GB2417258A

GB2417258A - Building structure having roof supported by internal walls

Info

Publication number: GB2417258A
Application number: GB0419058A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Delahunty; Paul Francis Hughes; Nicolas Linley Clarke
Original assignee: Corus UK Ltd
Current assignee: Corus UK Ltd
Priority date: 2004-08-17
Filing date: 2004-08-26
Publication date: 2006-02-22
Also published as: GB0419058D0

Abstract

A building structure comprises a roofing structure at least partly supported on at least one inner wall. The roofing structure may comprise a lattice truss, which may be constructed of C-section steel joists. The trusses are preferably galvanised or coated with an organic coating for environmental protection. A plurality of trusses may be linked by stud walls. The stud walls are preferably also constructed of C-section steel beams. The truss(es) may be constructed of prefabricated sub-trusses which are assembled at a building site to form a truss. Outer and/or inner walls of the building may comprise a supporting frame preferably covered with panels or filled up with building materials. The roofing structure preferably comprises a standing seam roof covering.

Description

24 1 7258

BUILDING STRUCTURE

The invention relates to a building structure comprising a plurality of outer walls separated from each other and at least one inner wall positioned between the outer walls and also comprising a roofing structure Such building structure is known from practice e.g. in the form of a residential housing or a factory hall.

The commonly used method to build such building structure is to form a foundation on which the outer and inner walls, possibly with floors, are erected and on top of which a roof structure is installed to complete the building structure.

A problem with this known building structure is that it takes quite a long time to realise, in particular also since many steps are executed in series and the necessary building materials such as bricks, tiles and beams are delivered to the building site in rather small entities and assembled there.

There is an increasing need to reduce the time required to erect a building structure, not only to reduce the costs involved but also to produce a larger amount of building structures per unit of time.

Further, there is a tendency to build large amounts of identical or similar living cells e.g. for housing of military personnel, students, nurses or temporary inhabitants. The known building structure cannot fulfil these requirements for the reasons mentioned above.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a building structure which can be erected quickly and in large quantities. It is another object of the present invention to provide a : building structure which is cheap to realise. Yet another object of the present invention is .e ale. to provide a building structure which, despite being cheap and easy to install, has a great ...

flexibility, in particular in the choice of the roofing system. .

These, and other objects of the invention are achieved by a building structure which ë according to the invention is characterised in that the roofing structure is at least partly supported by the inner wall or inner walls. . .e

In the known construction of a roofing structure this structure is resting on the outer walls and the roofing structure itself is self supporting. Consequently, the roofing structure must be strong enough to carry its own weight, inclusive the weight of the roof covering such as ceramic tiles.

Because of its weight, and its custom-made structure, the known roof is either fully assembled at the building site or pre-assembled in a factory and subsequently transported to the building site and mounted on the outer walls.

Contrary to the known structures, the present inventors have realised that a considerable reduction in weight can be achieved by a roofing structure which rests at least partly on the inner walls. This means that vertical forces, caused by the weight are lead down through the inner walls. Further, because the inner walls extend over a considerable portion of the distance in all directions between the outer walls, the required unsupported span of the roofing structure is very small or absent at all.

Preferably, the roof structure is made of steel, in particular the trusses, stud walls and 1 5 purling.

So, basically only vertical support elements, such as beams of any appropriate cross- section are required. Because of the lightweight construction and the fact that only vertical supports are basically required, a great freedom in the shape of the roof covering, comprising covering elements like tiles and panels, is achieved.

Tests have shown that large areas roofing structures, more than 130 m2 can easily be lifted and positioned by a simple crane with mm accuracy, even under conditions of severe wind and rain.

Preferably an intermediate equator is used when lifting the roofing structure. A.

If desired, the roofing structure can be a so-called cool roof wherein the roofing structure ë itself is not isolated at its upper side or a socalled warm roof wherein the covering of the roofing structure is provided with one ore more isolating layers its side directed to the interior of the building structure.

The time to construct the roofing structure according to the invention at the building site is reduced by more than 60 % as compared to the construction time required to construct the known roofing structure.

In a preferred embodiment the roofing structure comprises at least one lattice truss fitting on the inner wall or inner walls.

A lattice truss, in particular when provided with, in operation, vertical studs to lead down the weight of the roof covering, offers high strength per unit of weight. Braces in the lattice provide the required rigidity in the length direction of the truss.

In a further embodiment the lattice truss or trusses are constructed of Cshaped steel plate (cold or hot rolled) joists.

This embodiment provides among other things father reduction in weight and costs. C shaped steel plates joists are easy to manufacture and provide high strength per unit weight.

Preferably the joists are rolled, starting from cold rolled or hot rolled steel sheet, dependent on the required thickness and quality of the joists.

Another advantage of Cjoists that this type of joist can easily be assembled into a lattice truss by riveting, bolting together the flanges of directly or by using connection plates, brackets or cleats. The web of the Cjoist will be positioned such that maximum strength and rigidity is obtained. The skilled person will know how to achieve that dependent on the detailed construction of the joist.

A test has shown that a lattice truss of four meters in length and about one meter in height can easily be handled by a single person, which improves the time-to-construct, safety, manpower and consequently costs.

In another embodiment the trusses are protected against environmental damage preferably by galvanising or coating with an organic coating.

. In this embodiment the truss can be used in an unfriendly or harsh environment. In particular also in an application of the roofing structure as cold roofs, thermal leak will not lead to local corrosion of the underlying base material such as steel, of which the roof structure or truss is manufactured. ë

A further advantage of this embodiment can be achieved in combination with the use of C joists made from steel plate. The technology of coil coating of steel with a zinc layer or an ë . organic layer is proven. The resulting coated steel plate can easily be formed into a Cjoist.

In order to improve the rigidity of the roof yet another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the roofing structure comprises a plurality of trusses linked by stud walls.

Preferably the stud walls are lattice stud walls end of comparable construction as the trusses. Where appropriate, e.g. when the stud wall can be narrow, the stud wall can be made of steel plate, perforated to save weight if required.

In order to reduce the number of different components required to manufacture the roofing structure it is preferred that the stud walls are constructed of C-shaped steel plate beams.

Preferably, the cross-section and/or the coating and/or the composition and manufacturing process of the C-shaped joists used for the trusses are the same as those used for the stud walls.

In order to further reduce the construction time of the building site, it is further preferred that at least one truss is constructed of prefabricated sub-trusses which are assembled at a building site to form a truss.

Prefabricating sub-trusses under normal workshop conditions is in general more effective than assembling at the building site.

Because of the lightweight construction of the trusses transport from the workshop to the building site and handling at the building site is easy, simple and without problems.

In order to further reduce the construction time at the building site yet another embodiment of the building structure according to the invention is characterized in that at least one of the outer walls and/or of the inner walls comprises a supporting frame preferably covered A. with panels or filled up with building materials. e.

A supporting frame can be assembled easily and quickly at the building site, from base components, pre-assembled parts or a combination of both. The frame, light weight through its construction, can easily and quickly be erected and joined to form the skeleton ë for the outer and inner walls. Once the frames have been joined, the roof can be put in place. From that point on, the workers finishing the building structure are protected at least . . .

from rain and sunshine. Also it might be easier to attach shields to protect them from other unwanted weather conditions like wind or cold After the skeleton is ready the frames can be completed by joining thereto panels or filling them with building materials like bricks and cellular concrete bricks.

Placing the roofing structure does not have to wait until the inner and outer walls are build up to roof level.

Preferably the roofing structure comprises a standing seam roof covering.

Standing seam roof covering is well known and offers a great number of advantages over more conventional roof covering materials.

Such advantages are lightweight, easy to form to the desired shape in three dimensions, available in a large variety of surface finishing.

Standing seam roofs can be manufactured, starting from coiled metal, such as aluminium, which is roll-formed at the building site in the desired length and shape. Of course, short end simple-shaped panels can be manufactured in a workshop and shipped to the building site. The fastening of standing seam roof panels to the substructure is known to the skilled person and does not need to be further described here. ëee free eve. e free e. e ee :e .ee. ë ë e

Claims

l. Building structure comprising a plurality of outer walls separated from each other and at least one inner wall positioned between the outer walls and also comprising a roofing structure characterised in that the roofing structure is at least partly supported by the inner wall or inner walls.
2. Building structure according to claim l characterised in that the roofing structure comprises at least one lattice truss fitting on the inner wall or inner walls.
3. Building structure according to claim 2 characterised in that the lattice truss or trusses are constructed of C-shaped steel plate (cold or hot rolled) joists.
4. Building structure according to claims 2, 3 or 4 characterised in that the trusses are protected against environmental damage preferably by galvanising or coating with an organic coating.
5. Building structure according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the roofing structure comprises a plurality of trusses linked by stud walls.
6. Building structure according to claim 5 characterised in that the stud walls are constructed of C-shaped steel plate beams.
7. Building structure according to any one of claims 2-7 characterised in that at least one truss is constructed of prefabricated sub-trusses which are assembled at a building site to form a truss.
8. Building system according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that at least one of the outer walls and/or of the inner walls comprises a supporting frame preferably covered with panels or filled up with building materials. :e
9. Building system according to any one ofthe preceding claims characterised in that ha..

the roofing structure comprises a standing seam roof covering. -

..... . .e