GB2256223A

GB2256223A - Building gauge.

Info

Publication number: GB2256223A
Application number: GB9111692A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Tracy Watkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-31
Filing date: 1991-05-31
Publication date: 1992-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-31
Also published as: GB9111692D0; GB2256223B

Abstract

A gauge (1) is disclosed for helping builders to obtain the correct spacing of bricks or blocks when building a wall. The gauge (1) is in the form of an adhesive tape along which indicia (2) are marked at intervals corresponding to the intended spacing between one or more courses of bricks or blocks. Additional indicia (3) may be provided to indicate the position of additional items such as wall ties. In use, the gauge (1) is applied to an upright member adjacent where a wall is to be built. One indicium (2') is aligned with a datum level (5). Then, as the wall is built, the indicia (2, 3) provide a constant indication to the builder of the correct height for the brick courses. <IMAGE>

Description

BUILDING GAUGE The present invention relates to a gauge for use in building to help a bricklayer to achieve uniform depth of courses and to minimise the risk of omission of wall ties in a wall constructed of bricks or blocks on an underlying frame.

Many buildings are now constructed using curtain walls of bricks or blocks (the term "brick" being hereinafter used to refer to any building brick, block, or similar constructional unit) over a steel or timber framework. To strengthen the wall, ties must be periodically inserted to secure the curtain wall to the framework. Such ties are generally secured in the mortar between brick courses and to drilled holes in the framework structure.

Problems can occur because the bricklayer may not achieve a regular depth of courses of bricks. The architect in designing the wall will specify a depth for the courses (the British standard is 75 mm for normal housebricks). If pre-drilled holes are provided in the framework they will be positioned to coincide with the mortar layers between courses. If a regular depth of courses has not been maintained then those holes may not line up with the mortar, making the ties difficult or impossible to insert.

Furthermore, the bricklayer may simply forget to insert the ties where they have been specified, which could result in a structurally weak wall.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a gauge which can be used easily and is cheap to make to provide assistance for the bricklayer in achieving a regular depth of course. Additionally, the gauge may also provide guidance for the insertion of ties.

Accordingly, from a first aspect, the present invention provides a gauge in the form of a thin, elongate member having indicia marked thereon to indicate the required position of the brick courses.

The elongate member is adapted for attachment to the supporting structure of a building, the brickwork then being built up in front of the elongate member.

Preferably the elongate member is of substantially the same length as the height of the wall so that every two or three courses of bricks may have a corresponding indicium.

The elongate member is preferably an adhesive tape of tough plastic material (polyester laminate is suitable because of its dimensional stability) which can be supplied in a roll with the indicia printed on it. Alternatively, the elongate member may be metal tape in which case the indicia would normally be engraved or stamped, but may possibly be printed on the tape.

The elongate member may carry a second set of indicia to indicate the locations of the ties.

From another aspect, the invention provides a method of constructing a wall in which a gauge according to the first aspect of the invention is attached to a vertical member of a supporting framework for a wall. A brick curtain wall is then built up adjacent the vertical member, the indicia marked on the member being used as a guide to the correct height of the brick courses. Ties are inserted during construction to connect the brick curtain wall to the supporting framework, preferably using indicia on the gauge as guidance for their placement.

The ties may be fixed in place either before the bricks are laid, in the positions indicated by the tape, or they may be fixed during the course of construction of the wall. If the ties are fixed in advance then a visual check will immediately reveal whether any ties have been omitted before the brickwork is started. The entire installation of the gauge and ties can be carried out by workers specifically assigned to the task or even outside contractors to remove the responsibility of installing the ties from the bricklayer.

Clearly, the tape applied to the structure must have indicia at positions corresponding to the architect's specification. A variety of different gauges will preferably be available so that the situations in which the gauge may be used are not unduly limited. The distance between ties is often specified to be 450 mm (6 standard courses) or 225 mm (3 standard courses).

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a gauge embodying the invention attached to a structural member of a building; and Figure 2 shows in enlarged detail, indicia used in the gauge in the embodiment of Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a gauge 1 is made of a polyester laminate, self-adhesive tape. A protective cover strip, for example of paper, provided over the adhesive is peeled away when the strip is to be used.

The tape is attached to a vertical member 4 of the steel structure of a building in front of which a brick curtain wall is to be built.

Throughout its length, spaced at 225 mm intervals, the tape has pairs of indicia 2, 3 printed one above the other. The lower indicium 2 is a horizontal bar and indicates the correct position of the upper surface of a brick. The upper indicium 3 is a circle with a cross inside it and indicates the correct position for a tie. The indicia of each pair are spaced 30 mm apart.

One of the indicia 2' is aligned with a datum mark 5 on the vertical member 4. The position of the datum mark 5 is determined by the structural engineer or architect and is generally a given distance above the finished floor or damp-proof course level 6.

In use, the gauge 1 is applied to a previously erected structure. The datum line 5 is first marked on to the vertical member 4 to which the gauge 1 is to be attached. The gauge 1 is then stuck on to the vertical member 4 care being taken to ensure that one indicium 2' lines up with the datum line 5 and that the gauge 1 is vertical. The ties are then inserted at the upper indicia 3 whereupon construction of the brickwork may commence. The ties may be inserted by drilling holes at the points indicated by the upper indicia 3 and then securing the ties in the drilled holes.

Alternatively, a powered gun may be used to rivet or drive the ties directly into place.

Before and during the building of the brickwork the gauge is visible so that any omitted ties or misalignment of the brickwork is immediately visible.

Claims

1. A gauge adapted for use in building to help a bricklayer to achieve uniform depth of courses, comprising a thin elongate member having indicia marked thereon to indicate the required position of the brick courses.

2. A gauge according to Claim I wherein the elongate member is adapted for attachment to a supporting structure of a building.

3. A gauge according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the elongate member is of a length corresponding substantially to a specified height of a wall to be built.

4. A gauge according to any preceding claim wherein the indicia are spaced apart by distances such that the distance between adjacent indicia corresponds to a plurality of brick courses.

5. A gauge according to any preceding claim wherein the elongate member carries a second set of indicia which indicate locations of ties to be inserted in the brickwork.

6. A gauge according to Claim 5 wherein the elongate member is marked with pairs of indicia, each pair comprising a lower indicium in the form of a horizontal bar to indicate the correct position of the upper surface of a brick at a brick course, and an upper indicium in the form of a circle containing a cross to indicate the correct position for a tie in the brickwork.

7. A gauge according to any preceding claim wherein the elongate member is a tape of a plastics material.

8. A gauge according to Claim 7 wherein the plastics material is a polyester laminate.

9. A gauge according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 as dependent from Claim 2 wherein the tape is self-adhesive.

10. A gauge according to any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the elongate member is a metal tape.

11. A method of constructing a wall in which a gauge as claimed in any preceding claim is attached to a vertical member of a supporting framework for a wall to indicate the required position of brick courses in the wall as the wall is built up adjacent to the vertical member.

12. A method according to Claim 11 in which the erected vertical member is marked with a datum mark for brick courses before the gauge is attached to the vertical member, and the gauge is subsequently attached such that one of the indicia indicating the required position of brick courses is aligned with the datum mark on the vertical member.

13. A method according to Claim 11 or Claim 12 in which ties are used to connect the brickwork of the wall as it is constructed to the vertical member of the supporting framework, the ties being secured to the vertical member at positions marked by indicia on the elongate member of the gauge.

14. A method according to Claim 13 in which the ties are secured to the vertical member in advance of the brickwork of the wall being started to be laid with the guidance of the gauge.

15. A gauge substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.