WO2019240597A1

WO2019240597A1 - A method for designing and constructing a building

Info

Publication number: WO2019240597A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2019/050069
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholas Campbell HUBBARD
Original assignee: Method Building Systems Limited
Priority date: 2018-06-15
Filing date: 2019-06-14
Publication date: 2019-12-19

Abstract

A method of designing and constructing a building using modular building panels. The method comprises designing a plan for a building by using a floor grid and a wall grid, wherein the plan comprises a plurality of modular building panels arranged in accordance with the floor and wall grids and wherein each modular building panel has a length that is a factor of a set grid square size of the wall grid, manufacturing the modular building panels required for the plan, transporting the modular building panels required for the plan to a building site, and constructing a building according to the plan using the modular building panels to form at least part of the building.

Description

A METHOD FOR DESIGNING AND CONSTRUCTING A BUILDING

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a method for designing and constructing a building. A preferred form of the invention relates to a method for designing and constructing a building using modular building panels. The invention also relates to modular building panels for use in the method, and a building designed and constructed according to the method. BACKGROUND

Traditional building methods typically use building materials or elements either made specifically for a particular project offsite, or which are shaped and sized onsite specifically for the project by builders. As such each building is made from custom-made elements such as walls. A building constructed from non-standard building components following traditional methods is expensive to design and build. An improved method for the design and construction of a building to achieve a reduction in costs is desirable.

It is an object of a preferred form of the invention to go at least some way towards addressing the above problem. While this is an object of a preferred embodiment, it should not be seen as a limitation on the scope of the invention as claimed. The object of the invention per se is simply to provide the public with a useful choice.

The term“comprising” and derivatives thereof, e.g.“comprises”, if and when used herein in relation to a combination of features should not be taken as excluding the possibility that the combination may have further unspecified features. For example, a statement that an arrangement“comprises” certain parts does not mean that it cannot also, optionally, have additional parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of designing and constructing a building using modular building panels comprising the steps of:

• designing a plan for a building by using a floor grid and a wall grid, wherein the plan comprises a plurality of modular building panels arranged in accordance with the floor and wall grids and wherein each modular building panel has a length that is a factor of a set grid square size of the wall grid;

• manufacturing the modular building panels required for the plan;

• transporting the modular building panels required for the plan to a building site; and

• constructing a building according to the plan using the modular building panels to form at least part of the building.

Preferably, each modular building panel has a height that is a factor of a set grid size of the wall or floor grid.

Preferably, the method comprises using computer aided design software that allows for setting a“snap-to-grid” feature at a factor of the set grid size to facilitate sizing of the modular building panels and designing the plan.

Preferably, designing the plan includes:

• setting the wall grid with an initial grid size,

• creating a floor plan on the wall grid based on wall lengths equal to a factor of the initial grid size to determine dimensions of a perimeter of the floor of the building; and

• selecting a floor sub-grid with a sub grid size, wherein the initial grid size is equal to the sub grid size multiplied by a factor greater than one, and

locating modular building panels to the floor plan of the building on the floor sub grid, wherein each modular building panel has a length that is a factor of the initial grid size.

Preferably, the sub grid size is half the initial grid size.

Preferably, the method comprises:

manufacturing a predetermined inventory of modular building panels, wherein each modular building panel has a length that is a factor of the set grid square size of the floor and/or wall grid,

storing the predetermined inventory of modular building panels, and

ordering the modular building panels required for the plan from the pre determined inventory of modular building panels. Preferably, the method comprises manufacturing and storing the inventory of modular building panels to facilitate a pick from stock order of modular building panels required for the building plan.

Preferably, the modular building panels have a width equal to half of the set grid square size of the floor and/or wall grid.

Preferably, the grid square size of the wall grid is 300 mm c 300 mm.

Preferably, the modular building panels are all 150 mm in width.

Preferably, the smallest modular building pane! has a length and height of 300 mm c

300 mm.

Preferably, the modular building panels are comprised of flame-retardant expanded polystyrene sandwiched between two oriented strand board skins.

Preferably, the modular building panels are manufactured from a blank panel of 24 feet x 8 feet.

Preferably, each modular building panel has one or more channels running through the modular building panel adapted to receive electrical wires, and the method comprises running wires through the channels.

Preferably, each modular building panel that forms at least a top portion of a wall has a cap plate at a top of the modular building panel.

Preferably, the method comprises wrapping the modular building panels with a vapour permeable membrane when the modular building panels are installed.

Preferably, the method comprises using the modular building panels to form the walls and ceilings of the building. Preferably, the method comprises using the modular building panels to form the floor of the building.

Preferably, the plurality of modular panels includes modular floor panels. In some embodiments the modular floor panels are 100 mm in width.

Preferably, the building has ceiling and/or wail lintels and the method comprises forming the lintels at least in part from one or more said modular building panels. Preferably, the method comprises constructing a truss type roof of the building.

Preferably, a height of a said modular building panel is many times the width of the panel.

Preferably, said modular building panels span a full height of a wall of the building.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a modular building panel adapted for use in the previously described method.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the entirety of this disclosure, which includes the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a floor plan grid and modular building panels which have been used to form walls of a building;

FIG. 2 is a plan perspective view of a floor plan grid and modular building panels which have been used to form walls of a building;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modular building panel;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a wall lintel which has been formed using modular building panels;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ceiling lintel which has been formed using modular building panels; FIG. 6 illustrates examples of different sized modular building panels;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a large modular building panel;

FIG. 8 is a partially cut away perspective view of a modular building panel which has been attached to a foundation and has cladding attached to it;

FIG. 9 is a partially cut away perspective view of a modular building panel which has been attached to a foundation;

FIG. 10 is a partially cut away perspective view of an installed modular building panel with cladding and flashing attached to it;

FIG. 11 is a partially cut away perspective view of an installed modular building panel with electrical cables running through it;

FIG. 12 is a partially cut away perspective view of an installed modular building panel with electrical cables and plumbing pipes and fixtures connected to it;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a modular building panel and a cap plate attached to the top of it;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of installed modular building panels which form a ceiling and a wall and have lining attached to them;

FIG. 15 is a partially cut away perspective view of building which has walls and ceilings formed from modular building panels;

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a joint between two inline modular building panels;

FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a corner joint between two modular building panels;

FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view of a timber capping applied to a modular building panel; and

FIG. 19 is a partial cross-sectional view of a fixing arrangement attaching the panel to a concrete slab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention generally relates to a system and method for designing and constructing a building. Reference throughout the specification to a building relates to any structure which contains a roof and walls such as a house or factory etc.

Figure 1 shows a floor grid 1 in which a user such as an architect or designer uses in the first step when starting to design a building. The floor grid 1 is most preferably displayed on computer aided drafting (CAD) software. As can be seen the floor grid 1 is made up by a number of standardised squares 2, the standardised square having a size of Y mm by Y mm. The user sets the grid size layout and in the most preferred embodiment the grid size layout set by the user is 300 mm c 300 mm although other grid sizes can be used e.g. 200 mm X 200 mm, 400 mm X 400mm, 500 mm X 500 mm, 600 mm x 600 mm etc. In this specification and claims, the term‘grid size’ is intended to mean the length of one side of a square of the grid. For example, a grid having a size of 300mm x 300mm has a grid size of 300mm. The method uses modular building panels 3 which are all the same width (i.e. the panel thickness) and are all designed for use within a set square grid. The width of the panels 3 is a factor, such as half, the width of a grid size (i.e. 150 mm in width) such that two panels 3 make up the 300 mm grid spacing to ensure that no cutting of panels 3 is required onsite. Thus, with the standard square grid size being Y mm, the width of the panel is Y/2. The grid 1 (when CAD is used) can also be set to“snap to grid” mode and is compatible with commonly used CAD software used by architects such as Archicad™ and Revit™. Once the user has selected the initial grid size (the wall grid) (for example 300mm) they then create a floor plan of a building on the wall grid 1 using only walls with wall lengths equal to a factor of the initial grid size preferably using“snap to grid” to set the overall floor plan dimensions (i.e. the dimensions of the perimeter of floor of the building). Joins between panels are not initially determined when designing the overall floor plan dimensions. The floor plan now matches available wall, ceiling and floor panel sizes from an available inventory of standard panels. The user then selects a sub-grid (the floor grid) of half the initial grid 1 size (for example 150mm) and adds the location of the wall panels 3 into the floor plan outline/perimeter preferably using“snap to grid” to the sub grid size, with panels having a length equal to a factor of the wall grid size. In some embodiment, the wall grid size is twice the width of the panel 3. The sub grid size is equal to the width of the panel. The wall grid size is equal to the sub grid size multiplied by a factor greater than one. For example, the wall grid size may be two, three or four times the floor grid size. For example, for a wall width of 150mm, the floor grid size is 150mm and the wall grid size may be 300mm, 450mm or 600mm. In a most preferred embodiment, the panel width and the floor grid size is half of the wall grid size. In this specification and claims, the term‘width’ is to be understood to mean the dimension of the panel between an outer surface or face of the panel and an inner surface or face of the panel. The panel length is a horizonal length of a panel. The length may be less than or more than the panel height. The height is preferably many times the width. Most preferably, a wall panel spans a full height of a wall of the building. The terms length and height are used in a general sense and it is to be understood that floor (and ceiling) panels are arranged with the length and height dimensions of the panel oriented horizontally in a plane of the floor (or ceiling). According to the method, the panel length is equal to a multiple (a factor) of the grid size. For a grid size of 300mm, the panel length is a multiple of 300mm, for example the panel length may be 300mm, 600mm, 900mm or other multiple of 300mm. The floor plan is designed by fitting together walls within the floor grid pattern, each wall formed by one or more panels 3, each panel having a length equal to a multiple (one or more) of the grid size. All walls are at 90 degrees or are in line with respect to adjacent or abutting walls.

In the next step in the method the user uses a wall elevation grid (not shown) to select the panels 3 to be used for the walls along with openings for windows and doors. Most preferably, the user sets the grid size of the wall elevation grid to 300 mm 300 mm. In the most preferred embodiment the smallest panel 3 size is 300 mm 300 mm in length and height. It will be appreciated that the walls can be differing heights e.g. 2.4 m, 2.7 m, 3 m (being 8, 9 and 10 times the grid size) etc. Using larger panels 3 results in lower cost and less work required in jointing the panels 3 onsite. Figure 2 shows four panels 3 which have been selected by a user for walls. As can be seen the walls have openings 4 for doors. The walls can also have openings for windows which are sized to match standard window sizes. The wall plan grid may have the same grid size as the floor plan grid.

The method also uses a ceiling plan grid (not shown) and this may have the same grid size as the floor and/or wall plan grid 1. The user selects the panels 3 for the ceiling in this step and the ceiling may reflect the floor plan. An example of a panel 3 is shown in figure 3. The panels 3 which are used for both the walls and the ceilings are all identical in width and are most preferably 150 mm in width. The panels 3 consist of flame-retardant expanded polystyrene 5 sandwiched between two oriented strand boards 6 joined by an adhesive. The boards 6 may extend beyond edges of the polystyrene sheet 5 to provide a region or gap 34 at the edge of the panel 3 to receive a member sandwiched between the boards 6 at the edge(s) of the panel 3. The member at the edge of the board together with the boards 6 may fully encase the polystyrene. Expanded polystyrene is provided by way of example. Other rigid insulating materials may be provided between the boards 6, such as polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, phenolic foam, corn starch based foam also called polylactic acid foam. The panels may include other types of insulation materials, such as fibreglass, mineral wool, glass wool, cellulose, polyurethane foam. Oriented strand boards are also provided by way of example. Other suitable boards may be used, such as laminated sheet materials. The panels 3 provides structural framing, insulation, and exterior sheathing in a solid, one-piece component. Panels for the floor (not shown) may differ and may have a different width, for example 100 mm in width.

Referring to figures 4 and 5 a wall 7 comprising a lintel for a window or door opening and/or ceiling 8 forming a lintel can be used in some embodiments. The wall 7 with lintel is formed using a panel 3 and is reinforced with timber on the top and bottom edge of the panel. The ceiling lintel 8 like the wall panel with lintel is also reinforced with timber at least at the edge of the panel bridging a window or door opening in the wall. Having a ceiling lintel 8 allows full height windows to be used as shown in Figure 5. In some embodiments lintels can be designed onsite by a builder using timber or steel.

Figure 6 shows an example of panel 3 sizes which can be ordered and used for a building. As shown preferably the smallest panel size is 300 mm ^c 300 mm in length and height. It will be appreciated that each panel 3 is designed for use within a set square grid described previously. At least the length of each panel 3 is equal to a factor (a multiplier) multiplied by the grid square size (i.e. 300 mm x 300 mm, 600 mm x 600 mm, 900 mm x 900 mm, 1200 mm x 1200 mm, 300mm x 600mm, 300mm x 900mm, or any other multiple of the grid size in length and/or height). The multiplier or factor may be one or a whole number greater than one. In a preferred embodiment the width/thickness of the panel is half the wall grid size. The panels 3 are preferably manufactured in large sizes like that shown in figure 7 and are most preferably 24 feet ^c 8 feet in size and are cut into metric sizes.

Once the final design for the floors, ceiling and walls have been completed using the floor, ceiling and wall grids to determine the length of panels in multiples of the grid size, a user makes a list of the building panels and lintels (size and quantity) and other building components required and orders these using part numbers (e.g. like shown in figure 6). The panels required may be listed as standard products in an inventory system. Once the parts have been ordered they are delivered to the building site. The parts can either be manufactured before they are ordered (e.g. stocked in a warehouse etc as standard products in an inventory system) or manufactured to order after they have been ordered.

For example, in a preferred embodiment, modular building panels are manufactured as stock items according to a range of sizes, wherein each panel has a length or length and height as a multiple of the floor and/or wall grid size. As described above, preferably the width of all the panels is half a grid size of the wall grid, and the grid size of the floor grid is preferably half the grid size of the wall grid and equal to the width of panel. The stock item panels are stored in an inventory system. A particular building is then designed using the above described grid design method using a floor grid and a wall grid to determine a plurality of modular panels required to build the building. The panels required for the building design are then ordered from the stock item panels held in the inventory system. The ordered panels are then delivered to site where builders use the panels to construct the building. Figure 8 shows a panel 3 which has been installed and attached to a concrete foundation 9. Instead of a concrete foundation a floor panel or floor panels can be used (not shown). The floor panels which are preferably 100 mm in width are laid onto a joist and bearer foundation (not shown) and a suitable vapour permeable wrap is laid over these joists and bearers. Screws are provided with the floor panels to fix through the panels into the floor joists. The panels 3 for the walls preferably have a suitable vapour permeable building membrane (wrap) 10 applied to the external face onto which cavity battens 1 1 are placed then cladding 12 is added. The wrap 10 overlaps the wrap on the floor panels. As can be seen the panels 3 also have top plate 13 and bottom plate 14 preferably made from timber. The panels 3 can be fixed to floor panel or to a concrete foundation 9 by any suitable means and an example is shown in figure 9 in which there is a steel strap 15 which wraps around both sides of the panel. In a different embodiment there can be two steel straps on one side (e.g. external face). Figure 10 illustrates flashings 16 and cladding 12 which are fixed to the outer facing side of the panels 3. The panels 3 when installed should be protected from moisture in wet areas such as bathrooms etc. The panels 3 can be protected by various internal wall linings, such as plasterboard and/or paint or other coatings.

As can be seen in figure 1 1 , pre-cut channels are provided inside the core of the panels called wire chases 18, for electrical cables to be run through the panel. As shown the panels 3 have chases 18 cut both horizontally (usually two) and vertically (usually one in the middle of the panel 3) during the panel fabrication process according to the requirements of the design. Electricians can access the wire chases 18 by drilling small access holes through the board 6 of the panel 3. The location of the chases 18 are marked on the panel layout drawings which are provided with the panels 3 when they are ordered. Builders installing the panels 3 will need to drill holes in studs 19 to allow electrical wires to be pulled through. The studs are members received or sandwiched between the boards 6 at edges of the panel 3, for example timber members.

Figure 12 shows plumbing pipes 20 attached to a panel 3. All plumbing is fixed on the outside of the oriented strand boards of the panels 3 to be arranged to an inside of the building and can be hidden under internal lining such as plasterboard 21 inside a cavity created by the cavity battens 22. In some embodiments electrical cables 23 can also be run on the outside of the oriented strand boards of the panels 3 like the plumbing pipes 20

Each panel 3 used to form walls preferably has top plate 13 and a cap plate 24 like that shown in figure 13 at the top of the panel. The top plate 13 is a member received and sandwiched between the boards 6 of the panel at the top edge of the panel. The cap plate 24 is a timber plate which sits on top of a panel 3 over the panel’s top plate 13. The function of the plate 24 is to equalise load applied by a roof structure of the building evenly throughout the wall panel 3. The cap plate 24 also increases the ceiling height and also functions as a ceiling batten. In some embodiments a cap plate 24 is not required.

Figure 14 shows installed panels 3 which form walls and ceilings and also shows wall and ceiling lining 25, 26 which have been attached to the panels 3. In the embodiment shown there is a cap plate and ceiling battens and the ceiling lining can drop down and create a services area which will enable use of recessed lights that do not need to penetrate the insulated ceiling provided by the ceiling panel. Figure 15 illustrates a building which has been designed using panels 3 to form walls and ceilings. The panels 3 used to create the ceiling may be suspended from or fixed to a timber trussed roof 27 using concealed purlin cleats (CPC) or other suitable means. The panels 3 are protected from weather by cladding 12, roofing membrane 28 and roofing 29.

Figures 16 to 19 show connection or jointing details between panels and between panels and a concrete foundation. As shown in Figure 16, to join together adjacent inline panels, edges of the boards 6 of the panels 3 are butted together. A gap 34 is formed between edges of the insulation material 5 of the adjacent panels. A‘spline’ member 30 is received in the gap to join the panels 3 together. In the illustrated embodiment, the spline member comprises a sandwich of boards 6 and an insulation material 5 between the boards. The boards and insulation material may be the same as used in the panels 3 and as described above. An adhesive is provided between the (boards of the) spline member and the inner face of the boards of the panels. Adhesive and/or a foaming material such as canned spray foam is also provided between the insulation material of the panels 3 and the edges of the (insulation material of the) spline member. Adhesive is indicated by the circles in Figures 16 to 19. Preferably nails are provided through the boards of the panels 3 and the boards of the spline member, for example at centres of 100mm to 150mm. Tape 38 and caulk 40 may be provided to the joins between the panels.

Figure 17 shows a corner joint of a building between two adjacent panels 3. Each panel has an edge member or stud 15 received in the gap at the edge of the panel 3 between the boards of the panel that extend beyond edges of the insulation material of the panel. The member or stud is preferably formed from timber. The member or stud 15 is applied to the gap on site as the building is constructed. Adhesive (for example any suitable timber adhesive) is provided between edges of the member and the inner face of the boards 6 of the panels. Preferably nails 31 are provided through the boards of the panels 3 and into the member. A foaming material may also be provided between the insulation of the panel 3 and the member or stud. To join the two panels together at a corner of the building, the edge of a first panel (B) is butted against a face of a second panel (A), adjacent an edge of the second panel. Screws 33 are applied from an outer side of the second panel (A) to extend through the second panel and into the member or stud 15 of the first panel (B). Washers 32 are preferably provided between a head of the screw and the outer face of the second panel. The screws may be provided at 300mm centres. Preferably adhesive is provided between the member or stud of the first panel and the face of the second panel. Figure 18 shows in more detail a connection detail for the top cap of a wall panel described above with reference to Figure 13. The edge member 13 is provided to the panel 3 in the same way as edge member 15 described above with reference to Figure 17 above. The top plate 24 is then provided over the edge of the panel provided by the edges of the boards and the edge member or stud 13 received between the boards of the panel 3. Adhesive is preferably provided between the top plate and the edge member of the panel.

Figure 19 shows in more detail a connection detail between a bottom edge of a panel and a concrete foundation 18. A bottom plate 14 is bolted 16 to the concrete foundation 18. The panel 3 is then erected to be vertical with the bottom plate 14 received in the gap between the boards 6 of the panel 3 that extend beyond the edge of the insulation material 5 of the panel 3. The bottom plate is fixed to the panel in the same way as the edge member 15 is provided to the panel described above with reference to Figure 17. A sill 17 may also be provided between the bottom plate 14 and the concrete foundation 18. Tape 38 may be provided at the join between the panel and the concrete foundation.

When designing the building using the previously described panels 3 and other components the demand (load on project) should be determined e.g. wind zone, EQ zone, snow zone, cladding load, roofing load etc and the truss design which is to be used also needs to be checked to determine the load bearing walls and loaded dimensions to check the wall panel span is suitable.

The above method and system has a number of advantages over known building and design methods. Traditional custom building projects require careful planning and detailing to ensure the right components arrive to the site. The current invention eliminates this step by ensuring the designer/architect only works with standard parts and as such the method allows consumers to save time and money on their build. Furthermore, the method also eliminates the step of having to size and shape building materials for walls and ceilings on-site or off-site which is time consuming and labour intensive.

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and functioning of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail so long as the functioning of the invention is not adversely affected. For example the particular elements of the method, system or modular building panels may vary dependent on the particular application for which it is used without variation in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A method of designing and constructing a building using modular building panels comprising the steps of:

• manufacturing the modular building panels required for the plan;

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each modular building panel has a height that is a factor of a set grid size of the wall or floor grid.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the method comprises using computer aided design software that allows for setting a“snap-to-grid” feature at a factor of the set grid size to facilitate sizing of the modular building panels and designing the plan.

4. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein designing the plan includes:

• setting the wall grid with an initial grid size,

• locating modular building panels to the floor plan of the building on the floor sub grid, wherein each modular building panel has a length that is a factor of the initial grid size.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sub grid size is half the initial grid size.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises:

storing the predetermined inventory of modular building panels, and

ordering the modular building panels required for the plan from the pre determined inventory of modular building panels.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the method comprises manufacturing and storing the inventory of modular building panels to facilitate a pick from stock order of modular building panels required for the building plan.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the modular building panels have a width equal to half of the set grid square size of the wall grid.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grid square size of the wall grid is 300 mm c 300 mm.

10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the modular building panels are all 150 mm in width.

1 1 . A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smallest modular building panel has a length and height of 300 mm x 300 mm.

12. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the modular building panels are comprised of flame-retardant expanded polystyrene sandwiched between two oriented strand board skins.

13. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the modular building panels are manufactured from a blank panel of 24 feet c 8 feet.

14. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each modular building panel has one or more channels running through the modular building panel adapted to receive electrical wires, and the method comprises running wires through the channels.

15. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each modular building panel that forms at least a top portion of a wall has a cap plate at a top of the modular building panel.

16. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises wrapping the modular building panels with a vapour permeable membrane when the modular building panels are installed.

17. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises using the modular building panels to form the walls and ceilings of the building.

18. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises using the modular building panels to form the floor of the building.

19. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of modular panels includes modular floor panels, and wherein the modular floor panels are 100 m in width.

20. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the building has ceiling and/or wall lintels and the method comprises forming the lintels at least in part from one or more said modular building panels.

21 . A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises constructing a truss type roof of the building.

22. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a height of a said modular building panel is many times the width of the panel.

23. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said modular building panels span a full height of a wall of the building.

24. A building designed and constructed according to the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

25. A modular building panel adapted for use in the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.