GB2289293A

GB2289293A - Concrete floor construction with beams insulated at the underside

Info

Publication number: GB2289293A
Application number: GB9509578A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eoghan Hynes
Original assignee: LEANORT Ltd
Current assignee: LEANORT Ltd
Priority date: 1994-05-13
Filing date: 1995-05-11
Publication date: 1995-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2015-05-11
Also published as: GB2289293B; GB9509578D0; IES940395A2; IES61318B2

Abstract

A concrete floor construction comprising interspaced mutually parallel inverted T-beams 5; blocks 6 of insulating material supported by the horizontally extending legs of opposing T-beams; a floor surface 10 obtained by pouring concrete over the T-beams and the blocks of insulation elements, characterised by the provision of one-piece insulating members 2 the internal dimensions of which correspond with those of the horizontally extending legs 3, 4 of the inverted T-beams, such that the members engage in tight-fit arrangement with the horizontally extending legs of T-beams and thereby provide a concrete floor construction having good thermal insulation properties. A steel mesh 8 is also included in the floor construction. <IMAGE>

Description

CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION INSULATED AT THE UNDERSIDE AND INSULATING MEMBER USED THEREWITH The present invention relates to a concrete floor construction insulated at the underside and an insulating member for use therewith.

Various constructions of concrete floors and insulating elements are known but these have the disadvantage that they are relatively difficult to assemble and construct and do not provide optimum thermal insulation.

The present invention seeks to alleviate the disadvantages associated with the prior art.

The present invention accordingly provides a concrete floor construction comprising interspaced mutually parallel inverted beams of generally T-shaped cross section (hereinafter referred to as T-beams); blocks of insulating material supported by the horizontally extending legs of opposing T-beams; a floor surface obtained by pouring concrete over the T-beams and the blocks of insulation elements, characterised by the provision of one-piece insulating members, the internal dimensions of which correspond with those of the horizontally extending legs of the inverted T-beams, such that the members engage in tight-fit arrangement with the horizontally extending legs of T-beams and thereby provide a concrete floor construction having good thermal insulation properties.

Preferably, the one-piece insulating member has a generally U-shaped cross section and engages in a tight fit engagement with the horizontally extending legs of the T-beam, on the underside of the beam.

The present invention also provides use of a one-piece insulating member in a concrete floor construction of the above type.

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which are shown, by way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the floor construction in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a front view of the floor construction.

Referring to the drawings, the concrete floor construction is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The concrete floor construction 1 comprises a one-piece insulating member 2 of generally U-shaped cross-section, the internal dimensions of which correspond with the dimensions of the horizontally extending legs 3,4 of T-beams 5 such that the insulating member 2 engages therewith in a tight fit arrangement.

Also included in the floor construction 1, are blocks of insulating material 6 which are supported by the horizontally extending leg 3 of a first T-beam 5 and by the horizontally extending leg 4 of a second oppositely situated T-beam 5 which is parallel to the first T-beam 5.

A steel mesh 6 is also included in the floor construction 1 together with concrete screed 10 which is poured over the blocks of insulating material 6 and which forms the concrete floor surface.

To construct a concrete floor in accordance with the present invention, the generally U-shaped insulation member 2 is pushed onto the horizontal legs 3,4 of each T-beam 5 and is held in position because its internal dimensions are appropriately sized so as to engage the horizontal legs 3,4 in a tight-fit engagement. This has the advantage of providing an easy-to-construct concrete floor while simultaneously providing effective insulation.

The T-beams are then positioned on the walls and on the damp proof membrane 12 as shown in Figure 1, at appropriate centres to suit the required loading characteristics.

The blocks 6 of insulating material (comprising Expanded Polystyrene) are then placed in position supported on horizontal legs of opposing T-beams so that the blocks 6 extend fully between the parallel T-beams 5. The steel mesh 8 is then placed on the T-beams 5 and the concrete is poured so as to form the finished floor surface.

An advantage of the concrete floor construction 1 is that the inclusion therein of the insulating member 2 enhances the thermal efficiency of the construction and prevents cold bridging which would otherwise reduce the thermal co-efficient of the construction 1. The insulating member 2 may be manufactured from Expanded Polystyrene or any other form of rigid foam insulation.

Other advantages of the concrete floor construction in accordance with the invention are that visual inspection to ensure that the insulating member 2 is properly located in position can be readily conducted prior to the other elements of the construction being put in place. This ease of visual inspection enables cold bridging to be prevented.

A further advantage is the ease with which the concrete floor construction can be built. Insulating members 2 can be located on the inverted T-beams before the latter are put in position on the wall or the insulating members 2 can be put onto the T-beams after they are positioned on the wall.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

An insulating member is therefore proposed which comprises an elongate channel of insulating material adapted to engage with a length of at least one side of an axial portion of an elongate beam.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A concrete floor construction comprising interspaced mutually parallel inverted T-beams; blocks of insulating material supported by the horizontally extending legs of opposing T-beams; a floor surface obtained by pouring concrete over the T-beams and the blocks of insulation elements, characterised by the provision of one-piece insulating members, the internal dimensions of which correspond with those of the horizontally extending legs of the inverted T-beams, such that the members engage in tight-fit arrangement with the horizontally extending legs of T-beams and thereby provide a concrete floor construction having good thermal insulation properties.

2. A concrete floor construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one-piece insulating member has a generally U-shaped cross section and engages in a tight fit engagement with the horizontally extending legs of the T-beam, on the underside of the beam.

3. A concrete floor construction as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the insulating member is manufactured from rigid foam insulation such as Expanded Polystyrene.

4. Use of a one-piece insulating member in a concrete floor construction as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

5. A concrete floor construction, and an insulating member used therewith, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.