GB2227767A - Roofing partition for mounting on top of a dividing wall - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to isolate at roof level adjacent properties having a common dividing wall to inhibit the spread of fire, the present invention provides a partition for location along the top of the dividing wall, which partition has provision for location of ends of roofing battens and edges of roofing felt of the adjacent properties by way of respective channels 16o. The partition is preferably of tray-like configuration with means for securing the roof covering thereof conveniently by way of battens received in facing channels 16i of the partition. The opposite and facing channels are conveniently formed by a pair of spaced elongate T-shaped formations. <IMAGE>

Description

Title; Roofing Aecessory DESCRIPTION This invention relates to roofing and in particular to a safety device for use therein.

Traditionally semi-detached or terraced houses are separated from each other via a cavity wall, though no discrimination is made between the properties when the roof is put on. During construction felt is laid in a continuous horizontal fashion across two or more houses1 bridging the cavity, whereupon tiles or slates can be hung on battens lying on the felt.

It has been suggested that houses only separated by a cavity wall and having roofs as described above may constitute a fire hazard. That. is due to the fact that a fire in one house may spread next door via the roofing 'felt or battens. It is to this problem that this invention directs itself.

It is an aim of this invention to provide means whereby roofing felt on two side by side connecting hollses mny be @ar@itio@ed to reduce the risk of fire spreading from one to the other.

Accordingly, this invention provides a partition for location along a wall separating two houses, said partition having provision for location of ends of roofing battens and/or edges of roofing felt and/or for roofing tiles to be located thereon.

In one embodiment of the invention the partition comprises a tray-like member conveniently made of metal or plastics or any other suitable material. The tray may be shaped so as to sit in or on a wall cavity with its edges overlying the walls forming the cavity. The partition may also have some form of flange either side thereof, the flange possibly being of T section allowing the roofing felt edges and batten ends to fit therein, preferably as an elongate channel. Advantageously it may be laid directly on partition, for example via locating lugs or holes of the partition, otherwise by way of additional battening secured thereto.

The partition may be affixed to the cavity wall in any convenient manner, possibly directly to the brickwork or via brackets. The partition could also be secured to any associated timberwork in the roof. It is envisaged however, that a layer of uninflammable material, perhaps rockwool, may be placed between the partition and the cavity wall. This would fill the gap existing in most cases, between the roofing felt and the top of the cavity wall.

To insulate the roofing felt still further, intumescent material, preferably as a strip or facing, may be employed along those sections of the partition that are in contact with the felt or battens.

Intumescent material will swell up when heated, therefore isolating the felt even more and reducing the risk of fire spreading.

An alternative to laying tiles over the partition is to have some form of capping thereon. This could take some decorative form, which as well as setting out a boundary between the houses may prove pleasing to the eye.

Of course the partition should be waterproof and although no felt is present in the centre section thereof any water leaking through tiles or capping could run down the tray into a gutter or drainpipe.

The invention provides a fire break for isolating at roof level adjacent properties having a common dinting wall.

We also propose means whereby the partition as described may be fitted without unduly causing inconvenience in ~tarrying out traditional methods of laying roof felt. Normally felt is laid in continuous strips horizontally across the roof. Having a partition with flc-;nges either side could cause problems with having to cut felt to the correct size.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a trolley or platform having means supporting rotatably a roll of felt for laying out horizontally across the roof, such a trolly or platform may fit into the partition and which may be movable therein.

On such a platform there could be rollers upon which a roll or felt may be placed such that one person could pull the felt from the roll across the roof. When the end of the roof is reached the same person could go back to the trolley and cut the felt, for which it is preferable to use guillotine provided on the trolley.

The platform may be positioned at such a height above the partition that when the felt is cut there would be sufficient felt to fit comfortably into the partition flange. The roll of felt could then be turned around so that the felt could be rolled out to the other end of the roof. The trolley/platform may also have locking means to allow it to be pushed up the partition to lay the next layer of felt.

The present invention as proposed should reduce the chance of flammable roofing felt over different connecting houses coming into contact, as well as inhibit the spread of fire by eliminating any gaps between properties, whilst still allowing the roof to be conveniently laid across two or more properties at the same time.

This invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings; in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a roof felt partition in place on a cavity wall; Figure 2 is an end view of the partition to a larger scale; Figure 3 is an end view of the partition with decorative capping thereon; Figure. 4 is a perspective view of a felt trolley/platform in its position of use with a partition; and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic end view of the felt trolley/platform.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a felt partition 1 in place on a cavity wall. The partition comprises a generc.3)y elongate tray-like section or open top channel of top hat sections 3 with extending side limbs 5 at each side. Integral with each limb 5 and preferable intermediate the length thereof are Tvshaped flanged members 7. Part of a cavity wall is illustrated at 10. The partition is positioned to extend along the length of the cavity wall, (eg. from tie eaves to the ridge).

In practice the partition can be fixed to the wall 10 by way of discrete or elongate brackets 11 with bolts 13 fixing the brackets to the wall and nuts and bolts shown partially at 13 for fixing the partition to the brackets by way of suitably spaced holes in the limbs shown partially at 13.

In a preferred embodiment there will be an insulating layer 15, possibly rockwool, between the partition 1 and the cavity wall 10.

Each half of the T-shaped flanges 7 and the associated limbs defing an elongate channel, designated inner and outer channels 161,160. Preferably the inside walls of the outer channel 160 carry a facing of intumescent material 17 the function of which will become apparent hereinafter. Each outer channels 16 serve to receive the end of a length of felt and battens 21 which are a close fit in the channels and thereby serve to hold the felt. in place. Different properties under the same roof can therefore have the roofing felt over each isolated from each other so reducing the chance of fire spreading from one to another via the roof.

Tiles or slates may be located on the top of the partition via holes or lugs therein or on battens 21 located in the partition 1 tray-like section 3 such as in the inner channel parts 16i in which case the roof covering, eg. tiles or slates extend over the partition.

It may however be desirable to use the partition 1 to provide a boundary on the roof between the two houses.

Such an embodiment may be enhanced by having a decorative capping or cover 26 on the partition as shown in Figure 3. The partition itself is constructed similarly to that shown and described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and corresponding reference numerals have been employed.

A flashing is illustrated at 28 running up side battening 29 and under a side lip to the cover. The roof/slates are omitted from the drawings but it will be appreciated that these are secured to the battens 21 in the usual manner.

Figures 4 and 5 show a device for conveniently laying felt on a roof which is provided with a partition as herein disclosed. The device consists of a platform 30 which rests on members 32,33 which are engageable wich said partition t. On top of the platform 30 there are two rollers 36 upon which a roll óf felt 40 can be made rotate.

In practice the felt 40 can be pulled from its roll via the action o9 the rollers 36 to the end of the roof an cut. The felt 40 can then be cut at the roll via a guillotine 42 on the platform 30. The roll 40 is posi'v,cned such a distance over the platform 30 hat when the felt is cut it will be the correct length to fit comfortably into the flanges 7 of the partition 1.

The roll 40 may then be turned over and the other side of the roof may have felt laid. The platform 30 may also have locking means 50 so that it may be moved up and down the partition 1.

It is envisaged that the partition will be used mainly in the construction of new houses though it may quite easily be utilised when re-roofing old and existing properties.

It will be appreciated that certain embodiments may be modified without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. A partition for location along a wall, especially a cavity wall, separating two properties, said partition having provision for location of ends of roofing battens and/or edges of roofing felt and/or roofing tiles/slates.

2. A partition as claimed in claim 1 comprising a generally elongate tray-like member straddling the cavity wall and having respective limb parts for overlying the two wall parts.

3. A partition as claimed in claim 1 or 2 comprising a pair of oppositely disposed channels for receiving respective roofing felt edges and/or batten ends.

4. A partition as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising a pair of facing channels for receiving battening for locating roof tiles/slates over the partition.

5. A partition as claimed in claim 4 when appendent to claim 3 in which the facing and oppositely disposed channels are formed by a pair of elongate T-shaped formation whose stems rre upsta@ding favor said 11A'flb parts.

6. A partition as claimed in any of claims 3 or 5 in which the oIposit'y disposed channels include a facing of intumescent material at least between the partition and any felt located adjacent thereto.

7. A partition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a capping carried by the partition and isolating the external roof covering of one property from the other.

8. A partition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when made from metal or plastics.

9. A partition constructed and arranged and adapted to function substantially as hereinbefore described.