IE20160269A1

IE20160269A1 - Suspended flooring system

Info

Publication number: IE20160269A1
Application number: IE20160269A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Thornbury John
Original assignee: Moulded Foams Ltd
Priority date: 2015-12-14
Filing date: 2016-12-01
Publication date: 2017-06-28
Also published as: GB2550292A; GB201708480D0; GB201522000D0; GB2535599A; GB2550292B; IE20170131A1; IE86886B1; GB2535599B

Abstract

A suspended flooring system comprises a plurality of block members 11 of insulating material and a plurality of U-shaped capping members 13 of insulating material. The capping members 13 are fitted end-to-end along each beam 10 such that a central portion 14 thereof extends over the beam 10 and opposite side portions 15 thereof extend down respective opposite sides of the beam 10. The blocks members 11 are then fitted side-by-side between the beams 10 so as to close the gap between opposite capping members 13 and thereby form a continuous layer of insulating material which extends over the beams 10 and which provides a substantially flat surface onto which a screed material can be laid to form a floor surface.

Description

‘ SUSPENDED FLOORING SYSTEM This invention reiates to a suspended ﬂooring system. it is weii known to form suspended ﬂoors in iouitdirtgs by mounting a piuratity of horizontai eiongate beams, for examoie of ore-stressed concrete, between opposite 5 side supporting structures of the iouiiding. The beams are equaiiy spaced and extend paraitei to each other, each beam being of an inverted T-shape in cross-section to define oppositeiy-extending iongitudinai side ﬂanges. A piuraiity of biocke of insuiating materiai are fitted between adjacent epacedwapart beams so as to bridge the gap therebetween. Each biook comprises first and second sides arranged to seat 10 on ﬂanges of respective beams, the second side comprising a ﬂange arranged to extend under the beam on which it is seated, so as to form a continuous thermai barrier which extends under the beam.

A screed material is then iaid on top of the blocks to form a ﬂoor surface. it has been 15 found that the expanded poiystyrene materiai used in combination with pre-stressed concrete beams and a sereed provides a good thermatiy irtsuiated toad bearing ﬂoor surface. in orcier to increase the ﬂoor span, it is known to mount two or more such beams 20 side-by-side in rows: the abovementioned expanded polystyrene biocks are then raid between the opposed beams of adjacent rows to tiii the gap therebetween. A protzriem of this arrangement is that the ﬂanges which extend along the second side of the biocks are not sufficientiy wide to cover the bottom surface of the additionai beams and hence there is a break in the thermal barrier under the ﬂoor. 25 Our UK Patent GB2487625E3 diseioses a soiution to this probiem in the form of biooks of the abovementioned type, which are characterised in an eiongate strip portion is aiso provided. the strip having a formation on a icmgitudinai side face thereof for engaging a oompiementary formation provided on the outer and face of 30 the biook ﬂange which extends under the beam. in use, the strip and biock are inter-engaged to increase the width or the Eaterat extent of the ﬂange. The oompiimentary engaging formations serve to seoureiy hoist the strip in-situ on the biock. such that no further fixing is required and the risk of 35 detachment over time is avoided. Both the strip and biock are pre—i’ormed and thus the need for cutting and fixing strips of expanded poiystyrene materiai is avoided.

The strip serves to cover the bottom surface of a further beam mounted side-bywside with the beam on which the aforementioned second side edge of the body is seated Advahtageousiy, the strip portion can be engaged with the body portion to form a unitary biock prior to fitting the btock in-situ. Further such strips can be fitted to further increase the width or the iaterai extent of the ﬂange if more than two booms are mounted sidewpy-side.

Whitst the arrangement disclosed in G824876258 works wait, it can be difficuit to fit the biocks on sits and it is atso necessary to excavate the ground under the beams sufficiently for the blocks to be fitted. Aiso, because the layer of insuiaiing matsriai extends under the beams, it can he ctifficuit to ensure that the iayer is continuous and that coici spots wiii not exist, This may occur, for exampie, if a strip is inadvertentiy omitted. it is also known that fiat sheets may be iaid to provide two horizontai layers, which one extending between the beams and one extending over the beams Such iayers can be used to provide an énsuiaied deck on which to pour a screed for a floor. The upper sheet is generaiiy of a higher density icsading duty to support the ﬂoor. in this case the top iayer has a uniform ioad bearing capaoiiiiy when it only needs a iocaiised toad bearing oapsbiiity above the beam. in addition such arrangements suffer from the same probiems as the previousiy mentioned arrangement: in that it can be diificuii to ensure that coid spots wilt not exist from omitted and I or badly fitted parts.

We have now devised a suspended ﬂooring system which aiieviates the above- mentioned probiems. in accordance with the present invention there is provided a suspended ﬂooring system comprising a piuraiity of biock members of insulating materisi for fitting between adjacent spaced~apart beams so as to bridge a gap therebetween and a piuraiity oi capping members of insutating matariai for fitting onto the beams, each capping member being channei-shaped in section and comprising a contra? portion arranged to extend over the beam and opposite side portions which extend down respective opposite sides of the beam‘ in use, the capping members are fitted enr;i—to~snci aiong each beam and the biocks are then fitted side—~by~sicie between the beams so as to close the gap between apposite capping members and thereby form a continuous iayer of insuiaiing rnateriai which extends over ins beams and which provieies s sebstanrisity fiat surface onto which a screed materiai can be iaid to form a ﬂoor surface.

Because the continuous Sayer of insulation materiai extends over rather than under the beam} it is possibie to fit the aii ef the system from ebeve, therefore siiewing the {east movement of beams in the process. in ariciition when fitted, aii insulation parts contributing to the system are visibie from above making vaiidation that am pants are inciuded and therefore reduces the risks of cold speis.

The cnannei shape of the capping members means that they eesiiy and perfectiy centre inemssives onto the beam and prevent buiiding errors by mispiecerrient of the parts.

The capping members may be formed of a different ceieur rneteriai than the biock members, so that it is easy to determine if any have been omitted or if any have been fitted incorrerziiy.

There may be a requirement to build an intemai wet: or to piece another heavy structure on the ﬂoor surface which has been iaici on top of the Sayer of insuiating rnateriai. it is ciesirabie for the weight of such structures is be borne by the beams since their weight may compress the insuiating iayer and provide undue forces on the unsupported areas berween the beams. Acsordingiyr the central portion of each capping member may comprise a series of recesses or agnertures aiong its iengin which can be fiiied with a materiai which is iess compressive than the insuiating maieriai end which heip is appiy ioads ente the beam. The recesses are preferebiy formed in ihe surface of the centre! portion that faces uewardiy in use. The bottom of the recesses may comprise a iayer of the or another insuiaiirig materiei which prevents direct Contact between the fiiier meteriai and the beam but which is suffioieniiy thin that it wiii not unduiy compress under toad.

The fitter materiai may be 3 iiquicicius meteriai that can he appiied into the apertures er recess and aiiowed to set, or it may be solid biocks or pings which are inserted into the apertures or recess pricr tc iaying the screed material.

The capping member may comprise rernovabie portions which can be removed ta form said apertures cr recess. in one embodiment, each hiock member comprises first and second ends arranged to seat on ﬂanges of the respective opposite beams. in anether embcdiment, the apposite side portions of each capping members are arranged to abut ﬂanges on respective opposite sides of the beam to which they are fitted. in this way, tcads appiied to the capping members are appiied ciirectiy to the beams, The insutating meteriai of the capping members may be denser and tees compressive than the insulating material at the hiock memherst thereby ensuring that the suitabie density materiai is aiways pcsitioned over the toad bearing area.

Opposite ends of the biock members may comprise formations for engaging comptementary formations on the capping members, the formations serving to support the biocks members between the capping members. Atternativeiy er additionaiiy the hiock members may be adhered to the capping members.

The compiementary engaging formations may comprise a socket and 3 proiecticn provided cm opposed faces cf the respective members, Preierabiy the compiementery engaging formations are arranged to resiiientty engage each other Preierabiy the compiementery formations are arranged to hoici the members in locking engagement and planar alignment with each other: Preferabiy the opposite side portions of the capping members comprise cuter faces which tie in paraiiet planes. thereby ensuring that the capping members fit cioseiy sidetiyueide when fitted in side~by~eide beams.

A330 in accordance with ihe present invention} there is provided a suspended ﬂoor structure comprising a piuraﬁty of mock members of msuiating materiei for fitted between adjacent spaced~aperi beams so as to bridge a gap therebeiween and a piureiity of capping members of insuiating maieriai fitted onto the beams: each capping member being channeiehaped ﬁn section and comprising a centre? portion which extends over the beam and opposite side portions which extend down respective opposite sides of the beam.

The beams may be of an inverted Teeciion shape, and may comprise an 3-shaped stem portéon having opbositeiy directed ﬂanges 3*: its lower em. The capping members may be fitted onto the ﬁop of the stem; such that the cpposite side eortions extend down respective ooeosite sides of the stem. The opposiie side bcriions may extend partiaiiy of fuﬁy down respective opposite sides of the stem: in the fatter case, the iower ends of the opposite side portions may abut respective ﬂanges. The capping members may have a width which is substantiaﬁy equal to the width of the beams, Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a suspended floor, the method comprising: crowding ﬁrst and second spaced apart paratiei beams; fitting a piurakity of charmeI~sec£ion capping members of insuieting materiai onto each beam such the‘: a centra¥ portion of each member extends over the beam and such that opposite side porticne extend down respective opposite sides of the beam; and fitting a piuraiity of biock members of insuiating materia! for fitting between adjacent spaced-apart beams so as to bridge a gap therebetween.

The capping member may be fitted prim" to fitting the biock members or vicevversac The capping members may be fitted end~to-end eiong me entire iengtb of each beam‘ Apertures or recesses in the oentraﬁ portion of one or more capping members may be fined with a materiai.

A screed or other cemeniitious Eayer may be iaici onto a surface provided by said capping and biock members.

Embodiments of the present invention wiii new be described by way of an exampie oniy, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a piano view of an embodiment of suspended fioor structure in accordance with ine present invention; ?igure 2 is a side View of a biock member of the structure of Figure '5; Figure 3 is a bottom View of the structure of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an end View of the siiruoture of Figure ’§; Figure 5 is an isometric View of the structure of Figure i; Figure 6 is an isometric and pan»-sectional View of the structure of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a seotionai view of a second embodiment of suspended floor structure in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figures i to 6 of the accompanying drawings: there is shown a suspended ﬂoor structure comprising a piuraiiiy of rows of horizontai eiongete beams 10, for exampie of prensiresseci concrete, extending beiween opposite side supporting structures of a buiiding. The beams 10 and extend paraiiei to each other, each beam 10 being of an inverted T~snape in crosesection to define oppositely» extending iongitudinai side ﬂanges 10F.

Bicck members ‘ii of expanded poiystyrene materiai are iaid sic¥e~i:>y~side in coiumns between ihe rows of beams 10, with each biock comprising a pair of ribs 12 respectiveiy formed on firsz and second opposite side faces thereof, the ribs 12 resting on the opposed ﬂanges of respective adjacent beams 10.

A piuraiity of capping members 13 of insuiating materiai are fitted end-to-end aiong the beams 10. Each capping member 13 is channei~shaped in section and comprises centrai portion 14 which extends over the beam and opposite side portions 15 which extend downwardly and embrace respective opposite sides of the beam above the flanges 10A thereof. The capping members 13 have a width which is substantiaiiy aqua! to the width of the beams 10. The iower ends of the opposite side portions 15 abut against the upper side face of the iips 12 of the block members 11.

The upper surfaces of the capping and biock members 13,11 form a continuous pianar surface iayer onto which a screed rnateriai can be iaidi it wiii be appreciated that the screed iayer is therefore entirety insuiated from the beams 10 and any underiying void by the insuiating materiai of the members 13,11. Thus, the overaii tioor structure wiii have a very good heat transfer coefficient (Li-vaiue) and wiii not suffer from coid spots.

There may be a requirement to buiid an internal wait or to piece another heavy structure on the ficor surface which has been laid on top of the screed. Hence, the centrai portion 14 of each capping member comprises a series of recesses 16 aiong its iength which can be seiectiveiy fiiied with a cementitious materiai which is iess compressive than the insuiating materiai and which heip to appiy any overiying toads onto the beam 10. The bottom of the recesses 16 comprise a iayer of the insuiating materiai which prevents direct contact between the tiiier materiai and the beam 10 but which is sufficientiy thin that it wiii not unciuiy compress under ioad.

Referring to particoiariy to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings, one end face of each biock member 11 is casteiiated above the rib 12 to define a row of ciovetaiied projections 17 for engaging with compiementary recesses 18 on one side face of the capping member 13 at the upper end thereof, The other side face of the capping member 13 is fiat and iies in a plane which extends paraiiei to the piano of the recessed side face. in use, once the block members 11 have been fitted in~situ, the capping members 13 are fitted by aiigning their recesses 18 with the projections 17 of the biock members 11 and pushing them into engagement. This helps to form a unitary and stabie structure onto which the screed can be iaid.

At teast one btock and capping member 11, 13 may altemativety be fitted together prior to installing them in«si’:u Referring to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings, in order to increase the floor span, it is known to form rows of two or more beams 10A, 108 mounted side-by-side: the above-mentioned biock members ‘it are then laid between the opposed pairs of beams of adjacent rows to fit! the gap therebe-tween. A capping member 13 is then fitted to each beam 10A, 108 in the same manner. The recesses 18 on the teft~hand capping member 10A are not used but, the fact that they are recesses attows the side face of the capping member 1OAto tie flat against the opposing face of the right- hend capping member 108.

Claims

1. l0 i. CLAlMS A suspended flooring system comprising a piuraiity of biock members of insuiating material for fitting between adjacent spaced~apart beams so as to bridge a gap therebetween and a piurality of capping members of insuiating materiai for fitting onto the beams, each capping member being channei~ shaped in section and comprising a central portion arranged to extend over the beam and opposite side portions which extend down respective opposite sides of the beam. A suspended ﬂooring system as claimed in ciaim 1, in which the capping members are formed of a different colour material than the biock members. A suspended fiooring system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the the central portion of each capping member comprises a series of recesses or apertures along its length‘ A suspended flooring system as ciaimed in claim 3, in which the recesses are formed in the surface of the central portion that faces upwardiy in use. A suspended flooring system as claimed in ciaim 4, in which the bottom of the recesses comprises a iayer of insulating materiat. A suspended flooring system as ciaimed in any of ciaims 3 to St in which the capping member comprises removable portions which can be removed to form said apertures or recess. A suspended ﬂooring system as ciaimed in any preceding claim, in which the each biock member comprises first and second ends arranged to seat on ﬂanges of the respective opposite beams. A suspended flooring system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the opposite side portions of each capping member are arranged to abut ﬂanges on respective opposite sides of the beam to which they are fitted. 35 9. ‘IO. 11. '12. ‘i3. 14. 15. 16. 10 A suspended flooring system as ciaimed in any preceding ciaim, in which the insuiating mats-riai of the capping members is denser and less compressive than the insulating materiai of the biock members. A suspended fiooring system as ciaimed in any preceding claim, in which opposite ends of the bicck members comprise formations for engaging compiemeniary formations on the capping members, the formations serving to support the biocks members between the capping members. A suspended ﬂooring system as ciairned in any preceding ciaim, in which the complementary engaging formations comprise a socket and a projection provided on opposed faces of the respective members, A suspended ﬂooring system as ciaimed in ciaim 10 or ‘ii, in which the compiementary engaging formations are arranged to resiiientiy engage each other. A suspended ﬂooring system as ciaimed in any of ciaim 10 to 12, in which the cornpiementary formations are arranged to hoid the members in iocking engagement and pianar alignment with each other. A suspended ﬂooring system as ciaimed in any preceding ciaim, in which opposite side portions of the capping members comprise outer faces which iie in paraliei pianes. A suspended fiooring system substantiaiiy as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A suspended ﬂoor structure comprising a piuraiity of biock members of insuiating materiai fitted between adjacent spacedepart beams so as to bridge a gap therebetween and a piuraiity of capping members of insuiating material fitted onto the beams, each capping member being channei—shaped in section and comprising a centrai portion which extends over the beam and opposite side portions which extend down respective opposite sides of the beam. 35 “l7. ‘£8. ‘£9 20 21. 22. 23. 24. 25, 1’! A suspended fioor structure as ciaimed in ciaim 16, in which the beams are of an inverted Tssection shape and comprise an i-shaped stem portion having oppositely directed ﬂanges at its tower end A suspended floor structure as claimed in claim 16 or claim ‘l7, in which the capping members are fitted onto the top of the stern, such that the opposite side portions extend down respective opposite sides of the stem. A suspended floor structure as ciaimed in ciaim t7, in which the capping members are fitted onto the top of the stem, such that the opposite side portions extend fully down respective opposite sides of the stem. A suspended floor structure as claimed in claim 19, in which the in the lower ends of the opposite side portions abut respective ﬂanges. A suspended floor structure as claimed in claim 1?, in which the capping members are fitted onto the top of the stem, such that the opposite side portions extend partially down respective opposite sides of the stem. A suspended floor structure as ciaimed in any of ciaims 19 to 21, in which he capping members have a width which is substantially equai to the width of the beams. A suspended floor structure as claimed in any of claims 16 to 22, in which the central portion of at ieast one capping member comprises a series of recesses or apertures along its length which are titled with a material which is iess compressive than the insuiating material of the capping members. A suspended floor structure as claimed in claim 23, in which the filler material is a liquidous materiai that is applied into the apertures or recess and allowed to set. A suspended floor structure as claimed in claim 23, in which the filler material comprises solid blocks or piugs which are inserted into the apertures‘ “IO 26. 27* 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33, 12 A suspended ﬂoor structure as ciaimed in any of ciaims 18 to 22, in which a screed materiar is iaid er: top of the block and capping members. A suspended ﬂooring structure substamiaily as herem described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A method as? constructing a suspended ﬂoor, the methed comprising: a. previding first and second spaced apart peraﬁeé beams; b. fitting a pturaiity of channel-section capping members of insulating materiat onto each beam such that a cemrat portion of each member extends over the beam and such that opposite side poriions extend down respective epposéte sides cf the beam; and C. fitting a piuraiify of biock members of insulating material for fitting between acﬁacent spaced~apart beams so as to bridge a gap therebetweeh. A method as ciaimed in ciaim 28, in which the capping members are fiited to each beam prior to fitting the biock members. A method as maimed in craém 28‘ in which the brook members are fitted to each beam prior is fitting the capping members. A method as claimed in any of ciaim 28 to 30, in which the capping members are fitted end~to~er2d aiong the entire ierrgth of each beam. A meﬁhod as ciaimed in any of ciaim 28 to 31, in which apertures or recesses in the cemrai portion of one or more cappmg members are fiﬁed with 3 materiaﬁ. A method as maimed in any of ciaim 28 to 31, in whrch a screed or other cementitious layer is mid onto a surface provided by said capping and mock members. f3 34‘ A method of constructing a suspended ﬂoor, the method being substantiaﬁy as herein described with reference £0 the accompanying drawings.