitudinally aligned elongated slots 42 along the length of a central longitudinal line of a middle portion of the channel member 40 and the slots 42 align with latching surfaces 33 on the other two opposite sides of the plates 26. Each channel member 40 has apertures 43 aligned with apertures 37 in the distal second arm portions 36 of the plates 36 for receiving fixings (not shown) to fix the plates 26 to the channel members 40.

The elongate portions 25a, 25a', 25b may comprise expanded or extruded polystyrene or other suitable insulation material, the plate 26 may be formed from a punched rolled metal sheet, and the channel members 40 may be of galvanised steel. These components may be formed in different ways, and other suitable materials may be used.

Referring to Figures 10 to 12, to connect a building panel 2 to an elongate member 3, the elongate member 3 is placed along a major edge surface 5, 6 of the building panel 2 so that either the gap 41 between the two channel members 40 or the elongate slots 42 in one of the channel members 40 of the elongate member 3 is aligned with the gap 22 between the two trays 8, 9 of the building panel 2. A tool (not shown) is inserted through one of the panel apertures 23 of one of the trays 8 and into a slot 44 in one of the cam lock mechanisms 7. The tool is rotated in a first direction to cause the hook 17 of the camlock mechanism 7 to rotate and extend from a major edge surface 5, 6 of the building panel 2. The hook 17 extends through the gap 22 between the two trays 8, 9 of the building panel 2, a gap 45 between two arms 46 of the U-shaped plate 15 which is aligned with the gap 22 between the trays 8, 9, and either the gap 41 between the two channel members 40 or one of the elongate slots 42 in one of the channel members 40 of the elongate member 3 depending on the orientation of the elongate member 3 relative to the building panel 2.. The hook 17 is rotated until it engages one of the latching surfaces 33 of one of the plates 26 in the elongate member 3. The hook 17 extends into a said arm 32 of the cross- 3 shaped recess 29 of the elongate portion on either side of the plate 26 wherein these two cross-shaped recesses 29 and the plate cross-shaped aperture 30 form an opening through which the hook 17 of the camlock mechanism 7 can have access to, and engage, a said latching surface 33. Final travel of the tool operates an over-centre cam (not shown) within the camlock mechanism 7 to lock the hook 17 to the latching surface 33. Other camlock mechanisms 7 are operated in the same way to connect the building panel 2 to the elongate member 3.

If the building panel 2 is to be disconnected from the elongate member 3 then the tool is inserted into the camlock mechanisms 7 and rotated in a second opposite direction so that each hook 17 is disengaged from its respective latching surface 33 and is retracted into the building panel 2. The gap 41 between the channel members 40, and the elongate slots 42 along the channel members 40 are of a sufficient length to enable the hook 17 to pass through. The hook 17 may be retained in a fully retracted position inside the building panel 2 by friction, such as by that caused by a washer spring between the hook 17 and the casing 16 of the camlock mechanism 7 ensuring that personnel and other building panels 2 and elongate members 3 cannot be damaged by protruding hooks 17. Alternatively, a camlock mechanism, such as that described in US 3784240, could be used. A clamping mechanism may be used 23 instead of the camlock mechanism and the clamping mechanism may comprise bolts.

Referring to Figures 13 and 14, a plan of an L-shaped floor of a structure is shown on a grid of construction gridlines 47 wherein the gridlines 47 are spaced a standard distance w apart. The gridlines 47 form the longitudinal centrelines of any walls of the structure. The L-shaped floor comprises the building panel 2, which is rectangular in plan, and another building panel 2', which is square in plan. The outside edge of the floor comprises the elongate members 3 whose longitudinal centrelines are coincident with the gridlines 47. The length of each of these elongate members 3 is also w and the width of each 3 elongate member 3 is T which is the thickness of both the building panels 2, 2'.

Along the gridline 47 between the building panels 2, 2' is an elongate member 3' whose length is w -T. The rectangular building panel 2 thus has a length 2w -T and a width of w -T, and sides of the square building panel 2' each have a length w -T. Each of the two long outer edges of the L-shaped floor has two longitudinally aligned elongate members 3 which each have a length w, but these two elongate members 3 could be replaced by a single elongate member which has a length of 2w.

Referring to Figures 15 to 18, a beam member 48 for the building system 1 comprises two substantially C-shaped members 49 placed back to back. A middle part or wall 50 of each C-shaped member 49 has apertures 51 so that when the C-shaped members 49 are placed back to back, the apertures 51 are aligned and receive fixings 52 to fix the walls 50 together. End portions 53 of the wall 50 of each C-shaped member 49 adjacent flanges of the C-shaped member 49 are stepped in slightly so that when the C-shaped members 49 are placed back to back a recess 54 is provided for receiving hooks 17 and cams 55 of camlock mechanisms, the end portions 53 replacing the casing of the camlock mechanism. The end portions 53 provide a bearing 56 for each hook 17 and cam 55 to rotate about when a tool is used to operate the hook 17 and cam 55, and the tool can access the hook 17 and cam 55 via the bearing 56.

23 Referring to Figures 19 to 21, a plurality of longitudinally aligned beam members 48 are provided wherein each beam member 48 is adjacent at least one other longitudinally aligned beam member 48. The beam members 48 are positioned above a plurality of longitudinally aligned elongate members comprising intermediate elongate members 3 between first and second end elongate members 3', 3" and the beam member recesses 54 are aligned with the gaps 41 or slots 42 (see Figs. 11 and 12) of the elongate members 3, 3', 3" depending on the orientation of the elongate members to the beam members 48. The first end elongate member 3' may have a slightly different length to the second end elongate member 3". The intermediate elongate members 3 may be 3 approximately double the length of the first and second end elongate members 3', 3". The same arrangement of elongate members 3, 3', a' is positioned on top of the beam members 48, and each intermediate beam member 3 spans the join between two adjacent beam members 48. The hooks 17 of the beam members 48 are extended to latchingly engage latch surfaces 33 of corresponding plates 26 in the adjacent elongate members 3, 3', 3", and hooks 17 of two adjacent beam members 48 engage latch surfaces 33 of corresponding plates 26 of a said intermediate elongate member 3. This arrangement of elongate members 3, 3,' 3" and beam members 48 may form a combined composite joist and beam.

The join between two adjacent longitudinally aligned beam members 48 may have a plate across it wherein the plate is riveted to both beam members 48.

A structure formed using the building system 1 will now be described.

Referring to Figure 22, three parallel lines of beam members 48a are placed on the ground. A plurality of longitudinally aligned first and second elongate members 3a, 3b are placed above each of the outer lines of beam members 48a wherein the second elongate members 3b are in the middle and each have a length 2w and the first elongate members 3a are at the ends and have a length w. Each second elongate member 3b spans a join between adjacent beam members 48a in the line. At opposite ends of the parallel lines of 23 beam members 48a a third elongate member 3c spans across the ends of the lines of beam members 48a wherein a longitudinal central line of each third elongate member 3c is aligned with corresponding one ends of the lines of beam members 48a. The third elongate member 3c also has a length 2w. The two outer lines of first and second elongate members 3a, 3b are slightly staggered in relation to each other and the two third elongate members 3c are also slightly staggered in relation to each other so that a portion of one longitudinal surface 24 adjacent one end face 57 of each outer line of first and second elongate members 3a, 3b abuts one end face 57 of one of the third elongate members 3c. Similarly, a portion of one longitudinal surface 24 adjacent an opposite end face 3 57 of each third elongate member 3c abuts an opposite end face 57 of one of the outer lines of first and second elongate members 3a, 3b. A plurality of longitudinally aligned first, second and fourth elongate members 3a, 3b, 3d are placed above an inner line of beam members 48a wherein the first and fourth elongate members 3a, 3d are at opposite ends and the fourth elongate member 10 3d has the length w -T. Hooks 17 of the beam members 48a are rotated to latch the beam members 48a to the elongate members 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d above them.

For the first elongate member 3a, which has a length of w, the longitudinally aligned elongated slots 42 of its channel members 40 extend from one end of the elongate member 3a but stop short of the opposite end of the elongate member 3a. For the fourth elongate member 3d, which has a length of w -T, the longitudinally aligned elongated slots 42 of its channel members 40 extend from one end of the elongate member to the opposite end of the elongate member. Thus, the first and fourth elongate members 3a, 3d, which have slightly different lengths, can be easily distinguished.

A cross elongate member 3e spans between one of the outer lines of elongate members 3a, 3b and the inner line of elongate members 3a, 3b, 3d and another cross elongate member 3e spans between the inner line of elongate members 3a, 3b, 3d and the other of the outer lines of elongate members 3a, 3b. The length of each cross elongate member 3e is w -T. These cross elongate 23 members 3e are aligned and form a first pair and there is a parallel second pair of cross elongate members 3e. The distance between the longitudinal centre lines of the first and second pairs of cross elongate members 3e is 2w and the distance between the longitudinal centre line of each pair of cross elongate members 3e and the longitudinal centre line of the nearest third elongate member 3c is also 2w. The elongate members 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e form a grid 58.

Figure 23 is similar to Figure 22 and shows insulation 59 between the lines of beam members 48a wherein the cross elongate members 3e are on top of the insulation 59.

Referring to Figure 24, building panels 2a are placed in the openings in 3 the grid 58 of elongate members 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, and each building panel 2a has a length of 2w -T and a width of w -T. A tool is inserted into the camlock mechanisms 7 of each building panel 2a to latch the building panel 2a to the elongate members that surround that building panel 2a. Final travel of the tool operates the over-centre cam within the camlock mechanism 7, pulling the building panel 2a and adjacent elongate member together with significant force ensuring that they cannot come together without application of the tool.

Referring to Figure 25, elongate members 3f are placed vertically to form columns at the corners of the grid 58. An elongate member 3f is placed as an intermediate column midway between the corner elongate member columns 3f at either end of each third elongate member 3c and on top of the third elongate member 3c. Elongate members 3f are also placed as intermediate columns between the corner elongate member columns 3f at either end of each outer line of elongate members 3a, 3b (those on outer line nearest in the view have been omitted for clarity) and on top of the outer line of elongate members 3a, 3b, there being an intermediate elongate column 3f aligned with each pair of cross elongate members 3e. A further intermediate elongate member column 3f is spaced midway between them and also midway between each one of them and the corner elongate member column 3f adjacent to it. The elongate members 3f forming columns are the same as the other elongate members previously 23 described except that their length I may be different from all of the other elongate members.

Referring to Figure 26, building panels 2b are placed between adjacent intermediate elongate member columns 3f and between each corner elongate member column 3f and an adjacent intermediate elongate member column 3f. 30 The building panels 2b each have a width of w -T and a length I. Camlock mechanisms 7 of the building panels 2b are operated to lock the building panels 2b to the adjacent elongate members. The building panels 2b are used to form outer or external walls of the structure.

The size of the building panels dictate where the elongate member 3 columns and other elongate members are to be positioned.

Referring to Figure 27, a grid 58 of elongate members 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, like that shown in Figure 22, is placed above the building panels 2b. Camlock mechanisms 7 on the side of each building panel 2b adjacent to elongate members of the grid 58 are operated to lock the building panels 2b to them.

Three lines of beam members 48b, which may be taller than the beam members 48a, are placed above the grid 58 of elongate members 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e and are aligned with the respective lines of beam members 48a at the bottom of the structure. A line of elongate members 3a, 3b, 3d is placed above each line of beam members 48b. The hooks 17 of the beam members 48b are rotated to lock the beam members 48b to the adjacent elongate members 3a, 3b, 3d.

Referring to Figure 28, building panels 2a are placed in the openings in the grid 58, and the camlock mechanisms 7 of each building panel 2a are operated to latch the building panel 2a to the elongate members that surround that building panel 2a.

Building panels 2b, which are used to form part of an external wall of the structure, could also be placed between cross elongate members 3e in the grids 58 above and below to form an internal partition.

Referring to Figure 29, cross elongate members 3e are inserted between the lines of elongate members placed above the lines of beam members 48b 23 and are aligned with the cross elongate members 3e of the grid 58 below. Building panels 2a are inserted between each outer line of elongate members 3a, 3b and the inner line of elongate members 3a, 3b, 3d above the beam members 48b, and each building panel 2a is adjacent at least one cross elongate member 3e. Cam lock mechanisms 7 of each building panel 2a are operated to latch the building panel 2a to the adjacent elongate members.

All the elongate members 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f have a width T and are square in cross-section and the building panels 2a, 2b have a thickness T. Although Figures 22 to 29 show a building structure 60 being constructed, the actual order that the building panels, elongate members, beam members and 3 insulation are placed could be varied.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. The building panels are shown as being rectangular or square but they also may be substantially triangular in plan or may be any other appropriate geometric shape. Some building panels may have an opening which may contain a door or a window.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A building system comprising: a building panel having: a major plane and two major side surfaces which 3 are at least substantially parallel to the major plane, and at least three major edge surfaces substantially forming a perimeter of the building panel, and at least one engaging means first portion at one said major edge surface; and an elongate member having at least three major longitudinal surfaces, each major longitudinal surface being adjacent to at least one other major longitudinal surface, and plural engaging means second portions spaced apart along the elongate member, wherein the building panel is configured to engage an adjacent said elongate member, the engaging means first portion being latchingly engagable with any one of the engaging means second portions of said adjacent elongate 15 member.
2. The building system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of each major longitudinal surface of the elongate member is equal to a thickness of the building panel.
3. The building system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongate member has a length corresponding to the sum of a length of a said major edge surface of the building panel and a thickness of the building panel.
23 4. The building system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each said engaging means second portion comprises at one longitudinal location of said elongate member an opening in each said major longitudinal surface, and a separate latching surface accessible through each said opening for the engaging means first portion to latchingly engage.
5. The building system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the engaging means second portion includes a plate which defines the separate latching surfaces.
6. The building system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plate includes an 3 aperture, different perimeter portions of which define the separate latching surfaces.
7. The building system as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the elongate member includes a plurality of longitudinally aligned elongate portions, the or each plate being sandwiched between two adjacent longitudinally aligned said elongate portions.
8. The building system as claimed in claim 7, wherein each elongate member includes plural said plates each sandwiched between two adjacent longitudinally aligned said elongate portions.
9. The building system as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein each elongate portion has at least three longitudinal sides and a recess in each side configured to provide one said engaging means first portion access to a corresponding said latching surface.
10. The building system as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the elongate member includes two channel members extending at least substantially a length of the elongate member positioned on opposed sides of the elongate member 23 and at least substantially surrounding the elongate portions of the elongate member.
11. The building system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the engaging means first portion is retractably extendable from said major edge 30 surface.
12. The building system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the building panel comprises a pair of trays joined together via the engaging means first portion.
13. The building system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the engaging means first portion comprises a camlock mechanism or clamping mechanism for latchingly engaging a said engaging means second portion.
14. The building system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one major side surface of the building panel has access means for providing access for a tool to operate the engaging means first portion.
15. The building system as claimed in any preceding claim, including a beam member having first and second major edge surfaces on opposite edges of the beam member, and at least one engaging means first portion at one or both of first and second major edge surfaces.
16. A structure comprising a plurality of said building panels and elongate members of the building system as claimed in any preceding claim and assembled wherein each building panel engages at least one adjacent elongate member.
17. The structure as claimed in claim 16, and including at least one said beam 23 member as claimed in claim 15 wherein at least one engaging means first portion of a said beam member is latchingly engagable with an engaging means second portion part of an adjacent said elongate member.