IES20180130A2 - Foundation - Google Patents

Abstract

A foundation assembly (1) for a building comprises a rectangular frame (2) having a precast reinforced concrete foundation beam (3) at each side of the frame (2). An upwardly extending peripheral retaining wall (6) projects upwardly from a top of eachfoundation beam (3) at an outer side of each foundation beam (3) to form an endless retaining wall (6) projecting upwardly from the foundation beams (3). A plurality of juxtaposed reinforced concrete floor panels (8) are mounted on the frame (2) to form a floor (9) on the frame (2). The sizing of the floor panels (8) and associated foundations beams (3) is such that when the floor panels (8) rest on the foundation beams (3), they form an endless channel (12) extending around a periphery of the floor (9) between the floor (9) and the retaining wall (6). A layer of insulation material (14) is mounted within said endless channel (12) to surround the side edges of thefloor (9) with insulation material. <Figure 1>

Description

TRUE COPY AS LODGED “Foundation” introduction This invention relates to a foundation assembly for a building, such as a house, or other building.

Summa_ry of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a foundation assembly for a building, comprising: a rectangular frame having a reinforced concrete foundation beam at each side of the frame; an upwardly extending retaining wall projecting upwardly from a top of each beam; a plurality of juxtaposed reinforced concrete floor panels mounted on the frame to form a floor on the frame; the floor panels resting on top of the beams and defining an endless channel about the floor between the floor and the retaining wall; and a layer of insulation material mounted within said endless channel to surround the side edges of the floor with insulation material.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention each floor panel comprises a reinforced concrete panel with an integral layer of insulation material on an underside of the floor panel.

In another embodiment of the invention the retaining wall projects upwardly at an outer side of each foundation beam. in another embodiment of the invention an endless retaining wall is provided.

In another embodiment of the invention at least one ventilation opening is provided in at least one foundation beam extending laterally through the foundation beam.

In another embodiment of the invention two or more spaced-apart ventilation openings are provided.

In another embodiment of the invention the width of the retaining wall is such as to provide a support for external cladding material of the building to be constructed thereon.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a foundation assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the foundation assembly; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the foundation assembly; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Efmbodiments Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a foundation assembly for a building according to invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The foundation assembly 1 comprises a rectangular frame 2 having a reinforced concrete foundation beam 3 at each side of the frame 2. Bevelled edges 4 at each end of each beam 3 facilitate interconnection of the beams 3 to form the rectangular frame 2.

An upwardly extending retaining wall 6 projects upwardly from a top 7 of each beam 3 at an outer side of each foundation beam 3. Thus, an endless retaining wall 6 is provided projecting upwardly from the foundation beams 3.

A plurality of juxtaposed reinforced concrete floor panels 8 are mounted on the frame 2 to form a floor 9 on the frame 2. It will be noted that outer ends 10 of the floor panels 8 rest on a top surface 7 of the foundation beams 3 at opposite sides of the frame 2. The sizing of the floor panels 8 is such that when resting on the foundation beams 3, they form an endless channel 12 extending around a periphery of the floor 9 between the floor 9 and the retaining wall 6. A layer of insulation material 14 is mounted within said endless channel 12 to surround the side edges of the floor 9 with insulation material.

Each floor panel 8 preferably comprises a reinforced concrete panel 16 with an integral layer of insulation material on an underside of the panel 16. One or more downwardly depending feet are provided at each outer end 10 of the floor panel 8 to engage and support the floor panel 8 on the foundation beams 3. Preferably a number of spaced-apart feet 18 are provided at each outer end 10 of the floor panel 8 and the insulation material 17 extends between the feet 18.

One or more ventilation openings 20 may be provided in one or more of the foundation beams 3 to provide ventilation beneath the floor 9 to, for example, dissipate radon gas.

It will be noted that the width of a top face of the retaining wall 6 can be of any suitable width to support external cladding material of the building to be constructed on the foundation assembly 1. For example, the cladding material may be blocks or bricks.

In the drawings herewith a simple construction of foundation assembly 1 is shown.

However, if longer lengths of floor 9 are required a number of the floor panels 8 can be laid end to end and in this case an intermediate support beam would be provided to support inner ends of the floor panels 8.

Preferably a damp proof course is laid under each floor panel 8 between the floor panel 8 and the top face 7 of the foundation beams 3. it will be appreciated that the various component parts of the foundation assembly 1 can be constructed under factory conditions and transported to a site and readily, easily and quickly assembled on site to shorten the preparation time for forming a foundation for a house or other building.

Further, a high level of thermal insulation can be achieved, and guaranteed and easily inspected to confirm compliance with building regulations. in the specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” or any variation thereof and the terms “include, includes, included and including" or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (1)

1. A foundation assembly for a building, comprising: a rectangular frame having a precast reinforced concrete foundation beam at each side of the frame; an upwardly extending retaining wall projecting upwardly from a top of each beam; a plurality of juxtaposed precast reinforced concrete floor panels mounted on the frame to form a floor on the frame; the floor panels resting on top of the beams and defining an endless channel about the floor between the floor and the retaining wall; and a layer of insulation material mounted within said endless channel to surround the side edges of the floor with insulation material. The foundation assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each floor panel comprises a precast reinforced concrete floor panel with an integral layer of insulation material on an underside of the floor panel. The foundation assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the retaining wall projects upwardly at an outer side of each foundation beam, and an endless retaining wall is provided. The foundation assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one ventilation opening is provided in at least one foundation beam extending through the foundation beam between opposite side faces of the foundation beam. The foundation assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.