WO2011137910A1

WO2011137910A1 - Facing system with insulating elements

Info

Publication number: WO2011137910A1
Application number: PCT/DK2011/050156
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Steen Jacobsen
Original assignee: Jan Steen Holding Aps
Priority date: 2010-05-06
Filing date: 2011-05-06
Publication date: 2011-11-10
Also published as: DK201070190A

Abstract

Facade system (1) comprising a row of insulation blocks (2) being arranged in courses (6), and a plurality of facade elements (4). Each insulation block (3) comprises an upper face (10) and an under face (11) having a length (12) and a width (13), and lateral faces (14) with a height (15), each facade element (4) being formed as a plate with a height (25), a width (26) and a thickness (27). The facade element (4) comprises a front face (28), a rear face (29) and lateral faces (30) with a thickness (31). At least one of the lateral faces (14) of each insulation blocks (3) has at least one first connection means (16). The rear face (29) of each facade element (4) has at least one second connection means (19). The connection means (16, 19) cooperate to establish a horizontal fixation between the insulation blocks (3) and the facade elements (4), and said first connection means (16) comprising supporting means is arranged for full or partly support of at least one facade element (4) in each course (6).

Description

FACING SYSTEM WITH INSULATING ELEMENTS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a facing system comprising a row of insulation blocks arranged in courses and a plurality of facade elements, each insulation block comprising an upper side and a lower side having a length and a width, and lateral faces with one height between them. Each facade element being is formed as a plate having a height, a width and a thickness, and which facade element comprises a front face, a rear face and lateral faces having a thickness between them, at least one of the lateral faces of each insulation block having at least a first connection means, the rear face of each connection element has at least one second connection means, the connection means cooperate to establish a horizontal fixation between the insulation blocks and the facade elements.

Furthermore the invention involves an insulation block for application in a facade system. Said insulation block comprises an upper side and a lower side having a length and a width. The insulation block has lateral faces width a height between them, at least one of the lateral faces is arranged with at least a first connection means which is arranged for cooperation with another connection means on a rear face of a facade element. The first connection means is an a undercut groove with a vertical orientation and has an insertion opening arranged for uptake of said second connection means.

Background of the Invention

The demands on the insulating capability - the so called U-value - will be heavily strengthened in the years to come, the costs for heating or cooling getting higher. The costs are not only being defined as economic costs of fuel, like oil, coal, fuel gas, tree or electricity for heating purposes, but also the environmental costs as such, caused by burning fossil and biological fuel.

Traditional building may comprise an outer wall being formed as a cavity wall construction comprising an innermost inner wall which may be a supporting wall, an outermost self-supporting front wall, the function of which is that of a climate screen, and a layer of insulating material in the cavity wall between the two walls. Often tile, having a standard measure, finds application as a climate screen.

To meet the demands for better insulation capability new insulation types with lower thermal conductivity - the so-called lambda-value - have been developed, and in case this is not enough, the thickness of the insulation layer in the cavity wall structure has merely been increased to obtain a U-value conforming the toughened demands. This procedure has been chosen because of the available materials and because it is desirable to maintain the visual look from a climate screen made on the basis of tile.

The increased thickness of the cavity wall construction gives rise to an increased external building area to maintain the same internal floor area. The house occupies a bigger part of the plot which is not desirable from the point of view among many house owners wanting maximal interior area in the house and maximal exploited plot.

From EP 1,479,841 Al there is a system known where a building stone comprises a climate screen and a part of an inner wall being cast along with an insulation block in between them. The insulation block has dovetail slots for the sake of good adhesion when the blocks are being jointly casted. Alternatively it is possible to manufacture the climate screen and the inner wall separately and thereafter to couple them together on the building site. It is a disadvantage of this system that the construction of the inner wall, the insulation layer and the climate screen must be carried out continuously from below and upwards as known from traditional construction. Another drawback of the system comprises insertion of wedges between the blocks until such time as they are laid together.

Object of the Invention

The object of the invention is to specify a facade system making possible an increase of the insulation thickness in a given wall construction without an increase of the total thickness of the wall construction, and which the facade system at the same time fa- cilitates the mounting of the wall. Description of the Invention

According to the invention, the object is achieved with a facade system comprising a row of insulation blocks arranged in courses and with a plurality of facade elements, each insulation block comprises an upper face and a under face having a length and a width and lateral faces with a height between them. Each facade element is formed as a plate having a height, a width and a thickness, and whose facade element is comprising a front face, a rear face and lateral faces having a thickness between them, at least one of the lateral faces of each insulation block has at least a first connection means. The rear face of each connection element has at least a second connection means, said connection elements cooperating to establish a horizontal fixation between the insulation blocks and the facade elements. The facade system is characteristic in that the first connection means comprises supporting means arranged for full or partly supporting at least one facade element in each course.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, this is achieved with an insulation block for use in a facade system comprising an upper face and an lower face having a length and a width and lateral faces with a height between them, at least one of the lateral faces being equipped with at least a first connection means being designed for cooperation with a second connection means at a rear face of a facade element, which first connection means is a undercut groove having a vertical orientation and an opening of insertion being arranged for uptake of said second connection means. This insulation block is characteristic in at least one undercut groove extending across part of the height and at least one undercut groove is having a bottom stop designed for total or partly supporting the facade element.

Hereby a facade system is achieved making possible an increase of the thickness of the insulation in a given wall construction without an increase of the total thickness of the wall construction, in that the facade elements, constituting the climate screen, are supported by the insulation blocks, hereby finding application as a constructive element in the wall construction and the facade system. In this way it is possible to reduce the proportion of the wall thickness constituted by the climate screen, because the climate screen not is self-supporting. The weight of the climate screen is thereby reduced, and hence the strength requirements on the support are reduced. The function of the cli- mate screen will solely be to constitute a waterproof and windproof barrier between the outside surface of the wall construction and those elements being situated inside of the climate screen, in that the function as self supporting element will be superfluous according to the invention.

In existing wall constructions the function of the insulation material is solely thermal insulation. This means that the proportion of the wall construction thickness, which is constituted of the insulation material, is reserved for this function alone. The facade system, according to the invention, implicates an optimization of the function of the single elements of the wall construction from outermost to innermost and in overall terms it is aiming for an improvement of the insulation capability in taking advantage of the best material properties of the individual elements. The inner wall is applied as a supporting element for the superjacent storeys and/or the roof construction, the insulation blocks being applied as thermal insulation and supporting base for the facade elements solely being used as climate screen.

In the present application the designations horizontally and vertically relative to the facade system are used, when the facade system is being established or has been established in an erected wall construction.

The facade system can be used on all external facade surfaces of a building including the roof which, by the skilled person, is known as the fifth facade.

The insulation blocks may be formed in different ways dependant of the wall construction. The designation as block comprises all elements having polygonal, circular, oval or curved cross-section, or such a combination of these characteristics having a certain longitudinal size, width and length.

The facade elements may as well be formed in different ways dependant on the visual appearance of the facade. The designation of laminar comprises all elements with a polygonal, circular, oval or curved cross-section or a combination of such elements having a greater extension within the plane than from of the plane. Architectural con- siderations however may be determining in the elements will having an even more significant extension from out of the face.

At least one of the lateral faces of an insulation block and the rear face of a facade element has cooperating first and second connection means. The facade element is connected to the insulation block by a connection being established between the first and second connection means. The first and second connection means are blocking relative movement of the insulation block and the facade element in a horizontal plane.

The first connection means incorporates supporting means for supporting the facade element in such way, that the weight of the facade element is carried by the insulation block in the same course. Relative displacement between the facade element and the insulation block in vertical direction may be possible when the connection between them has been established but is positively blocked when the supporting means are supporting the facade element. Therefore the meaning of supporting is not a frictional connection.

A facade element overlapping two insulation blocks that is a facade element with a part of it mounted on an insulation block and a part of it mounted on an adjacent insulation block will only partly be supported by the supporting means on the one respectively the adjacent insulation block.

The insulation block is manufactured from a suitable, solid insulation material which may be for example a foamed polymer material having open or closed cells. Relevant examples may be polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, polystyrene, expanded polystyrene, polyethylene. Solid material means a material not easily yielding when exposed to pressure, compared to a yielding material, and which material without yielding is able to withstand a certain pressure.

A preferred material is foam manufactured from polylactate which under the name BioFoam ^(R is marketed by the company Synbra Technology and constitutes a biologically degradable material. Design dimensioning for the width of the insulation block is for example: wanted insulation capability of the wall construction, the weight of the climate screen, the heat conductivity of the insulation material and/or the strength of the insulation material.

The facade element is manufactured from a suitable material offering a tight climate screen. Such materials could be tile, concrete, lightweight concrete, polymers or wood.

According to another embodiment the facade system according to the invention is characteristic by at least one other connection means being an adapter which is constructed of adapter connection means for releasable connection with the rear face of the facade element.

The coefficient of thermal expansion may be quite different for the insulation block and the facade element, as they may be composed of different materials. For example the insulation block may be made out of a foam material, and the facade element of a tile material. Due to the difference in thermal expansion, a significant amount of strain may build up in the respective components in the vicinity of the first and second connection means. With the adapter it is possible to reduce the strain, because the adapter may take up the thermal expansion of the respective components.

In addition, the manufacturing tolerances of the insulation block and the facade element may be taken up by the adapter.

Furthermore, the insulation block, the adapter and the facade element can be configured in such a way, that the facade elements can be installed and removed in any order. It is thereby possible to replace a facade element at a given location on the facade at any time without having to remove adjacent facade elements.

According to another embodiment, the facade system, according to the invention, is characteristic in that the first connection means is an undercut groove having a vertical orientation and is stretching over a part of the height of the insulation block, and that the second connection means is a complementary projection stretching over a part of the height of the facade element, and the supporting means is a bottom stop being formed at an end face in the undercut groove.

Hereby, establishing of shifting in vertical direction and fixation in horizontal direc- tion is achieved in a particular simple way.

After establishing of the cooperating connection between the first and other connection means the facade element is shifted in vertical direction, until the projection is reaching an end face, which is formed in the undercut groove. This end face forms a bottom stop for the vertical movement and in this way constitutes the supporting means for supporting the facade element. Further displacement past the bottom stop is blocked physically when the facade element is being supported by the supporting means. According to a further embodiment the facade system according to the invention is characteristic in, that the facade element is a module of the length and/or the width of the insulator block.

Hereby a particular simple mounting of the facade system is achieved in, that a manual adaptation of the length and/or the width of the insulation blocks respective the facade elements during the mounting of the facade system is avoided.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the insulation block, according to the invention, is characteristic in that in the upper face, the under face and/or the lateral faces contains markings in module of length and/or the width.

In this way dividing of the insulation blocks in smaller pieces in module of the length or the width is simple, if the length of the wall construction does not conform as an integer number of insulation blocks.

The markings may be traces in form of chamfers or as a drawn marking. According to a further embodiment, the facade system according to the invention is characteristic in that the height of the facade element is a module of the same height as the insulation block. Hence a particularly simple mounting of the facade system is achieved in that a manual adaptation of the height of the insulation blocks respective the facade elements during mounting of the facade system thus is avoided.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the insulation block of the invention is characteristic in that in the upper face, the under face and/or the lateral faces are formed markings in module of the height.

This makes it simple to divide the insulation blocks into smaller pieces in module of the height, if the height of the wall construction does not conform to an integer num- ber of insulation blocks.

The markings may be traces in the form of chamfers or as a drawn marking.

According to a further embodiment the facade system according to the invention is characteristic in that the facade system comprises anchoring means optional arranged for cooperation with the first connection means and for fastening to an inner wall.

Thus a strength-determined securing of the facade system is achieved, as the insulation blocks are anchored to the supporting inner wall.

The anchoring means may be a plate element cooperating with the first connection means or a fastenings means for direct insertion in the inner wall. An example of a fastening element is a bolt with a shaft being passed through an opening in the insulation element and being anchored to the inner wall, and a head tightened up against the insulation block and fixing this to the inner wall.

According to another embodiment the facade system according to the invention is characteristic in comprising a further row of insulation blocks being arranged in courses and in a distance from the row of insulation blocks, and distance means with a first and a second end, the distance means in each end having a clamping arrangement, the first end of this clamping arrangement being arranged for cooperation with first connection means in the row of insulation blocks, and the clamping arrangement in the other end being arranged for cooperation with first connection means in the further row of insulation blocks.

In this way it is achieved that the insulation blocks can find application as shuttering for an in-situ cast wall construction. The insulation blocks in the further row form the inner side of the wall construction. Advantageously the insulation blocks can be covered with plastering or an inner plate covering.

In a preferred embodiment the base of the inner covering is secured to the insulation blocks by application of metal profiles being connected to the first connection means as illustrated in fig. 5 a-d and described in the attendant description in the section: "Detailed description of the invention". However it is not absolute necessary to make use of wind-gypsum and/or spacers.

According to a preferred embodiment there is made use of a metal profile in the un- dercut groove, a spacer mounted thereon and outermost a gypsum-plate. Alternatively the gypsum-plate is fastened direct to the metal profile.

Preferably the clamping arrangement may be equipped with a locking means for vertical attachment of the spacer means, when they are placed in the desired position. The locking means may be formed of a snap system with a hook, which engages the underside of the bottom stop on the insulation block, when the spacer means is resting at the bottom stop. In this way the spacer means is retained both vertically and horizontally. The spacer means may be formed with recesses arranged for making engagement with or connection with a reinforcement being placed in the in-situ cast concrete wall.

According to another embodiment, the insulation block, according to the invention is characteristic in that the bottom stop is an end face in the undercut groove. In this way a simple forming of the positive blocking of relative displacement in vertical direction of the facade element and the insulation block past the supporting means is achieved. According to another embodiment, the insulation block, according to the invention, is characteristic in that the insertion opening is optionally formed in the upper face, the lateral face or with a part in the upper face and a part in the lateral face.

Hereby, establishing of the cooperating connection between the first and the other connection means in a simple way is achieved.

Especially preferred is the insertion opening formed in the lateral face, so the facade elements can be inserted sideways. Hereby it is possible at first to place all courses of insulation blocks and in the following, possibly at a later time, to mount the climate screen.

With the insertion opening only formed at the upper face it is necessary to finish the climate screen in one course of insulation blocks, before the next course is erected. According to another embodiment, the insulation block, according to the invention, is characteristic in that the length is a module of the width.

In this way a particular simple mounting of the facade system is achieved in such a way that a manual adjusting of the length and/or the width of the insulation blocks is going to be avoided during mounting of the facade system.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the insulation block, according to the invention, is characteristic in that in the upper face, the lower face and/or the lateral faces are formed markings in module of the length and/or the width.

In this way dividing of the insulation blocks into smaller pieces in module of the length or the width is simple, if the length of the wall construction not is equivalent to an integer number of the insulation blocks. The markings may be traces formed as chamfers or as a drawn marking.

According to another embodiment the insulation block according to the invention is characteristic in that on the upper face is formed at least one second projection, which on the lower face is formed at least one recess, at least one of the said second projections is arranged for being received in the recess in the lower face of a superjacent insulation block, when two insulation blocks are being placed on top of each other.

In this way it is achieved, that the insulation blocks can be locked horizontally in relation to each other, in that the projection by being received in the recess makes this possible.

In an alternative embodiment the projection is formed in the lower face of the insulation blocks, and the recess is formed in the upper face of the insulation blocks.

According to another embodiment, the insulation block, according to the invention, is characteristic in that in at least one lateral face is formed, at least one complementary key and slot, stretching between the upper face and the lower face, and that at least one of the said slots is arranged for receiving said at least one key of an adjacent insulation block.

Forming of a thermal bridge in the space between two adjacent insulation blocks is in this way prevented.

According to another embodiment the insulating block, according to the invention, is characteristic in that in the lower face and in the upper face is formed at least one complementary second key and a second slot stretching between to opposite lateral faces, so that at least one second key and second slot are optionally stretching crosswise and/or lengthwise of the insulation block, and that at least one second key is arranged for being received in at least one second slot of an adjacent insulation block. Hereby it is achieved, that the creation of a thermal bridge in the space between two insulation blocks in each course is prevented.

According to another embodiment, the insulation block, according to the invention, is characteristic in being symmetrical around a vertically oriented centre plane crosswise and/or lengthwise of the insulation block.

In this way there is less risk of erroneous mounting, in that the insulation blocks can be turned upside down, and furthermore it is easier to make corners, T-joints and crosses.

Description of the Drawing

In the following, the invention is described in more detail under reference to the attached drawing, where

Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of the facade system,

Fig. 2a shows an isometric view of an insulation block with mounted facade element, Fig. 2b an isometric view of a facade element from behind,

Fig. 2c a sectional view with a segment of an insulation block with a mounted facade element,

Fig. 2d a sectional view through to courses of insulation blocks with six courses of facade elements mounted,

Fig. 3 a shows an isometric view of insulation blocks in two courses,

Fig. 4a shows a plan view of an insulation element with a shell and a core of insulation material, Fig. 4b shows a detailed sectional view of the joint between two adjacent insulation blocks in an embodiment with key and slot,

Fig. 4c shows an isometric view of a facade element in an embodiment with slots,

Fig. 5a shows an isometric view of an insulation block with climate screen in an alternative embodiment,

Fig. 5 b-d shows an isometric view of a metal profile in different embodiments for insertion in the undercut groove,

Fig. 6a shows a principal cut according to a first embodiment of the facade system,

Fig. 6b shows a principal cut according to a second embodiment of the facade system,

Fig. 6c shows a principal cut according to a third embodiment of the facade system,

Fig. 7a shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of the facade system with an insulating block as shown in fig. 2a,

Fig. 7b shows an isometric view of an anchorage means,

Fig. 8a shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the facade system with an insulating block as shown in fig, 2a,

Fig. 8b shows an isometric view of an end connection according to a second embodiment of the facade system with an isolation block like in fig. 2a,

Fig. 8c shows an isometric view of a spacer means,

Fig. 9a shows an isometric view of a third embodiment of the facade system with an insulation block like in fig. 2a, Fig. 9b shows a principally cut through a facade system in a third embodiment,

Fig. 10a shows an isometric view of an insulation block, said block being a thickness increasing block,

Fig. 10b a principally plan view of an insulation block with thickness increasing insulation blocks,

Fig. 11a shows a plan section view of an insulation block and a facade element with connection means in a first alternative embodiment,

Fig. 1 lb shows a lateral sectional view of insulation blocks and facade elements with connection means in a second alternative embodiment, Fig. 11c shows a lateral sectional view of insulation blocks and facade elements with connection means in a third alternative embodiment,

Fig. 12 shows an isometric view of an insulation block and a facade element in an embodiment having an adapter,

Fig. 13 a-b shows two different isometric views of the adapter, Fig. 14 shows an illustration of a fifth facade, and Fig. 15 shows a section view of the facade system of fig. 12.

In the description of the figures, identical or corresponding elements will be designated with the same reference in the various figures. Therefore an explanation of all details relating to every single figure/embodiment will not be given.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of the facade system 1. The facade system 1 comprises a row 2 of insulation blocks 3 and a number of facade elements 4 forming a climate screen 5. The insulation blocks 3 are arranged on top of each other in courses 6 in a number dependant of the height and the length of the made wall construction 7.

In fig. 1 the facade elements 4 are shown according to a selection of embodiments, and the climate screen 5 is but partly complete. The different types of facade elements 4 are being reviewed in the following.

The facade system 1, as shown in fig. 1, comprises a window opening 8 with special elements and a corner 9.

Fig. 2a shows an isometric view of an insulation block with a mounted facade element 4. Each insulation block 3 comprises an upper face 10 an under face 11 with a length 12 and a width 13 and lateral faces 14 with a height 15 between the faces. The lateral faces 14 of the insulation block 3 have a number of first connection means 16. The first connection means 16 are undercut grooves having a vertical orientation and being formed with a bottom stop 17, here formed as an end face in the undercut groove, said groove is only stretching over a part of the height 15 of the insulation block. The first connection means 16 of the insulation block 3 is arranged for receiving other connection means 19 (see fig. 2b and c) of the facade element 4 for horizontal fixation but with vertical displaceability of the insulation block 3 and the facade element 4 relative to each other. The other connection means 19 is a projection matching the undercut groove.

The undercut groove has an insertion opening 18 formed in the lateral face 14 with one half near the upper face 10 and another half near the under face 11. When two insulation blocks 3 are placed on top of each other the two halves form a full insertion opening 18 for lateral insertion of the other connection means 19. Furthermore the undercut groove is open to the upper side 10, so that the other connection means 19 may be inserted in vertical direction downwards, when the upper side 10 is free.

On the upper face 10 a number of other projections 21 are formed erecting in a direction following a normal to the upper face 10. In the under face 11 are formed a number of recesses 22 with a placement matching the position of the other projections 21, so that the other projections 21 of an subjacent insulation block 3 are received in recesses 22 in the lower face of an insulation block 3 being placed on top of the first mentioned insulating block 3. The insulation blocks 3 so are fixed horizontally relative to each other.

The insulation block 3 is preferably symmetrical along a vertical oriented centre plane crosswise and lengthwise of the insulation block 3. This facilitates the placement of the insulation block 3 during montage of the wall and reduces the risk of failure. In the lower face 11 (see fig. 2d) and on the upper face 10 are formed other complementary keys 23 and other slots 24 stretching between the two opposite, lateral faces 14 lengthwise and crosswise of the insulation block 3. The other keys 23 are arranged for being received in the other slots 24 of a superjacent or subjacent insulation block 3. This prevents forming of a thermal bridge from the outside surface to the rear face of the insulation block 3.

In the shown embodiment the width 13 of the insulation block 3 is a module of the length 12. So the width 13 has the module one, and the length 12 has the module three. The width 13 has four first connection means 16, each end with the width 13 having a half groove, each of them then forming a full groove together with a corresponding half groove on an adjacent insulation block 3. The length 12 has twelve first connection means 16, each end of them with the length 12 having a half groove, each of them then forming a full groove together with a corresponding half groove on an adjacent insulation block 3. The insulation block 3 is formed with four other projections 21 along the width 13 and with twelve other projections along the length 12. The insulation block is symmetrical along a vertical oriented centre plane crosswise and lengthwise of the insulation block 3.

Fig. 2b shows from behind an isometric view of a facade element 4. The facade element 4 is formed like a plate with a height 25, a width 26 and a thickness 27 and with an outside surface 28, a rear face 29 and lateral edges 30. The facade element 4 has a number of other connection means 19 being arranged for cooperation with the first connection means 16 on a lateral face 14 of an insulation block 3. The other connec- tion means 19 are projections 20, erecting from the rear face 29 of the facade element 4. The projection 20 is formed to fit into the insertion opening 18 and in the undercut groove on the insulation block 3. The projection 20 is only stretching along a part of the height 25 of the facade element 4.

Fig. 2c shows a plane view with a segment of an insulation block 3 with a facade element 4 mounted. Fig. 2c shows how the first connection means 16 on the insulation block 3 cooperates with the other connection means 19 at the facade element 4 and is fixing the insulation block 3 and the facade element 4 horizontally relative to each other.

Fig. 2d shows a sectional view through two courses 6, 6' of insulation blocks 3 with six courses 36 of facade elements 4 being mounted. One at a time the facade elements 4 one at a time are mounted in the bottom course 6 of the insulation blocks 3 by inserting the other connection means 19 sideways through the insertion opening 18 in the insulation block 3. The first facade element 4' which is the bottom facade element 4' is positioned with the projections of the other connection means 19 in line with the insertion opening 18, before the other connection means 19 are passed sidewise through the insertion opening 18, so that the projections 20 are in line with the undercut grooves. Hereafter the facade element 4' is displaced vertically down in the first connection means 16 until the other connection means 19 bear positively against the bottom stop 17 which thereafter is supporting the facade element 4'. The method is repeated for the next facade element 4' ' which is the central facade element, but this facade element 4" is only shifted such a distance vertically downwards, that it will bear against the first facade element 4' . This will be repeated with the last facade element 4' ' ' being the uppermost facade element in course 6 whose facade element bears against the central facade element 4". The three courses 6 of facade elements 4', 4", 4"' are all supported by the bottom stop 17, as they are attached by the gravity force.

The above-mentioned method is repeated for every other course 6' of insulation blocks With the facade system 1 it is possible to erect the insulation blocks 3 in full height before mounting of the facade elements 4, as the other connection means 19 can be passed sidewise through the insertion opening 18. It is also possible to erect the insulation blocks 3 and facade elements 4 in a continuous movement.

The facade element 4 has a first plate-formed part 32 nearest the inner face 29 and another plate-formed part 33 nearest the front face 28. The two plate-formed parts 32, 33 are so displaced from each other, that an edge with a face 34 is being formed, this face being parallel with and nearest the front side 28 of the first plate-formed part 32, and an edge with a face 35 being parallel with and nearest the rear face 29 of the second plate-formed part 33.

When the facade elements 4 are mounted, the forward oriented face 34 on an underlying facade element 4', 4" is locked against the face 35 which is oriented backwards on a super-adjacent facade element 4', 4". The space between the other plate-formed parts 33 is suitable for being filled up with a joint-filler, for example mortar, to close the climate screen 5 being constituted of the facade elements 4.

Fig. 3 a shows an isometric view of insulation blocks 3 in two courses 6, 6' forming a corner 9. The insulation blocks 3 are arranged so that an overlying insulation block 3' is bridging between two underlying insulation blocks 3. This entails a strong construction, as the cooperating other projections 21 and recesses 22 in the upper face and the under face of the insulation blocks respectively 3, 3' in the various courses 6, 6' are locking the insulation blocks 3, 3' horizontally.

Fig. 4a shows a plan view of an insulation element 3 with a shell 42 of relatively hard material and a core 43 of a more brittle material. This embodiment protects against a possible rough handling at the building site. Fig. 4b shows a detailed plan view of the joint between two adjacent insulation blocks 3, the lateral face 14 having a complementary key 44 and slot 45, so that a thermal bridge is avoided. Fig. 4c shows an isometric view of a facade element 804 in an embodiment with keys 46 complementary to the keys 44 of the lateral faces.

Fig. 5a shows in an alternative embodiment an isometric view of an insulation block 3 with a climate screen 5. A metal profile 47 is inserted in the undercut groove. Subsequently wind gypsum 48 with screws (not shown) is mounted through the metal profile 47. Spacers 49 are mounted to the outside of wind block 48 and are fastened with screws (not shown) through wind gypsum 48 and the metal profile 47. Outermost is mounted the facade covering 50, being fastened to the spacers 49.

Fig. 5 b-d shows an isometric view of a metal profile 47 in different embodiments for insertion in the undercut groove. The metal profiles 47 are arranged for being pinched and inserted sidewise in the undercut groove.

Fig. 6a shows a principal cut for a first embodiment of the facade system 1 for use in new building. The facade system 1 is mounted in front of a structural inner wall 51. The facade system 1 comprises a climate screen 5 consisting of facade elements 4 having mounted an insulation layer comprising insulation blocks 3. The insulation blocks 3 are fastened to the inner wall 51 with anchoring means 55 (see fig. 7a).

Fig. 6b shows a principal cut according to another embodiment of the facade system 1 for use in new building. The facade system 1 comprises a climate screen 5 being made of facade elements 4, having mounted an insulation layer comprising a row 2 of insulation blocks 3. A further row 2' of insulation blocks 3 is erected with a mutual distance between the rows 2, 2'. The rows 2, 2' are connected by spacer means 52. The rows 2, 2' are functioning as shuttering for an in-situ cast concrete wall 53.

Fig. 6c shows a principal view of the facade system 1 for use in renovation of an existing building. The facade system 1 is mounted in front of an existing cavity wall construction 54. The facade system 1 comprises a climate screen 5 made of facade elements 4 with an insulation layer of insulation blocks 3 mounted. The insulation blocks 3 are fastened to the cavity wall construction 54 by anchoring means (see fig. 9a). Fig. 7a shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of the facade system 1 with an insulation block 3 as in fig. 2a. The insulation block 3 is fastened to the inner wall 51 by anchoring means 55. In the shown embodiment the anchoring means 55 are a bended thin plate section arranged for cooperation with the first connection means 16. The anchoring means 55 are fastened to the inner wall 55 by a screw joint. Alternatively the anchoring means 55 may be cast in the inner wall 51.

Fig. 7b shows an isometric view of an anchoring means 55. Fig. 8a shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the facade system 1 with an isolating block 3 like in fig. 2a. Two rows 2, 2' of insulating blocks 3 are erected having a mutual distance between them. The rows 2, 2' are mutually connected by spacers 52. The rows 2, 2' are functioning as shuttering for an in-situ casted concrete wall 53. The further row 2' has narrower insulation blocks 3. Before the concrete wall is cast, concrete reinforcing rods 56 are placed in the formed cavity.

Fig. 8b shows an isometric view of an end connection according to another embodiment of the facade system 1 with an insulating block 3 as in fig. 2a. An end insulation block 72 is finishing the cavity. The end insulation block 72 is arranged for coopera- tion with the first connection means 16 in the rows 2, 2' of insulation blocks 3.

Fig. 8c shows an isometric view of a spacer means 52 being formed with a first 57 and a second end 58, in that the spacer means in each end 57, 58 has a holding arrangement 59. This holding arrangement 59 at the first end 57 being arranged for coopera- tion with first connection means 16 in the row 2 of insulation blocks 3, and in that the holding arrangement 59 in the second end 58 is arranged for cooperation with first connection means 16 in the further row 2' of insulation blocks 3. The holding arrangement 59 may be arranged so, that it fits into the undercut groove like in the first end 57, or it can seize the faces in two, tilted, undercut grooves like in the other end 58. The spacer means 52 has recesses 60 for supporting reinforcing iron 56. The spacer means 52 may be formed for snapping on the insulation block 3 and in such way be fixed horizontally and vertically. Fig. 9a shows an isometric view of a third embodiment of the facade system 1 with insulation blocks 3 like in fig. 2a. The facade system 1 is mounted in front of an existing cavity wall construction 54. The insulation block 3 is attached to the cavity wall construction 54 by anchoring means 55'. The anchoring means 55', in the shown era- bodiment being a screw connection, are screwed through the insulation block 3 and into the cavity wall construction 54.

Further the insulation block 3 may be attached to the cavity wall construction 54 with anchoring means 55 in a thin plate profile as shown in fig. 11 a-b.

Fig. 9b shows in a third embodiment a principal cut through a facade system 1, a corner 9 being shown. The insulation blocks 3 are sawn of in a 45 degrees angle on the corner 9 and are butted together. Fig. 10 a-b shows an insulation block 3 being a thickness augmenting block. On the one lateral face 14 of the insulation block 3 other connection means 19 are formed and being arranged for cooperating with the first connection means 16. The other connection means 19 are stretching over a part of the height 15 of the insulation block. On the opposite lateral face 14 of the insulation block 3 first connection means 16 are formed, so that the combination of the two insulation blocks 3 appears with the same function as the insulation blocks 3 alone.

Fig. 11a shows a plan view of an insulating block 3 and a facade element 4 with coop- erating first and other connection means 16, 19 in a first alternative embodiment. The first connection means 16 are formed with undercut grooves having a rounded cross section. The other connection means 19 are formed with projections 20 corresponding to the undercut grooves. Fig. l ib shows a lateral face view of insulating blocks 3 and facade elements 4 with cooperating first and other connection means 16, 19 in another alternative embodiment. The facade element 4 is formed as a hook from the other connection means 19. The first connection means 16 corresponds to this hook-form, so the facade elements 3 can be suspended on the insulation block 3.

Fig. l id shows a lateral face view of insulation blocks 3 and facade elements 4 with cooperating first and second connection means 16, 19 in a third alternative embodiment. The insulating blocks 3 and the inner wall have cooperating connection means 70 for attachment of the insulation blocks 3 and the inner wall 51. The facade elements 4 and the insulation blocks have cooperating connection means 71. The insulation blocks 3 are mounted on the inner wall 51 by passing the connection means 70 together in performing a downwards inclined movement towards the inner wall 51. The facade elements 4 are mounted on the insulation blocks 3 by passing the connection means 71 together in performing a downwards inclined movement towards the insulator blocks 3. Fig. 12 shows an isometric view of a facade element 4 in an embodiment having an adapter 73.

The second connection means 19 is composed of the adapter 73. The adapter 73 is connected to the insulation block 3 through the first connection means 16 on the insu- lation block 3. The facade element 4 is detachable connected to the adapter 73.

In the embodiment shown an adapter 73 is located at each end of the facade element 4. In the embodiment shown the adapter 73 is configured so that two adjacent facade elements 4 share one adapter 73. In alternative embodiments each facade element may have a plurality of adapters 73.

Fig. 13 a-b shows two different isometric views of the adapter 73. On one side the adapter 73 has a protrusion 20 that is complementary to the first connection means 16 (see fig. 12), and on the opposite side the adapter 73 has adapter connection means 74 for releasable connecting the adapter 73 to the rear face 29 of the facing element 4.

In one embodiment the adapter 73 is composed of a resilient material, for example a synthetic rubber material such as polychloroprene or neoprene. Fig. 14 shows an illustration of the facade system 1 on a roof, which is known as the fifth facade. The insulation blocks 3 are connected to/supported on the roof structure (not shown) of the building. The facade elements 4 are connected to the insulation blocks 3 via the complementary first and second connection means 16, 19.

In the embodiment shown on fig. 14 the facade elements 4 partly overlap in a manner generally known from laying of roof tiles to avoid rain water collecting between the insulation blocks 3 and facade elements 4.

The facade system 1 may be used in renovation of an existing building by installing it directly on an existing roof, or as an integrated part of a new building. Fig. 15 shows a section view of the facade system 1 of fig. 12. The adapter 73 is configured so that any one of the facade elements 4 can be installed at any time after the adapter 73 has been installed. The facade element 4 has an upper edge 75, which is secured by an adjacent adapter 73'. The upper edge 75 in combination with the adapter connection means 74 provide securing of the adapter when installed. The facade ele- ment 4 can be moved a distance in the vertical direction before it contacts the adjacent adapter 73'. This distance is sufficient for the releasing of the adapter connection means 74 from the rear face 29 of the facing element 4. Thereby enabling the replacement of a given facade element 4.

Claims

1. Facade system comprising a row of insulation blocks arranged in courses, and a plurality of facade elements with each insulating block comprising an upper face and an under face having a length and a width, and lateral faces with a height be- tween them, each facade element being formed as a plate having a height, a width and a thickness, said facade element comprising a front side, a rear side and lateral faces with a thickness there between, at least one of the lateral faces of each insulation block having at least a first connection means, the rear side of each facade element having at least a second connection means, the connection means cooper- ating to establish a horizontal fixation between the insulation blocks and the facade elements, characterized in that the first connection means comprises supporting means being arranged for full or partly support of at least one facade element in each course.

Facade system according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one second connection means is an adapter being formed with adapter connection means for releasable connection to the rear side of the facade element.

Facade system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first connection means is an undercut groove having vertical orientation and stretching partly over the height of the insulation block, that the second connection means is a complementary projection stretching partly over the height of the facade element, and that the supporting means is a bottom stop being formed at an end face in the undercut groove.

Facade system according to claim 1,2 or 3, characterized in that the width of the facade element is a module of the length and/or the width of the insulation block.

Facade system according to claim 1,2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the height of the facade element is a module of the height of the insulation block.

6. Facade system according to claim 1,2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in comprising anchoring means being optionally arranged for cooperation with the first connection means and arranged for attachment to an inner wall.

7. Facade system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by comprising a further row of insulation blocks arranged in courses and with a distance to the row of insulation blocks, and by spacer means with a first and a second end, the spacer means in each end having a retaining arrangement, said retaining arrangement in the first end being arranged for cooperation with first connection means in the row of insulation blocks, and the retaining arrangement in the other end being arranged for cooperation with first connection means in the further row of insulation blocks.

8. Insulating block for application in a facade system, the insulation block comprising an upper face and an under face having a length and a width, said insulation block having lateral faces with a height between them, at least one of the lateral faces being arranged with at least a first connection means arranged for cooperation with a second connection means on a rear face of a facade element, the first connection means being an undercut groove with a vertical orientation and having an insulation opening which is arranged for uptake of said other connection means, said insulating block

characterized in, that said at least one undercut groove is stretching over a part of the height, and said at least one undercut groove has a bottom stop being arranged for full or partly supporting the facade element.

9. Insulation block according to claim 8, characterized in that the bottom stop is an end face in the undercut groove.

10. Insulating block according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in, that the insertion opening optionally is formed in the upper face, in the lateral face or with a part in the upper face and a part in the lateral face.

11. Insulation block according to claim 8, 9 or 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the length is a module of the width.

12. Insulation block according to claim 8, 9, 10 or 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at the upper face is formed at least a second projection, that at the lower face is formed at least one recess, that said at least one second projection is arranged for uptake in the recess in the lower face at a superadjacent insulation block, when two insulation blocks are placed on top of each other.

13. Insulation block according to claim 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in at least one lateral face is arranged at least one complementary key and slot, stretching between the upper face and the under face, and that said at least one key is arranged for being received in said at least one slot at an adjacent insulation block.

14. Insulation block according to claim 8, 9, 10, 11 12 or 13, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that in the lower face and in the upper face at least one complementary second key and slot are arranged, stretching between to opposite lateral faces, that said at least one second slot and second key are optionally stretching crosswise and/or lengthwise of the insulation block, and that said at least one second key is arranged for being received in said at least one second slot at an adjacent insulation block.

15. Insulation block according to claim 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14,

c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said insulation block is symmetrical around a vertically oriented centre-plane crosswise and/or lengthwise of the insulation block.